Pont-Farcy

Pont-Farcy is a former commune in the Manche department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. Before 1 January 2018, it was part of the Calvados department.[2] On 1 January 2018, it was merged into the commune of Tessy-Bocage.[3]

Pont-Farcy
Part of Tessy-Bocage
Pont-Farcy from L'Archette
Coat of arms
Location of Pont-Farcy
Pont-Farcy
Pont-Farcy
Coordinates: 48°56′13″N 1°02′05″W
CountryFrance
RegionNormandy
DepartmentManche
ArrondissementSaint-Lô
CantonCondé-sur-Vire
CommuneTessy-Bocage
Area
1
13.45 km2 (5.19 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)[1]
532
 • Density40/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal code
14380
Elevation39–253 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.
The D52 Road in Calvados, France approaching Pont-Farcy, the cemetery is to the left

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 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.

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1962801—    
1968766−4.4%
1975613−20.0%
1982534−12.9%
1990487−8.8%
1999512+5.1%
2008525+2.5%

Its inhabitants are known as Farcy-Pontains.

Geography

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.

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 which bikes and canoes can be hired.

Personalities

One of the village's most famous residents is the Russian-born artist Timur D'Vatz, who is currently exhibiting in London, Venice, New York City and Paris.

gollark: Even better: I've already implemented it.
gollark: Wait, I have an idea - how about "UserCrafting"? The user gets out the items they want to use, then pushes a button to assemble the item, then uses a command to put it back into the system.
gollark: Well, this is complex and annoying.
gollark: Sort by available quantity?
gollark: If the user wants to use existing chests, they can get out existing chests.

References
  1. Téléchargement du fichier d'ensemble des populations légales en 2017, INSEE
  2. Décret n° 2017-1756 26 December 2017 (in French)
  3. Arrêté préfectoral 28 December 2017 (in French)
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