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{{for|the Iranian drink|Ayran}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name                   = Airan
|image                  = Chateau Coupigny.JPG
|caption                = Chateau of Coupigny
|arrondissement         = Caen
|canton                 = Troarn
|INSEE                  = 14005
|postal code            = 14370
|commune                = [[Valambray]]
|coordinates            = {{coord|49.1019|-0.1506|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m            = 30
|elevation min m        = 22
|elevation max m        = 64
|area km2               = 13.5
|population             = 648
|population date        = 2021
|population footnotes   = <ref name=pop2021>{{cite web|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/7739582/ensemble.pdf|title=Populations légales 2021|language=fr|trans-title=Legal populations 2021|publisher=[[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques|INSEE]]|date=December 2023}}</ref>
}}

'''Airan''' ({{IPA|fr|ɛʁɑ̃|-|Fr-Airan.ogg}}) is a former [[Communes of France|commune]] in the [[Calvados (department)|Calvados]] [[Departments of France|department]] in the [[Normandy (administrative region)|Normandy]] [[Regions of France|region]] of northwestern [[France]]. On 1 January 2017, it was merged into the new commune [[Valambray]].<ref>[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/eli/arrete/2016/9/8/INTB1629565A/jo/texte Arrêté préfectoral] 8 September 2016 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

==Geography==
Airan is located some 17&nbsp;km south-east of [[Caen]] and 25&nbsp;km east by south-east of [[Lisieux]]. It can be accessed from the D40 from [[Vimont, Calvados|Vimont]] in the north-west, passing through the south of the commune and continuing south-east to [[Vieux-Fumé]]. The D613 (Route de Paris) also from Vimont passes through the north of the commune and continues east to [[Crèvecœur-en-Auge]]. Neither road passes the village which can be accessed by the D47 road from [[Moult, Calvados|Moult]] in the west which passes through the village then the heart of the commune before continuing south-east to [[Cesny-aux-Vignes]]. There is also the D43 road coming from the north through the village and continuing south to [[Fierville-Bray]]. The railway from Caen to [[Mézidon-Canon]] passes through the commune from west to east but there is no station in the commune. The nearest station is Bonafini to the west. The commune is quite large in extent and consists almost entirely of farmland with a few small patches of forest. Apart from the village there are also the hamlets of Le Haute-des-Pedouzes, Le Ruel, Valmeray, and Coupigny.<ref name=Google>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Airan,+France/@49.0872694,-0.138444,11935m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x480a7240e9dee7b3:0x40c14484fbcfdd0?hl=en Google Maps]</ref>

The ''Muance'' river forms part of the western border of the commune before it flows west then north to join the [[Dives (river)|Dives river]] through a network of canals near Bures-sur-Dives. The ''Douet'' also rises in the north of the commune and forms part of the northern border before continuing north to join the Dives near Hernetot.<ref name=Google/>

{{Geographic location
|width=auto
|title = '''Neighbouring communes and villages'''<ref name=Google/>
|Centre    = Airan 
|North     = [[Argences]]
|Northeast = [[Méry-Corbon]]
|East      = [[Magny-le-Freule]]
|Southeast = [[Cesny-aux-Vignes]]
|South     = [[Vieux-Fumé]]
|Southwest = [[Billy, Calvados|Billy]]
|West      = [[Chicheboville]]
|Northwest = [[Moult, Calvados|Moult]]
}}

==Toponymy==
The name is of Continental Germanic origin in an area where such origins are rare (''Heidram'' from the 9th century), possibly a personal name taken from ''Heidrammus'' or alternatively the name ''-ham'' preceded by an appellative or an unidentified person's name.

==History==
Archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of a [[Merovingian]] [[necropolis]]. There is a legend of the famous ''Treasure of Airan''.

In 1942, the [[French Resistance|resistance]] caused two derailments in the commune - on the night of 15 to 16 April and also on 30 April to 1 May. These two derailments left a total of forty dead and fifty wounded German soldiers who were on leave in these trains. Following this Nazi repression was brutal for many hostages: some were shot, others deported.

