Barfleur
Barfleur (French pronunciation: [baʁflœʁ]) is a commune and fishing village in Manche, Normandy, northwestern France.
History
During the Middle Ages, Barfleur was one of the chief ports of embarkation for England.
- 1066: A large medallion fixed to a rock in the harbour marks the Normans' departure from Barfleur before the battle of Hastings.
- 1120: The White Ship, carrying the sole legitimate heir to Henry I of England, William Adelin, went down approximately a mile northeast of the harbour, setting the stage for the period of civil war in England known as the Anarchy.
- 1194: Richard I of England departed from Barfleur on return to England following his captivity by Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor.
- 1692: Action at Barfleur, part of the battles of Barfleur and La Hougue
- 1944: Barfleur was occupied by the Germans during WWII. As allied forces approached following the D-Day invasion, the German commander evacuated the city prior to any confrontation to ensure that it would not be damaged, as he liked the city so much.
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 837 | — |
| 1975 | 703 | −2.46% |
| 1982 | 619 | −1.80% |
| 1990 | 599 | −0.41% |
| 1999 | 642 | +0.77% |
| 2009 | 648 | +0.09% |
| 2014 | 600 | −1.53% |
| 2020 | 553 | −1.35% |
| Source: INSEE | ||
Geography
About two miles (3.2 km) to the north is Cape Barfleur, with a lighthouse 233 feet (71 m) high. It is twinned with Lyme Regis in the UK. A Brittany Ferries vessel is named after the village and operates from nearby Cherbourg-Octeville to Poole in the UK.
Barfleur is very close to being the exact antipode of New Zealand's Antipodes Islands.