St Lô

St Lô, a town of Normandy, dept. Manche, is built on a rocky elevation on the right bank of the Vire, 60 miles by rail S.E. of Cherbourg. A St Lô, Bishop of Coutances, built a church here in the 6th century; but the place was destroyed by the Normans in 888, and, having been rebuilt, taken by the English in 1346 and 1417. Noteworthy are the beautiful churches of Sainte-Croix, founded in 805, and Notre Dame (15th century). Cloth, ribbons, and laces are manufactured, and wool is spun. The astronomer Leverrier was born here in 1811. Pop. 10,327.