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Falaise, Calvados

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Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox French commune

Falaise (Template:IPA) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. The town is famous for being the birthplace of William the Conqueror.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was also the centre of the area known as the Falaise pocket, the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

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Falaise lies at the eastern edge of the Armorican Massif, and the town has rocky outcrops on its edges such as the 173 metre high Mount Myrrha.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The commune is spread over an area of Template:Convert with a maximum altitude of Template:Convert and minimum of Template:Convert<ref name="cadestral">Template:Cite web</ref>

Flowing through Falaise are the river Ante and the river Trainefeuille, both tributaries of the river Dives.<ref>Template:Sandre</ref><ref>Template:Sandre</ref><ref>Template:Sandre</ref>

Falaise borders the area known as Suisse Normande, on its eastern side.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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Land distribution

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According to the 2018 CORINE Land Cover assessment, it shows that just over a third,35% (Template:Convert) is Meadows, closely followed at 29% by Urbanised. <ref name="cadestral"/> The rest of the land is Arable land at 24%, Industrial and commercial spaces at 9% and the remaining 2% (Template:Convert) is Forest.<ref name="cadestral"/>

Climate

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History

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The area around Falaise has been inhabited from Mesolithic times (approximately 7000BC) , but it was only at the end of the prehistoric period and the beginning of the Gallo-Roman era that the area, Falaise in particular, was regularly inhabited.<ref name="casthist">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Evidence of settlement from the time has been found at Vaston, an agricultural area just north-east of the modern town.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Middle Ages

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In 911 AD the town became part of the Duchy of Normandy when King Rollo was granted lands, including Falaise, by Charles the Simple in exchange for Rollo agreeing to end his brigandage, swear allegiance to Charles, convert to Christianity, and pledge to defend the Seine estuary from other Viking raiders.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="casthist"/>

File:Chateau-falaise-calvados.jpg
The Château de Falaise on its rocky crag

Falaise, as it is sited today, probably came into being around the castle.Template:Citation needed

The town was the birthplace of William the Conqueror, first of the Norman kings of England. He was frequently referred to as William the Bastard, on account of his being born out of wedlock to Herleva from Falaise, reputedly a tanner's daughter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Château de Falaise (12th–13th century), which overlooks the town from a high crag (Template:Langx), was formerly the seat of the Dukes of Normandy. Also, the Treaty of Falaise was signed at the castle in December 1174 between the captive William I, King of Scots, and the Plantagenet king of England, Henry II.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At the end of the 12th centaury Philip II of France took control of Normandy and Falaise from the Normans, and building a new Tower for the towns castle, as well as restoring the Holy Trinity Church in the town.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The town was also the place that Rabbi Yom Tov of Falaise, grandchild of Rashi, held his rabbinical court, during the 13th centaury.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the Hundred Years' War the town remained under control of the English until 1450 when the French won the Siege of Falaise.<ref name="casthist"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Modern era

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In January 1590 the castle was besieged by the troops of Henry IV of France as part of the French Wars of Religion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="casthist"/> The damaged caused to the castle from the cannons during this last siege marked the end of Falaise being a significant military strategic point.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 26 October 1851, a statue of William the Conqueror was inaugurated here (at his place of birth).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

World War II

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File:Falaisegap.jpg
After the Liberation of Falaise by the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division on 17 August 1944, U.S. troops pose with a captured German flag by a knocked-out tank.

In modern times, it is known for the battle of the Falaise Pocket during the Allied reconquest of France (called Operation Overlord) in August 1944 in which two German armies were encircled and destroyed by the allied armies. Some 10,000 German troops were killed and 50,000 taken prisoner.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Two-thirds of Falaise was destroyed by allied bombing before the town was taken by a combined force of Canadian and Polish troops. Falaise was largely restored after the war.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Post War to today

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File:Jeanne 15 - FALAISE - Le Chateau et le Brèche Henri IV.JPG
Postcard showing the old railway line at foot of the castle

In 1953 Falaise station stopped its public rail services, having served the town for 94 years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The station continued serving freight only before finally closing in 1990, whereit was demolished and replaceed with a supermarket.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Population

