Pont-Farcy

Pont-Farcy from L'Archette

Coat of arms

Pont-Farcy

Location within Normandy region

Pont-Farcy

Coordinates: 48°56′13″N 1°02′05″W / 48.9369°N 1.0347°WCoordinates: 48°56′13″N 1°02′05″W / 48.9369°N 1.0347°W

Country

Séverine

Government

• Mayor (2008–2014)

Alain Deguette

Area¹

13.45 km² (5.19 sq mi)

Population (2008)²

525

• Density

39/km² (100/sq mi)

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

• Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

INSEE/Postal code

14513 /14380

Elevation

39–253 m (128–830 ft)
(avg. 86 m or 282 ft)

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

²Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Pont-Farcy is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France.

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 Dukes of Normandy. 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 reaches as far as the Normandy landing beaches. The village originally had a railway bridge but this was blown up by the Nazis upon their retreat from the village in 1944. Pont-Farcy was liberated by the Americans on 2 August 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.

Its inhabitants are known as Farcy-Pontains.

The village is located on the D307a road, and the nearest sizable villages are Villedieu-les-Poêles to the southwest, Saint-Martin-des-Besaces to the northeast, Tessy-sur-Vire and Saint-Lô to the north, and Sainte-Marie-Outre-l'Eau, Beaumesnil and Vire to the south.

...
Wikipedia