Baron-sur-Odon
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox French commune Baron-sur-Odon (Template:IPA) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region of north-western France.<ref>INSEE commune file</ref>
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Baronnais or Baronnaises.<ref>Inhabitants of Calvados Template:In lang</ref>
The commune has been awarded one flower by the National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom in the Competition of cities and villages in Bloom.<ref>Competition for Towns and Villages in Bloom website Template:Webarchive Template:In lang</ref>
Geography
Baron-sur-Odon is located some 4 km south-west of Caen and 10 km north-east of Villers-Bocage. It is part of the urban area of Caen. Access to the commune is by the D89 from Tourville-sur-Odon in the north which passes through the village and continues south to Esquay-Notre-Dame. The D214 comes from Gavrus in the south-west and also passes through the village as well as Les Crettes and La Bruyère before continuing north-east to Fontaine-Étoupefour. Apart from the village there are the hamlets of Tourmauville, Les Crettes, and La Bruyère. The commune is mostly farmland except for some forest in the north.<ref name=Google/><ref name=Geo/>
The river Odon forms the northern border of the commune as it flows north-east to join the Orne in Caen.
Toponymy
The name of the area is attested as Baron in 1138<ref>Ernest Nègre, General Toponymy of France, Librairie Droz, 1990, Vol II, 676 pages, p. 829, Template:ISBN Template:In lang.</ref> and Baro in the 14th century.<ref name="Dauzat">Albert Dauzat and Charles Rostaing, Etymological Dictionary of place names in France, Larousse, Paris, 1963 Template:In lang</ref> The origin of this place name is uncertain. Albert Dauzat suggests the cognomen Baro or a title of German origin Baron.<ref name="Dauzat"/> René Lepelley meanwhile detects the Gallic barro meaning "fence" (in old French barre) or the Germanic anthroponym Baro.<ref>René Lepelley, Etymological Dictionary of names of communes in Normandy, Éditions Charles Corlet, Condé-sur-Noireau, 1996, BnF 36174448w p. 59 Template:In lang</ref>
History
Baron-sur-Odon appears as Baron on the 1750 Cassini Map<ref name=Cassini1750/> and the same on the 1790 version.<ref name=Cassini1790/>
The "Chemin Haussé", which passes through the commune, is a Roman road identified as one of the roads included in the Tabula Peutingeriana. The road is mostly straight with embankments hence the name (Haussé means "raised"). This route was used as a line of communication until the end of the Middle Ages. It is also called the "Path of Duke William" on some land registers.<ref>The Chemin Haussé on Panoramio Template:Webarchive Template:In lang</ref>
In June 1944, during Operation Epsom, the heights of Hill 112 south-east of Baron-sur-Odon (also in the communes of Fontaine-Étoupefour, Vieux, and Esquay-Notre-Dame) was one objectives for the liberation of Caen. The fighting lasted more than a month.
Heraldry
The explanation of this blazon follows:<ref>From an explanatory document from the town hall of Baron-sur-Odon: the blazon project was proposed in the municipal council by Mr. Collard and Mr. Maheut and adopted unanimously.</ref>
- The Croix de Guerre was awarded to the commune after the Battle of Hill 112 which took place on its soil.
- The arms of the Basse-Normandie region are represented by two golden leopards.
The horseshoe symbolizes the escape of William the Conqueror (from Valognes to Falaise in 1047) with his horse shod in reverse to mislead his pursuers. The ripples represent the river Odon.
Administration
{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B=Template:AmboxTemplate:Main other }} List of Successive Mayors<ref>List of Mayors of France Template:In lang</ref>
| From | To | Name | Party | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1983 | Charles Duboscq | ||
| 1983 | 1995 | Gérard Maheut | ||
| 1995 | 2008 | Joseph Desquesnes | ||
| 2008 | 2026<ref>Reelection 2014: Georges Laignel was elected Mayor for a second term, Ouest-France, consulted on 8 April 2014 Template:In lang</ref> | Georges Laignel |
The municipal council consists of 15 members including a Mayor and four deputies.<ref>art L. 2121-2 of the General Code of Collective Territories Template:In lang.</ref>
Twinning
Template:See also Baron-sur-Odon has twinning associations with:<ref>National Commission for Decentralised cooperation Template:In lang</ref>
- Template:Flagicon Gaukönigshofen (Germany) since 1998.
- Template:Flagicon Chittlehampton (United Kingdom) since 1986.
Demography
In 2017 the commune had 939 inhabitants.
Template:Historical populations
Culture and heritage
Civil heritage
- The Chateau of Tourmeauville (18th century) with its Chapel (19th century)
- A Chateau and Manor (16th century)Template:Mérimée Icon is registered as an historical monument<ref>Template:Base Mérimée</ref>
Religious heritage
The Church of Notre-Dame of the Nativity (12th century)Template:Mérimée Icon is registered as an historical monument.<ref>Template:Base Mérimée</ref>