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Points of Interest

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Château de Falaise

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The main attraction for the town is the Château de Falaise, which was used by Norman royalty as the seat of the Dukes of Normandy, until the 13th century, when it was captured by King Philip II of France. It is commonly known as Château Guillaume le Conquérant or William the Conqueror's Castle as he was born here.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1840 it was declared a monument historique in 1840, and today is open to the public.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

National heritage sites

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In addition to the castle Falaise has another 23 buildings and areas listed as a monument historique.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref> Three of these listed buildings, the old courthouse and two houses, are no longer remaining as were destroyed during World War II.<ref name="auto"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Another three listed buildings are town houses from the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The remaining 17 listed sites are below:

  • Château de la Fresnaye – a seventeenth-century chateau, home of Nicolas Vauquelin, that was listed as a monument in 1945.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since 1986 it has been owned by the city and is now used for hosting exhibitions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Statue of William the Conqueror – a nineteenth-century statue, showing William the Conqueror, mounted on a horse, and carrying the Gonfalon which had been handed over to him by Pope Alexander II.<ref name=stat>Template:Cite web</ref> The statue was created by Louis Rochet, and was listed as a monument in 2024.<ref name=stat/>
  • Place Guillaume-le-Conquérant – The cobblestone floor surrounding the statue and leading to the castle was listed as a monument in 1935.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Old City walls – Remains of the 13th century and 17th century city walls, which were first listed as a monument in 1927.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Covered market – Built in 1953 to replace the old grain hall which was destroyed during the war, the building was listed as a monument in 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Mesnil-Besnard Manor – a 16th-century manor house listed as a monument in 1987.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Hôtel-Dieu – a thirteenth century place for the sick and elderly to receive care.<ref name=mediatech>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1764 it was converted to a chapel, which it remained as such until World War 2, when it was almost completely destroyed.<ref name=mediatech/> During the 1960s and 1970s it was completely restored and is now the Cities Library.<ref name=mediatech/> It was registered as a monument in 1927.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • La Romaine Inn – Former seventeenth century hostel, that was listed as a monument in 1946.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Inn sign – a 17th-century carved stone sign for an Inn, listed as a monument in 1946.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Guibray fair lodges – Former 18th century lodge house, registered as a monument in 1975.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Hotel Saint-Léonard – an 18th-century hotel that was listed as a monument in 1968.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Les Rives Hotel – a former hotel built in the 18th century, that was recently discovered to be on top of medieval remains.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The building was listed as a monument in 1967.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Louis Liard Lycée – This secondary school for boys was built in the third quarter of the 20th century after the original school was destroyed in World War 2.<ref name=lycee>Template:Cite web</ref> The building was listed in 2010.<ref name=lycee/>
  • Church of Our Lady of Guibray – a 12th-century Romanesque church listed as a monument in 1961.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Church of Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais – a twelfth-century church that's construction probably began shortly after the conquest of England in 1066, at the instigation of William the Conqueror.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was listed as a monument in 1862.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Church of St. Lawrence – a 12th-century church, built with donations from Matilda of Flanders.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was listed as a monument in 1927.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Holy Trinity Church – First built in 840 but it was destroyed during the siege of Philippe Auguste then rebuilt in 1204.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was listed in 1889.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Museums

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  • Musée des Automates – Established in 1994, the museum is dedicated to Automatons, mainly ones between 1920 and 1960, with over 300 on display.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • André Lemaître Museum – established in 2000 is dedicated to the work of artist André Lemaître.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in December 2022 the museum added Micro-Folie de Falaise – Espace André Lemaitre, which allows visitors to access digitally on giant screens 2,500 art works from 12 major French museums.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Memorial des Civils dans La Guerre histoire – inaugurated in 2016, the museum is dedicated to the daily life of the people at the heart of the Second World War and pays tribute to the 20,000 civilians killed at the Battle of Normandy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people and animals

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Twin towns – sister cities

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File:Émile Appay - Falaise.JPG
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Template:See also Falaise is twinned with:

See also

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References

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Template:Commons category Template:NIE Poster

Template:Calvados communes Template:Authority control

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