Contest, Mayenne

Contest is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.

Contest
Commune
The church in Contest
Coat of arms
Location of Contest
Contest Contest
Coordinates: 48°15′46″N 0°39′18″W
Country	France
Region	Pays de la Loire
Department	Mayenne
Arrondissement	Mayenne
Canton	Mayenne
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Daniel Montaufray
Area ^1	22.96 km^2 (8.86 sq mi)
Population  (2017-01-01)[1]	840
• Density	37/km^2 (95/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	53074 /53100
Elevation	77–152 m (253–499 ft) (avg. 109 m or 358 ft)
^1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km^2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The town is in the center of Lower Maine. Its village is 6 km south-west of Mayenne and 12 km north of Martigné-sur-Mayenne.

The name of the locality is attested in the form Constet in 1207. The place name honors the bishop of Bayeux of the sixth century, Contextus.[2]

Notable Persons

• Jacques Felix Jan de La Hamelinaye (1769-1861), general, retired to Contest at his retirement.
• Bertrand Denis (1902 - 1986 in Contest), MP.
• Louis Rouland (1907-1940), French aviator born in Contest.
• Jean Yanne (1933-2003), actor, humorist, director. Born Roger-Jean Gouyé, from a family of clog makers who in the eighteenth century lived in the forest of Mayenne. His grandfather René-Jean Gouillet was born in Contest on March 13, 1789 and died in Fougères on October 11, 1855.

See also

• Communes of the Mayenne department

References

1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
2. Albert Dauzat et Charles Rostaing, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieux en France, Paris, Larousse, 1963