Saint-Contest

Saint-Contest (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ kɔ̃tɛ]) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France.

Saint-Contest
Commune
Church of Saint-Contest
Location of Saint-Contest
Saint-Contest Show map of France Saint-Contest Show map of Normandy
Coordinates: 49°12′52″N 0°24′01″W
Country	France
Region	Normandy
Department	Calvados
Arrondissement	Caen
Canton	Caen-2
Intercommunality	Caen la Mer
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Jean-Marc Philippe[1]
Area 1	8.05 km2 (3.11 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	2,459
• Density	310/km2 (790/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	14566 /14280
Elevation	54–77 m (177–253 ft) (avg. 77 m or 253 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History

Excavations at the Clos de Bitot site in 1984 uncovered four Gaulish kilns and evidence of domestic animal use, particularly dogs. Additionally, a Roman villa was identified through aerial photography in 1987, suggesting significant historical occupation.

The name Saint-Contest is derived from Saint Contest, who served as the Bishop of Bayeux between 480 and 513. The local church, dating back to the 11th century, was granted to the Abbey of Ardenne in 1207 by Gautier d'Aignaux, the then lord of Saint-Contest.

The commune was a strategic point during Operation Charnwood in July 1944, leading to extensive damage and loss of life.

Population

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 455 —     1800 455 +0.00% 1806 868 +11.37% 1821 890 +0.17% 1831 897 +0.08% 1836 926 +0.64% 1841 955 +0.62% 1846 933 −0.47% 1851 894 −0.85% 1856 885 −0.20% 1861 840 −1.04% 1866 857 +0.40% 1872 757 −2.05% 1876 711 −1.56% 1881 707 −0.11% 1886 683 −0.69% 1891 660 −0.68% 1896 567 −2.99%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 503 −2.37% 1906 493 −0.40% 1911 457 −1.51% 1921 431 −0.58% 1926 462 +1.40% 1931 504 +1.76% 1936 558 +2.06% 1946 418 −2.85% 1954 573 +4.02% 1962 647 +1.53% 1968 766 +2.85% 1975 810 +0.80% 1982 1,100 +4.47% 1990 1,541 +4.30% 1999 1,989 +2.88% 2007 2,351 +2.11% 2012 2,493 +1.18% 2017 2,517 +0.19%
Source: EHESS[3] and INSEE (1968-2017)[4]

Administration

Mayors of Saint-Contest

From	To	Name	Party
2001	2008	Michel Charpentier	Independent
2008	2014	Denis Desynder	Independent
2014	2020	Stéphanie Yon-Courtin	DVD

International relations

Saint-Contest is twinned with:

• Marchwood, near Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom.

Notable people

• François-Dominique Barberie de Saint-Contest (1701–1754): Marquis of Saint-Contest and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1751 to 1754.

See also

• Buron
• Communes of the Calvados department