During the 9C A.D, the Celts called the ABRINCATES (people from the Abers) occupied the region: under their domination the town already experienced animation and vitality.
After the war of the Gauls, the town became a Gallo-Roman capital which enjoyed a certain prosperity for three centuries. Then the Saxons made their incursions followed by the Franks who settled down in 786. From the early centuries, the country became Christian and Avranches became a bishopric's centre. For over a thousand years, bishops were to become the most important figures of the town. One of them, Saint Aubert, founded in 708, on Mont Tombe, a sanctuary which was to become the west's most famous place of pilgrimage: the Mont-Saint-Michel.

 Charlemagne is reported to have stayed in Avranches, but it is Norman domination that will transform the town into a mighty citadel after the Avranchin reunion in the Normandy dukedom in 933. Hughes "Le Loup"(the wolf), companion of William the Conqueror and viscount of Avranches, will even become Earl of Chester in England.

 A Romanesque cathedral devoted to Saint-André "the beautiful Andrine" was erected facing the bay. The Italians, Lanfranc de Pavie and Anselme d'Aoste, future archbishops of Cantorbery, distinguished themselves by giving lectures around the Episcopal palace. The mighty King of England, Henry II of Plantagenêt, had to come over in 1172 to make public penance in front of the papal legate, at the Cathedral's entrance, for the murder of Thomas Beckett which had upset the entire Christendom.

 After the return of Normandy to France in 1204, according to the King Louis IX 's desires, Avranches became a royal city. Saint-Louis enjoyed staying in the "Good town" for which he got the walls fortified.

 The Hundred Years' War sees the English, the Navarrins and the supporters of the King of France confront each other ruthlessly. During the Wars of Religion in the 16C, the town took cause for the ultra-catholic League and refused to acknowledge Henry IV as the legitimate King. During the winter of 1590, the cannons belonging to the duke of Montpensier shook and reduced the defenses of the besieged town. In 1639, the "Nu-Pieds" (naked feet) revolt with Jean Quetil. Richelieu wanted to impose on the people of the region who were living on the riches coming from their salt works a tax on salt (the gabelle) at the expense of the "quart-bouillon" privileges (system which allowed the king to withhold a quarter of the production of salt). The Royal Army exercised a fierce repression and the brutish soldiers put the town's outskirts to fire and sword.

 These fratricidal conflicts won't prevent the inhabitants of Avranches from participating to the humanist expansion which took place during the Renaissance and then to the main cultural trends which caracterized the Age of Enlightenment. It's the era when Daniel Huet, archbishop of Avranches, ia renouned for being one of the best educated men of his time (1630/1721).

 The French Revolution brings to the city some necessary reforms welcomed favourably as well as a series of misfortunes. The rebellious priests were persecuted, the inhabitants of Avranches revolt. Chouans and the French Republican armies fight on the streets. Avranches looses its bishopric and Saint André's cathedral, symbol of these upheavals, collapsed one night of April 1794.

 In the 19C the town will benefit from a significant demographic expansion, therefore its districts spread out around the hill. The Empire wars gave to the city its Napoleonic hero: Roger Valhubert who was fatally wounded by a cannonball at the battle of Austerlitz.

World War II is the last great ordeal: after 4 years of German occupation, the American bombings destroyed the vast majority of the town. However in succeeding the "breakthrough of Avranches", General Patton's tanks delivered the town on the 31 July 1944 and this became the prelude to the liberation of the country.

Subprefecture of the Manche, Avranches has approx 10000 inhabitants, whereas the district has 117432. Therefore in the first place, the town is an administrative centre, seat of a magistrates' court and a crown court, which has a strong influence on a mainly agricultural region. The breeding of sheep on the sandbanks of the Mont-Saint-Michel bay (salt meadows), of dairy cows and horses on the inland are practised. Due to the proximity of the sea, the temperate climate favours wonderful market gardening. In this context, Avranches was able to harmoniously develop its trade. Amid a pleasant and polished setting, one can find a vast range of products & services to satisfy the most diverse tastes and demands. The town comes to life particularly on Saturday with the market which attracts the neighbouring populations and offers, amongst other things, very much appreciated farm products.