Country France Arrondissement Vire Time zone CET (UTC+1) Local time Tuesday 1:00 AM INSEE/Postal code 14762 /14500 Department Calvados | Region Normandy Canton Vire Area 22.5 km² Population (2008)2 12,231 Area1 22.50 km2 (8.69 sq mi) | |
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Elevation 85–225 m (279–738 ft)
(avg. 134 m or 440 ft) Weather 8°C, Wind SW at 3 km/h, 84% Humidity | ||
Vire ([viʁ]) is a town and a former commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Vire-Normandie.
Contents
- Map of 14500 Vire France
- Geography
- History
- Administration
- Gastronomy
- International relations
- Personalities
- References
Map of 14500 Vire, France
Geography
The town is located on the river Vire.
History
In 1123, Henri I Beauclerc, King of England and Duke of Normandy, had a redoubt constructed on a rocky hill top, which was surrounded by the Vire river. The redoubt was stoned square at the bottom to assure the defense of the Duchy of Normandy against any attacks from Brittany or Maine.
This stone work would be later, At the beginning of the 13th century, Saint Louisordered that the existing stonework be supplemented with exterior ramparts. However this second precinct was only finished at the beginning of the 14th century.
In the old community of Neuville, north of the territory, the castle of Tracy is the seat of an important manor, Arcisse de Caumont.
At the end of the Middle Ages, the village prospered; first with leather, and then with textiles During the hundred years war, Vire was plundered in 1368 by large military companies, and delivered to the English in 1418. The English occupation would end in 1450 and would be brutal to the inhabitants. The execution of Hugues Vaux, owner of the largest farm of the village, after refusing to give up his farm to the English sergeant Fields, caused grief and concern amongst the population. Some inhabitants nevertheless benefited from the English occupation. Eugène Vergny, who provided Fields with information about the movement of the French troops, received the property of Vaux after his execution.
During the reign of Louis XIII of France, because a number of Fortifications of the Middle Ages served in rebellions by the Huguenots in particular, the castle and its precinct were dismantled on orders of Richelieu.
During the 19th century, the village did not respond well to the Industrial Revolution and went into an important recession.
On June 6, 1944 during the Second World War, around 8:00 pm, like many Norman cities and villages, Vire suffered heavily from the British bombings, and 95% of the town was destroyed. One of the two target marking flare groups was out of alignment and much of the bombing fell across the town of Vire. The Master Bomber in charge of the operation identified the problem and issued corrections to the incoming aircraft. Much of the bombing from the first wave of aircraft fell across the town of Vire killing many of the inhabitants. It was a distressing night for many families.
The reconstruction after the second world war began in the 1960s.
Administration
In 1953 Vire was merged with the former commune of Neuville. In 1972 Vire was merged with the former commune of Saint-Martin-de-Tallevende. Vire is part of the canton of Vire.
Gastronomy
International relations
Vire is twinned with: