Lion-sur-Mer

French commune
name = Lion-sur-Mer


caption = The beach along the English Channel
region = Basse-Normandie
department = Calvados
arrondissement = Caen
canton = Douvres-la-Délivrande
intercomm = Agglomeration community of Caen la Mer
mayor = Jean-Marc Gilles
party = PS
mandat = 2008-2014
longitude = -0.31750
latitude = 49.30194
time zone = CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
alt moy = 6 m
alt mini = 0
alt maxi = 30 m
km² = 4.75
population = 2401
date-population = 1999
dens = 505
date-dens = 1999
insee = 14365
cp = 14780

Lion-sur-Mer is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northern France.

Its inhabitants are called the "lionnais" (and "lionnaise(s)" for women).

Geography

Lion-sur-Mer is located on the edge of the English Channel, more precisely on the "Côte de Nacre" (Mother of Pearl Coast), 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 20^th century
* "Saint-Pierre" church (Tower from the 1^st half of the 12^th century)
* 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").

port

* Hermanville sporting club (8 tennis clay courts)
* Municipal sailing school
* Sport complex (Gymnasium, tennis courts and soccer field)

Twin towns

Lion-sur-Mer is twinned with:
* Kiebingen in Baden-Württemberg, Germany

ee also

*Communes of the Calvados department

References

"Based on the article in the French Wikipedia."

Bibliography

* "Villas de Lion-sur-Mer et Hermanville-sur-Mer", Coll. Itinéraires du patrimoine, n°125

External links

* [http://lionsurmer-ancien.over-blog.com/ fr Lion sur Mer...Autrefois (Blog featuring old postcards of Lion-sur-Mer)]