Pontigny

PONTIGNY

Département : Yonne

Official blason

D'azur au pont d'argent de trois arches sommé d'un arbre de sinople lui-même sommé d'un nid d'argent rempli d'or et accosté de deux fleurs de lis d'or.

Origin/meaning

The river is the Serein that runs through the town; it was bridged and regulated by the Cistercian monks who lived at the abbey, founded in 1114. The brigde, pont, is canting.

The tree shows a bird's nest, a nid in French. In French nid and gny are pronounced the same way, the nest is thus canting for the second part of the name.The two fleur-de-lis are taken from the former French Royal arms.