What is Avranches?
{{Infobox French commune |name = Avranches |image = Avranchesjardindesplantes.JPG |caption = Botanical garden |image coat of arms = Blason ville fr Avranches (Manche).svg |arrondissement = Avranches |canton = Avranches |INSEE = 50025 |postal code = 50300 |mayor = Guenaël Huet |term = 2001–2008 |intercommunality = |coordinates = {{coord|48.685|-1.3556|format=dms|display=inline,title}} |elevation m = 108 |elevation min m = 7 |elevation max m = 108 |area km2 = 4.5 |population = 8090 |population date = 2009 }} '''Avranches''' is a [[Communes of France|commune]] in the [[Manche]] department. It is in the [[Normandy]] region in [[north west|northwestern]] [[France]]. It is a [[subprefecture]] of the department. The inhabitants are called ''Avranchinais''.<ref>Rene Andre, ''Avranches 2000 ans d' histoire'', Publication Municipale</ref> {{Historical populations |align=right |state=collapsed |width=23em | 1793 | 5880 | 1800 | 5413 | 1806 | 6144 | 1821 | 6431 | 1831 | 7269 | 1836 | 7690 | 1841 | 8256 | 1846 | 7965 | 1851 | 8932 | 1856 | 8702 | 1861 | 8592 | 1866 | 8642 | 1872 | 8137 | 1876 | 8157 | 1881 | 8057 | 1886 | 8000 | 1891 | 7785 | 1896 | 7845 | 1901 | 7384 | 1906 | 7360 | 1911 | 7174 | 1921 | 6597 | 1926 | 6803 | 1931 | 6881 | 1936 | 7130 | 1946 | 7554 | 1954 | 8004 | 1962 | 8854 | 1968 | 9775 | 1975 | 10136 | 1982 | 9468 | 1990 | 8638 | 1999 | 8509 | 2006 | 8239 | 2009 | 8090 }} ==Geography== Avranches is at the south of the [[Cotentin Peninsula]]. The town was built on high ground. It overlooks the [[dune]]s and [[coast]]al [[marsh]]es along the bay. From Avranches, it is possible to see the [[Mont-Saint-Michel]]. <gallery> Image:Avranches Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs.jpg|Notre Dame des Champs File:Normandie Manche Avranches3 tango7174.jpg|Notre-Dame-des-Champs,<br>Stations of the Cross File:Normandie Manch