Ouistreham
| Ouistreham | ||
|---|---|---|
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| region | Normandy | |
| Department | Calvados | |
| Arrondissement | Caen | |
| Canton | Ouistreham | |
| Community association | Caen la Mer | |
| Coordinates | 49 ° 17 ′ N , 0 ° 15 ′ W | |
| height | 0-32 m | |
| surface | 9.95 km 2 | |
| Residents | 9,081 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 913 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 14150 | |
| INSEE code | 14488 | |
| Website | ouistreham-rivabella.fr | |
Ouistreham is a commune in the French department of Calvados , Normandy region with 9081 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017).
geography
Ouistreham is located on the coast of the English Channel , around 14 kilometers north of Caen . The neighboring communities are Colleville-Montgomery in the west, Saint-Aubin-d'Arquenay and Bénouville in the south, and Merville-Franceville-Plage and Sallenelles in the east.
history
The name Ouistreham is of Germanic origin and is traced back to the settlement by Saxon settlers in the 4th or 5th century. It probably goes back to the location in the west (French: Ouest ) of the mouth of the Orne river , according to another theory to the occurrence of oysters ("oyster village"). The Saint-Samson church dates from the 12th century.
In the 19th century, Ouistreham developed into a holiday and excursion destination with beach villas, and the area around Ouistreham was given the name Riva Bella . Aristide Briand owned a country house and land near the Caen Canal . During the Allied landings in Normandy during World War II, the location was in the Sword Beach section . The Pegasus Bridge in the local area was captured by Allied paratroopers on June 5th and 6th as part of Operation Tonga in order to block German supply routes.
Population development
| year | 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 | 1999 | 2006 | 2016 |
| Residents | 4780 | 5223 | 6140 | 6310 | 6709 | 8679 | 9209 | 9117 |
| Sources: Cassini and INSEE | ||||||||
economy
Ouistreham is the commercial port of Caen, with which it is connected by the Canal de Caen à la Mer . Since 1986 there has been a ferry service to Portsmouth operated by Brittany Ferries . There is also a marina and a small fishing port.
Attractions
- Saint Samson Church
- Grange aux Dîmes
- Musée du mur de l'Atlantique
- Musée N ° 4 Commando
- Cinéma Michel Cabieu
- Ouistreham lighthouse
- Picture gallery
- Bunker from World War II
Town twinning
- Braine-l'Alleud , Belgium
- Lohr am Main , Germany
- Angmering (near Littlehampton ), UK
