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Donges (Municipality, Loire-Atlantique, France)

Donez

Flag of Donges - Image by Arnaud Leroy, 11 November 2002

Presentation of Donges
Flag of Donges

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Presentation of Donges

The municipality of Donges (in Breton, Donez; 6,618 inhabitants in 2009; 599 ha) is located on the northern shore of the estuary of river Loire, 15 km east of Saint-Nazaire.
The name of Donges comes from donjon, "a donjon". The castle built in Donges by the Viscounts of Donges in the 11th century was destroyed in 1127.

The oil refinery of Donges was built in 1932-1935. Totally destroyed during the Second World War, the town and the refinery were rebuilt from scratch after the liberation. The St. Martin church, rebuilt in concrete, has a calvary and coloured glass-windows designed by Max Ingrand. The refinery of Donges, owned by Total, is the second French refinery, with a yearly production of 11 millions of metric tons of refined oil.

Ivan Sache, 11 November 2002

Flag of Donges

The flag of Donges is white with the municipal coat of arms in the middle.

The shield used on the municipal arms shows the arms of the first Viscounts of Donges. The torches recall the refinery while the anchor recalls the port of Donges. The Latin motto of the town, which seems to be written on the scroll beneath the shield is Ad rivum Ligeris, labore nobila potens semper eris ("On the banks of the Loire, through work which ennobles you, you shall always be mighty").

Pascal Vagnat & Ivan Sache, 11 November 2002