SaintLô

Saint-Lô is a commune and the prefecture of the Manche department in the Normandy region of northwestern France. It is situated on the Vire river and serves as the administrative center of the department, with a population in the vicinity of about 9,000 residents. The town acts as a local hub for government, services, and commerce in western Normandy.

The name Saint-Lô derives from Saint Lô, a medieval figure venerated in the area. The town's early history centers on development around a church and local fortifications, and it grew to become an important local settlement in the Middle Ages.

Saint-Lô was heavily damaged in World War II, suffering extensive destruction during Allied bombardment in July 1944. After the war, reconstruction took place from the late 1940s through the 1950s under a modernist plan designed by the architect Auguste Perret. The rebuilding gave the city a distinctive postwar urban character, with broad streets and new public spaces that contrast with the few remaining historic elements.

Today, Saint-Lô remains the departmental capital and functions as a regional center for administration, services, and education. The surrounding area is predominantly agricultural, and the town is connected to the wider region by road and rail networks. The postwar architectural heritage, along with local cultural and public facilities, shapes the modern identity of Saint-Lô.