Clécy
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox French commune
Clécy (Template:IPA) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France.
In 1932 it was awarded the title The Capital of Suisse Normande by the Tourism Minister Monsieur Gourdeau.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Geography
Clécy is on the River Orne, in the middle of Norman Switzerland, about Template:Converts south of Caen. Covering Template:Convert it is the second largest commune in the canton of Le Hom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Commune consists of the following of villages and hamlets, Roche Taillis, Les Thomas, Le Clos d'Ailly, La Haute Bigne, La Faverie, Les Berthaumes, La Loterie, La Fresnée and Clécy.<ref name=gmaps>Template:Cite web</ref> The commune is spread over an area of Template:Convert with a maximum altitude of Template:Convert and minimum of Template:Convert<ref name="cadestral">Template:Cite web</ref>
Called the "Capital of Norman Switzerland", the village of Clécy owes its fame to the rugged and verdant Armorican massif, with valleys through which the Orne flows.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=sandre>Template:Sandre</ref> In addition to the Orne, two streams, The Val Fournet and La Porte also flow through the commune.<ref>Template:Sandre</ref><ref>Template:Sandre</ref>
The Commune with another 20 communes shares part of a 2,115 hectare, Natura 2000 conservation area, called the Vallée de l'Orne et ses affluents.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Plenty of outdoor activities are available: kayaking, paragliding, climbing, hill walking and mountain biking, taking advantage of the geology of Norman Switzerland.
Land distribution
The 2018 CORINE Land Cover assessment shows the vast majority of the land in the commune, 44% (Template:Convert) is Meadows followed by Heterogeneous agricultural land at 24%.<ref name="cadestral"/> The rest of the land is Forest at 16%, Arable land at 12% and the remaining 3% (Template:Convert) is urbanised.<ref name="cadestral"/>
History
The name "Clécy" is mentioned in 860 in the reign of Charles the Bald.
When French cantons were created, Clécy was the capital of the canton. This ceased to be the case after restructuring in 1801.
Clécy has a wealth of historical treasures: Châteaux and manor houses are spread all over Clécy and its surroundings. The Château de la Landelle is one of the oldest.
More recently, painters such as Paul-Émile Pissarro, Moteley and Andre Hardy have painted landscapes around Clécy.
Administration
| Election | Mayor | Party | Occupation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background-color: Template:Party color"| | 1989 | Claude Hergault | SE | |
| style="background-color: Template:Party color"| | 2008 | Michel Bar | SE | Farmer |
Population
Template:Historical populations Its inhabitants are called Clécyens in French. Template:Clear left
Economy
- Fromagerie Vallée (Valley Cheesemaker)
Sights
- The Château de La Landelle is one of the oldest monuments in the village.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At its base it is in the form of a cross, originally on one floor, but was changed to two floors when the wings were reworked. In the Second World War it was occupied by the Germans.
- Musée André Hardy (André Hardy Museum) <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Musée du chemin de fer miniature (Museum of miniature trains)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Eglise St Pierre (St Paul's church) (15th century)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Clécy Viaduct (1866)
Sport
The commune has an 18-hole golf course, Golf de Clecy Cantelou.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personalities
- Paul-Émile Pissarro (1884 – 1972) a French impressionist and neo-impressionist painter, died here.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Twin towns – sister cities
Template:See also Clécy is twinned with:
- Template:Flagicon Ermington, United Kingdom since 1980<ref name=twin>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:Flagicon Beyne-Heusay, Belgium since 1976<ref name=twin/>