Mérignac, Gironde

Mérignac (Occitan: Merinhac) is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. The 20th-century historian Robert Étienne (1921–2009) was born in Mérignac.

It is the largest suburb of the city of Bordeaux and adjoins it to the west. It is a member of the Bordeaux Métropole.

Mérignac is the site of Bordeaux International Airport.

Etymology
The name Mérignac derives from the Gallo-Roman word Matriniacus, name of a villa rustica (countryside villa) that was the origin of today's town.

Sights

 * Tour de Veyrines : Veyrines Dungeon.
 * Château Bourran : Bourran Castle
 * Château Le Burck : Le Burck Castle
 * Château or Maison Noble du Parc or d'Espagne : Parc Castle or Spain Castle
 * Fontaine d'Arlac : Arlac Fountain
 * Immeuble Gillet : Gillet Building
 * La glacière : the icehouse
 * La vieille église : the old Roman church
 * Maison carrée d'Arlac : Peychotte's folly (Square House) in Arlac

Parks and gardens

 * Parc de Bourran :
 * Bois du Burck : Burck wood
 * Parc de Mérignac :
 * Parc Saint-Exupéry :
 * Parc du Vivier : the wood around the city hall

Education
The commune has about 5,000 students in the primary and secondary schools in its city. Schools include:
 * 15 public and private preschools
 * 15 public and private elementary schools
 * Four junior high schools: Collège de Bourran, Collège de Capeyron, Collège Jules-Ferry, Collège des Eyquems
 * Two senior high schools: Lycée Fernand Daguin and Lycée professionnel Marcel Dassault

Twin towns – sister cities
Mérignac is twinned with:
 * 🇨🇦 Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
 * 🇸🇳 Kaolack, Senegal
 * Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain

Notable inhabitants

 * Albert Dupouy (1901 - 1973): player of rugby to death in Mérignac
 * Jean Samazeuilh (1891 - 1965): French tennis player dead in Mérignac
 * Nicolas Canteloup, born on November 4, 1963, in Mérignac in the Gironde, is a comedian, French imitator.
 * Émile Rummelhardt former professional player and French football coach.