Audrieu () is a commune in the Calvados department in the

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...

of north-western

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Aldériens'' or ''Aldériennes''.

Geography

Audrieu is located some 11 km south-east of Bayeux and 16 km west by north-west of

Caen Caen (, ; nrf, Kaem) is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the department of Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inhabitants (), while its functional urban area has 470,000,Ducy-Sainte-Marguerite in the north which passes south through the centre of the commune and the village and continues to Tilly-sur-Seulles in the south. The D 187 branches off the D 82 in the north of the commune and goes west to Chouain. The D 178 branches off the D82 south of the village and goes west to Juaye-Mondaye. The D158 branches off the D 82 in the north of the commune and goes north to Loucelles. The D 94 branches of the D 82 in the village and goes east to

Brouay Brouay () is a former commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. On 1 January 2017, it was merged into the new commune Thue et Mue.Google Maps
/ref> The ''Seulles'' river forms the western border of the commune as it flows north to join the ocean at Courseulles-sur-Mer.

History

Audrieu village dates back to

Classical Antiquity Classical antiquity (also the classical era, classical period or classical age) is the period of cultural history between the 8th century BC and the 5th century AD centred on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ...

when it was called ''Alderium''. There are traces of Gallo-Roman dwellings and a Motte-and-bailey castle. The first lord of the area was Percy, cook for

William the Conqueror William I; ang, WillelmI (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England, reigning from 1066 until his death in 10 ...

, who gave it to the descendants of the Duke of Northumberland. In 1593 Audrieu returned to Guillaume de Séran, who married Marguerite de Percy, and whose lordship became a barony in 1615. The British Army in Normandy 1944 B5439

After being sold in the

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...

the château returned to the Séran family at the Restoration and is still in the hands of their descendants. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

Gerhard Bremer, commandant of the 12th Reconnaissance Battalion of the German army established his headquarters in the château. On 8 June 1944, in clearings, forests, and orchards surrounding the castle, 24 members of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division were executed: 22 from the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and two from the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. Two British soldiers were killed at the same time. The castle now houses a luxury hotel and restaurant.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 1,046 inhabitants.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has two buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments: *The Chateau of Audrieu (18th century). The Chateau is composed of a main building with two projecting pavilions and a centre topped by a triangular pediment. The ''Chateau of La Motte'' is older with the Saint-Louis chapel dating from the 13th century. *The Chateau grounds (18th century) Other sites of interest are: *The Tailleboscq Mill on the ''Seulles'' river which was converted to a Dairy in 1926. *The Audrieu Railway Station or Le Haut des Jardins Station is far to the north of the village and is served by the Mantes-la-Jolie to Cherbourg line. *The remains of the Motte-and-bailey castle

Religious heritage

The commune has one religious building that is registered as a historical monument: *The Church of Notre-Dame d'Audrieu (12th century). The Church was founded by

Trinity Abbey, Vendôme Trinity Abbey, Vendôme, was a Benedictine monastery founded in 1035 in Vendôme by Geoffrey Martel and his first wife, Agnes of Burgundy. It was consecrated on 31 May 1040, one month before Geoffrey became Count of Anjou. The abbey was under the d ...

, who owned a nearby

priory A priory is a monastery of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or nuns (such as the Dominicans, Augustinians, Franciscans, and Carmelites), or monasteries of ...

-priest. The church depended additionally on the Baron of Audrieu (possibly by retrocession of the priory of Saint-Nicolas-de-la-Chesnaye to whom this right belonged in the 14th century). The Church contains three items that are registered as historical objects: *A Painting: The Rosary (17th century) *A Statue: Saint John the Baptist (14th century) *A Statue: Virgin and Child (16th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy

Notable people linked to the commune

*Jacques Berthault, called Bertaux (1733-1799), General in the Army of the Republic, born in Audrieu. *Philippe Livry-Level, Grand-croix of the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleo ...

, Companion of the

Order of Liberation The Order of Liberation (french: Ordre de la Libération) is a French Order which was awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is a very high honour, second only after the ''Légion d’Honneur'' (Legion of Honour ...

, Mayor of Audrieu (1945-1960). *Monique Livry-Level, daughter of Philippe Livry-Level, resistance fighter, Commandeur of the

, Médaille militaire, Croix de guerre 1939-1945, and the King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom.

References

External links

Audrieu on Géoportail
National Geographic Institute (IGN) website
''Audrieu'' on the 1750 Cassini Map
{{authority control Communes of Calvados (department)