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Barfleur
Commune in Normandy, France From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Barfleur (French pronunciation: [baʁflœʁ]) is a commune and fishing village in Manche, Normandy, northwestern France. It is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) Association.
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History
During the Middle Ages, Barfleur was one of the chief ports of embarkation for England.[3]
- 1066: A large medallion fixed to a rock in the harbour marks the Normans' departure from Barfleur before the battle of Hastings.
- 1120: The White Ship, carrying the sole legitimate heir to Henry I of England, William Adelin, went down approximately a mile northeast of the harbour,[4] setting the stage for the period of civil war in England known as the Anarchy.[3]
- 1194: Richard I of England departed from Barfleur on return to England following his captivity by Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor.
- 1692: Action at Barfleur, part of the battles of Barfleur and La Hougue
- 1944: Barfleur was occupied by the Germans during WWII. As allied forces approached following the D-Day invasion, the German commander evacuated the city prior to any confrontation to ensure that it would not be damaged, as he liked the city so much.
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Demographics
Geography
The commune is close to the northeastern tip of the Cotentin Peninsula. About two miles (3.2 km) to the north is Cape Barfleur, with a lighthouse 233 feet (71 m) high.[3] It is twinned with Lyme Regis in the UK. A Brittany Ferries vessel is named after the village and operates from nearby Cherbourg-Octeville to Poole in the UK.
Barfleur is very close to being the exact antipode of New Zealand's Antipodes Islands.
See also
References
External links
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