==Administration==
{{incomplete list|date=April 2021}}
'''List of Successive Mayors of Airan'''<ref>[http://www.francegenweb.org/mairesgenweb/resultcommune.php?id=18569 List of Mayors of Airan]</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! From !! To !! Name !! Party !! Position
|-
| 1850 || 1862 || M. Borgarelli d'Ison ||  || Colonel of Infantry E.R.
|-
| 1862 || 1869 || Jules Alfred Le Tourneur du Coudray ||  || First Secretary for the Minister of Finance
|-
| 1869 || 1903 || Stanislas Le Tourneur d'Ison ||   || Attached to the Taxation Administration of France
|-
| ? || ? || Yves le Tourneur d'Ison ||   || [[Doctor of Juridical Science]]
|-
| 1966 || 1989 || Maurice Lecoq ||   || [[Market garden]]er
|-
| 1989 || 2008 || Michel Deuzet || [[Independent (politician)|SE]]  || Farmer 
|-
| 2008 || 2017 || Patrice Martin || [[Independent (politician)|SE]]  || Bank Officer
|}

==Population==
The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Airannais'' or ''Airannaises'' in French.<ref>[https://www.habitants.fr/calvados-14 Le nom des habitants du 14 - Calvados], habitants.fr</ref>

{{Historical populations
|source = INSEE<ref>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2123937?geo=COM-14005 Populations légales 2011], INSEE</ref><ref name=pop2021/>
|percentages = pagr
|align = none
|2006|594
|2011|688
|2021|648
}}

==Culture and heritage==

===Civil heritage===
The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
*A '''Water Mill''' (1682){{Mérimée Icon}} is typical of the Caen region.<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00111009|PA00111009 Water Mill}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
*The '''Chateau of Coupigny''' (18th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00111007|PA00111007 Chateau of Coupigny}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref>
*The '''Chateau of Coupigny Park''' (18th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA14003357|IA14003357 Chateau of Coupigny Park}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

;Other sites of interest
*'''Valmeray Tower''' and its surroundings are classified by DREAL Lower Normandy as an historical monument.<ref>[http://www.donnees.basse-normandie.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/pdf/SITES/14036f.pdf DREAL Basse-Normandie] {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The ruined tower is located in a hamlet near Airan. An old legend tells of a [[secret passage]] connecting the tower to the church at Airan. The legend also says that the old [[Church bell|bell]] in [[gold]] from the [[Church (building)|church]] is hidden in the secret passage. Many people have tried to find it but without success.
*The '''Alley of Lime Trees''' along the D43 is also registered with DREAL.<ref>[http://www.donnees.basse-normandie.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/pdf/SITES/14105c.pdf DREAL Basse-Normandie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905073341/http://www.donnees.basse-normandie.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/pdf/SITES/14105c.pdf |date=2014-09-05 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===Religious heritage===
The commune has several religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
*The '''Church of Saint Germain''' (12th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00111008|PA00111008 Church of Saint Germain}} {{in lang|fr}}{{Camera}}</ref> has a [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] facade.

===Picture Gallery===
<gallery>
Tour_de_Valmeray_Airan.jpg|Valmeray Tower
Airan église Saint-Germain.JPG|The Church of Saint-Germain
Chateau Coupigny.JPG|Coupigny Castle
Airan moulin à eau.JPG|The Watermill
Airan lavoir.JPG|The [[Lavoir]] (Public laundry) on the Muance river
File:Airan église Saint-Germain modillon 03.JPG|Gargoyle on the Church
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Communes of the Calvados department]]

===External links===
*[http://rumsey.geogarage.com/maps/cassinige.html?lat=49.1019&lon=-0.1506&zoom=13 ''Airan'' on the 1750 Cassini Map]

==Notes and references==
===Notes===
<references group="Note"/>

===References===
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Commons category}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Former communes of Calvados (department)]]
[[Category:Populated places disestablished in 2017]]