Country France Department Manche Population (2006) 67 Arrondissement Cherbourg-Octeville | Region Normandy Canton Sainte-Mère-Église Area 4.03 km² | |
 | ||
Intercommunality communauté de communes de Sainte-Mère-Église | ||
Hiesville (other spellings: Yeville, or Hevilla) is a commune in the Manche department in north-western France. A small commune, Hiesville covers an area of just 4.03 km2 (1.56 sq mi). It is bounded by Boutteville to the north, Blosville to the west, Sainte-Marie-du-Mont to the east, and Vierville to the south, and lies several kilometres from the Normandy coast.
Contents
Map of 50480 Hiesville, France
The population was 67 as of 2006. It was 148 in 1871.
Etymology
It was known as Hevilla in 1164, de Heevilla in 1180, and Hievilla in 1327, It derives from the cognate hedo (translated from the Greek, meaning "delight" or "sweet"), and villa (translation: "village").
History
Michel le Loup, of Yeville (Hiesville), was knighted in the year 1543. The nobleman and squire, Guillaume Bellot of Hiesville was knighted in 1594. In 1598, Maurice du Praël owned the fiefdom and was the Lord of Hiesville. Eight years later, in 1606, the noblemen of Hiesville included Jacques Richier, Sieur de Colombières, a Calvinist; Jacques Bellot, Sieur de Callouville; and Pierre Lelong, Sieur de Limarcst, also a Calvinist. By 1789, Lord of Hiesville was Joseph-Bon-Pierre Le Vavasseur.
There are three memorials related to the invasion of Normandy during World War II in the area as it was where the gliders of the 101st Airborne Division landed. Officers of the 101st Airborne Division set a hospital up at the Chateau de Colombières which was at the north end of Hiesville, near Omaha Beach.
Landmarks
Notable buildings include the Église Saint-Côme Saint-Damien and the 17th century Château de Hiesville which was also renovated in the 19th century.
Église Saint-Côme Saint-Damien, the parish church, is an oblong square, and consists of a chancel and a nave. Built in the 13th century and renovated in the 19th century, it is dedicated to the patron saints of Saints Cosmas and Damian. Since 1803, it was an annex of Blosville, but this relationship ended in 1856.