View source for Condom, Gers

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{other uses|Condom (disambiguation)}}
{{Expand French|Condom (Gers)|date=July 2014|topic=geo}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name                   = Condom
|commune status         = [[Subprefectures in France|Subprefecture]] and [[Communes of France|commune]]
|image                  = Condom.jpg
|caption                = [[Condom Cathedral]]
|arrondissement         = Condom
|image coat of arms     = Blason ville fr Condom (Gers).svg
|canton                 = Baïse-Armagnac
|INSEE                  = 32107
|postal code            = 32100
|mayor                  = Jean-François Rousse<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
|term                   = 2020&ndash;2026
|intercommunality       = La Ténarèze
|coordinates            = {{coord|43.96|0.37|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m            = 82
|elevation min m        = 62
|elevation max m        = 190
|area km2               = 97.37
|population             = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}

'''Condom''' ({{IPA|fr|kɔ̃dɔ̃|-|Fr-Paris--Condom.ogg}}; {{langx|oc|Condòm}}), also known as '''Condom-en-Armagnac''', is a [[Communes of France|commune]] in southwestern [[France]] in the [[Departments of France|department]] of [[Gers]], of which it is a [[Subprefectures in France|subprefecture]].

== Geography ==
=== Localisation ===
The town of Condom is located in the northern part of the [[Departments of France|department]] of [[Gers]], halfway between [[Mont-de-Marsan]] (to the west) and [[Montauban]] (to the east), and north of [[Auch]].

[[File:Map commune FR insee code 32107.png|thumb|left|300px|Condom and its surrounding communes]]

=== Roads and transports ===
;Way of St. James
Condom is a town on the [[Via Podiensis]], one of the three major French arms of the pilgrimage route, the [[Way of St. James]].

This particular route begins in [[Le Puy-en-Velay|Le Puy]] and ends in [[Santiago de Compostela]] in northwest [[Spain]]. [[Pilgrim]]s arrive at Condom after [[Miradoux]] and continue on to [[Larressingle]].

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== Toponymy ==
The [[Toponymy|toponym]] ''Condom'' comes from the [[Gaulish language|Gaulish]] words ''condate'' and ''magos'' combined into ''Condatomagos'', which means "[[market (place)|market]] or field, of the [[confluence]]".

''Condatómagos'' evolved into ''Condatóm'' and then into ''Conddóm''. ''Condom'' was first recorded in [[Latin language|Latin]] in the 10th century as ''{{lang|la|Condomus}}'' or ''{{lang|la|Condomium}}''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=rsNpi7IVulEC&dq=Condom+toponymie&pg=PA192 Ernest Nègre, "Toponymie générale de la France, Volume 1", p.192]</ref> It is where the river [[:fr:Gèle|Gèle]] flows into the river [[Baïse]].<ref name=sandre>{{sandre|id=O6670500|nom=La Gèle}}</ref>

Although the French word for a ''condom'' is ''{{lang|fr|préservatif}}'', in 1995 the town's mayor, taking advantage of the incidental relationship between the town's name and the English word, opened a museum of contraceptives. It operated until 2005.<ref>{{cite news |last=Meslin |first=Franck |date=4 August 2012 |title=La capote colle toujours à la peau de Condom Tous les projets ont capoté |language=fr |newspaper=[[Sud Ouest (newspaper)|Sud Ouest]] |url=http://www.sudouest.fr/2012/08/04/la-capote-colle-toujours-a-la-peau-de-condomtous-les-projets-ont-capote-786852-2362.php |access-date=}}</ref>

== Politics and administration ==
=== Mayors ===
{|class="wikitable"
|- 
! Mayor
! Term start 
! Term end
|-
|Jean Dubos
|align=center|1983
|align=center|1983
|-
|Jacques Moisan
|align=center|1989
|align=center|1995
|-
|Gérard Dubrac
|align=center|1995
|align=center|2008
|-
|Bernard Gallardo
|align=center|2008
|align=center|2014
|-
|Gérard Dubrac
|align=center|2014
|align=center|2020
|-
|Jean-François Rousse
|align=center|2020
|align=center|
|}

=== Twin towns ===
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Grünberg, Hesse|Grünberg]], [[Germany]] – since 1973
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Toro, Zamora|Toro]], [[Spain]]

