Lion-sur-Mer

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Coordinates: 49°18′07″N, 0°19′03″E

Commune of Lion-sur-Mer
The beach along the English Channel
Location
Image:Paris_plan_pointer_b_jms.gif
Map highlighting the commune of
Time Zone CET (UTC +1)
Coordinates 49°18′07″N, 0°19′03″E
Administration
Country France
Region Basse-Normandie
Department Calvados
Mayor Jean-Marc Gilles (PS)
(2001-2008)
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: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.
France

Lion-sur-Mer is a commune in the Calvados département in the Basse-Normandie region of France.

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

Contents

[edit] 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.

[edit] History

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Museums

  • "Maison du fossile" ("House of the Fossil").

[edit] Sport

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

[edit] Miscellaneous

Lion-sur-Mer is twinned with:

[edit] Bibliography

  • (French) Villas de Lion-sur-Mer et Hermanville-sur-Mer, Coll. Itinéraires du patrimoine, n°125

[edit] External links

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