| Lion-sur-Mer | ||
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| The beach along the English Channel. | ||
| Location | ||
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| Time Zone | CET (GMT +1) | |
| Coordinates | ||
| Administration | ||
|---|---|---|
| Country | France | |
| Region | Basse-Normandie | |
| Department | Calvados (14) | |
| Mayor | Jean-Marc Gilles (PS) (2001-2008) |
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| Statistics | ||
| Land area¹ | 4.75 km² | |
| Population² (1999) |
2,401 | |
| - Density | 505/km² (1999) | |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| INSEE/Postal code | 14365/ 14780 | |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | ||
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel). | ||
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Lion-sur-Mer is a commune of the Calvados département, in the Basse-Normandie région, in France. Its inhabitants are called the lionnais (and lionnaise(s) for women).
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Geography
Lion-sur-Mer is located on the edge of the English Channel, more precisely on the Côte de Nacre (Coast of nacre), about 15 km North of Caen. The beach is made of fine sand and is bordered, to the West, by middle-sized cliffes. The town is served by 2 bus services : line #1 of the Bus Verts du Calvados and line #62 of Twisto. A ferry of Brittany Ferries links Ouistreham (5 km from Lion-sur-Mer) to Portsmouth in England.
History
- June 6, 1944 : The D-Day of the Battle of Normandy during World War II. British soldiers landed on the beach of Lion-sur-Mer which was a part of the Sword Beach sector.
Places and landmarks
- The beach, its promenade (La digue) and its villas from the beginning of the 20th century
 To the East, the beach with the promenade (in the foreground, the SNSM look-out post) |
 The promenade as seen from the beach |
 To the West, the coast with the cliffes in the background |
- Saint-Pierre church (Tower from the 1st half of the 12th century)
 Façade of the church |
- Lion-sur-Mer castle (Closed to the public)
- The "le Castel Louis" house (listed building), ancient casino built in 1866-1868 and then transformed in the art nouveau style.
Events
- "Les terrasses de l’été" ("The summer terraces") : about 40 free animations and concerts in july and august.
- Flea markets several times per year.
Museums
- "Maison du fossile" ("House of the Fossil").
Sport
- Hermanville sporting club (8 tennis clay courts)
- Municipal sailing school
- Sport complex (Gymnasium, tennis courts and soccer field)
Miscellaneous
Lion-sur-Mer is twinned with:
- Kiebingen in Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Bibliography
- (French) Villas de Lion-sur-Mer et Hermanville-sur-Mer, Coll. Itinéraires du patrimoine, n°125