== Population ==
{{Historical populations
|align = none
|cols = 2
|percentages = pagr
|source = EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess|10126|Condom}}</ref> and INSEE (1968-2017)<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-32107#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
|1793 |11064
|1800 |6650
|1806 |7051
|1821 |7146
|1831 |7144
|1841 |6915
|1846 |7195
|1851 |7205
|1856 |7553
|1861 |8070
|1866 |8140
|1872 |8282
|1876 |7873
|1881 |8555
|1886 |7902
|1891 |7405
|1896 |7045
|1901 |6578
|1906 |6435
|1911 |6380
|1921 |5773
|1926 |6355
|1931 |6310
|1936 |6233
|1946 |6725
|1954 |6781
|1962 |6850
|1968 |7326
|1975 |7853
|1982 |7634
|1990 |7717
|1999 |7251
|2007 |7147
|2012 |6927
|2017 |6530
|2020 |6478
}}

==Tourism==
Condom is the site of two castles, the [[Castles in Gers|Château de Mothes and the Château de Pouypardin]], both started in the 13th century. In total, 19 sites in Condom are listed as ''[[monument historique|monuments historiques]]'' by the [[French Ministry of Culture]], including the [[Condom Cathedral|cathedral]], churches and houses.

Condom is known for the production of [[Armagnac (drink)|Armagnac]], an international music festival of "bandas", an international chess tournament and an international chess marathon. It is also known for its tourism with farm campings and boating on waterways.  It is also home to a museum about Armagnac.<ref>{{cite web |title=Musée de l’Armagnac |work=Museum Information |publisher=Occitanie Museums |year=2023 |url=https://musees-occitanie.fr/en/musee/musee-de-larmagnac/ |access-date=20 December 2023 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.brouquere.com/visit/condom_en.htm The Town of Condom] (retrieved November 6, 2007)</ref>

A statue of [[The Three Musketeers]] and [[d'Artagnan]] stands beside the cathedral and was created in 2010 by [[Zurab Tsereteli]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-73234222/stock-photo-condom-france-september-statue-of-d-artagnan-and-the-three-musketeers-the-sculptor-is-zurab.html|title = Condom France September 4 Statue Dartagnan Stock Photo (Edit Now) 73234222}}</ref>

{{clear left}}

== Notable people ==
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2025}}
* [[Blaise de Lasseran-Massencôme, seigneur de Montluc|Blaise de Montluc]], marshal of France, buried in Condom
* [[Scipion Dupleix]] (1569–1661)
* [[Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet]] (1627–1704)
* [[Jean-Charles Persil]] (1785–1870)
* [[Narcisse-Achille de Salvandy]] (1795–1856)
* [[Sarah Maldoror]] (1929–2020)
* [[Samuel Marques]], (1988–) Portuguese rugby union player, born in Condom
* [[Stéphane Abrial]] (1954–), French general born in Condom<ref>{{cite web |title=General Stéphane Abrial: Chief of Staff of the French Air Force |publisher=NATO |date=2009-08-04 |url=http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2009_09/20090804_bio_gaa_abrial-en.pdf |access-date=16 September 2016 }}</ref>
* [[Siouxsie Sioux]] (1957–), English singer and songwriter, moved to Condom in 1992 and left in 2015.<ref>[[Morrissey]], "Autobiography",
Penguin Classics, 2014</ref>
* [[Budgie (musician)|Budgie]] (1957-), English drummer and songwriter, arrived in Condom in 1992 and left in 2006
* [[Grégory Alldritt]] (1997–), French Rugby Union player
* [[Jean-Louis Palladin]] (1946–2001), French/American Chef<ref>{{cite web |last=Stanley |first=Laura |title=Chef Jean-Louis Palladin Dies of Lung Cancer |work= |publisher=[[Wine Spectator]] |date=27 November 2001 |url=https://www.winespectator.com/articles/chef-jean-louis-palladin-dies-of-lung-cancer-21100 |access-date=1 January 2025 }}</ref>
* [[Larry L'Estrange]] (1934–2007), British soldier and rugby player, retired in Condom

==See also==
*[[Bishop of Condom]]
*[[Place names considered unusual]]
*[[Communes of the Gers department]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Condom (Gers)}}
*{{official website|http://www.condom.org}} {{in lang|fr}}
*{{Search Mérimée|32107}}
* [http://pamir.chez-alice.fr/Condom/Condom.htm Pictures of Condom] {{in lang|fr}}
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112556/ Le bonheur est dans le pré] (Internet Movie Database)

{{Gers communes}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Communes of Gers]]
[[Category:Subprefectures in France]]
[[Category:Gers communes articles needing translation from French Wikipedia]]