Pont-Farcy
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Commune of Pont-Farcy |
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| Location | |
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Basse-Normandie |
| Department | Calvados |
| Arrondissement | Vire |
| Canton | Saint-Sever-Calvados |
| Intercommunality | Communauté de communes Intercom Séverine |
| Mayor | Alain Deguette (2008-2014) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 39 m–253 m (avg. 86 m) |
| Land area¹ | 13.45 km² |
| Population² (1999) |
512 |
| - Density | 38.1/km² (1999) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 14513/ 14380 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
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Pont-Farcy (English: Bridge-Farcy or Farcy Bridge) is a French village or Commune in the département of Calvados, in the region of Basse-Normandie. Its postal code is 14380. The INSEE code is 14513 It's inhabitants are known as Farcy-Pontains.
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[edit] History
Pont Farcy has its origins in Gallo-Roman times, the town has always been an important crossing place due to its bridge over the River Vire It was also passed through by the Norman Duke's. Before the 20th century there is little evidence to suggest the village held much more than peasants, it probably wasn't considered a particularly important spot, as Saint-Sever-Calvados was. During the 20th century the village became a thriving River Port and a tow path starts here and stretches as far as the Normandy landing beaches. The village originally had a railway bridge but this was blown up by the Nazi's upon there retreat from the village in 1944. Pont-Farcy was liberated by the Americans on August 2, 1944. In the latter half of the 20th century the population has dropped from nearly 1,000 to about 500 (although in recent years it has picked up again) this has a lot to do with the Autoroute, which passes just north of the village.
[edit] Demographics
in 1962 the population of the village was 801. This has dropped over the years to 487 in 1990. However in recent years this number has risen again, too 517 in 2004.
[edit] Geography
The village is located on the D307a road, the nearest sizable villages are Villedieu-les-Poêles to the South-West, Saint-Martin-des-Besaces to the North-East. Tessy-sur-Vire and Saint-Lô to the North, and Sainte-Marie-Outre-l'Eau, Beaumesnil and Vire to the South.
[edit] Pont-Farcy
Pont-Farcy is a small rural village, surrounded by many small hamlets (some of which are no more than a single farm), sizable settlements neighbouring Pont-Farcy are named above. Pont-Farcy has a Petrol Station, a Bar and Newsagents, a Hotel and Restaurant called "Le Coq Hardi", a church with graveyard and a separate cemetery, the latter of which practices the French custom of naming the living on the tombstones (leaving the year of death blank). There is also a campsite along the banks of the River Vire, with an outdoor pursuits centre from where bikes and canoes can be hired.
[edit] Residents
One of the villages most famous residents is the Russian-born artist Timur D'Vatz, who is currently exhibiting in London, Venice, New York and Paris.
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