Condeau

Condeau is a former commune in the Canton of Bretoncelles, in the Arrondissement of Mortagne-au-Perche, in the  department of Orne (and formerly within Le Perche region) in north-western France:  on 1 January 2016, it merged into the new commune of Sablons-sur-Huisne.

Origins and etymology
Condeau is a town that lies near the river Huisne in Lower Normandy.

The toponym "Condeau" is a diminutive of Condé, a neighboring town name as the confluence (Gaulish condate) of the Huisne and Corbionne rivers.

Demonym
The French demonym for people who live in Condeau is Condoléen.

History
In 1789, after the Décret de la division de la France en départements created townships, Condeau became chief town of its canton. In 1801, the canton was abolished.

On 1 January 2016, Condeau merged into Sablons-sur-Huisne as a municipality under by Law Number 2010-1563 of 16 December 2010 on local government reform. The communes of Condeau, Condé-sur-Huisne, and Coulonges-les-Sablons merged and Condé-sur-Huisne became the chief town of the new municipality.

Administration
The town council comprises eleven members, including the mayor and two deputies.

Population
In 2019, Condeau had 370 inhabitants. Condeau's population peaked at 1,034 inhabitants in 1821.

Sites
Sites in Condeau include:
 * Church of Saint-Denis (Église Saint-Denis): 16th-century church that houses three paintings registered as historic monuments
 * Villeray Castle (Château de Villeray ): 18th-century castle registered as an historic monument
 * Old Mill on the Huisne (Ancien moulin sur l'Huisne): Dependency of the castle of Villeray
 * Manor Grand Brolles: 16th-century chapel
 * Radray Chapel (Chapelle de Radray)

Notable inhabitants

 * Jacques-Claude Dugué d'Assé (1749-1830), French politician
 * Robert-Jules Garnier (1883-1958), French chief designer
 * James Rossant (1928-2009), American architect and artist
 * Colette Rossant (1932), French-American writer