Banville, Calvados

Banville (French pronunciation: [bɑ̃vil] ) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region of north-western France.

Geography

Banville is located in the Bessin area some 3 km south-west of Courseulles-sur-Mer and 5 km east of Crépon. Access to the commune is by the D12 road from Graye-sur-Mer in the north which passes through the village and continues south-west to Tierceville. The D112A goes west from the village to Sainte-Croix-sur-Mer. The commune is mostly farmland but with a significant sized residential area.

The Seulles river forms the entire eastern border of the commune as it flows north to the English Channel at Courseulles-sur-Mer.

Neighbouring communes and villages

History

During the invasion of Normandy Banville was located within 3 kilometres of Juno Beach (Mike sector), the landing zone for Canadian troops. The village was liberated on the 6 June 1944 by the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.

Heraldry

Administration

List of Successive Mayors

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Banvillais or Banvillaises in French.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has many buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:

The Reviers Bridge (17th century)
The Hervot Farmhouse at 12 rue du Bout du Haut (1913)
A Farmhouse at 25 Rue du Camp Romain (18th century)
A Notable's House at 8 Rue du Marché (18th century)
A Lavoir (Public laundry) at Route de Reviers (19th century)
A Chateau (1545)
A Girls' Primary School (19th century)
The old Town Hall (19th century)
The Village (Neolithic)
Houses (18th-19th century)

Other sites of interest

The Roman Camp of La Burette.

Religious heritage

The commune has several religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:

A Presbytery at 10 Rue du Bout du Haut (18th century)
A Calvary at Route de Courseulles-Sur-Mer (1912)
The Parish Church of Saint-Lo (18th century)

The Church contains many items that are registered as historical objects:

Notable people linked to the commune

Théodore Faullain de Banville (1823-1891), French poet, the Faullain family of Banville were well established since the 1750s at Moulins (Allier), but were originally from the commune.