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Normandy

Normandy is a geographical region in northern France France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

. Upper Normandy consists of the French
dpartements of Seine-Maritime and Eure, and Lower Normandy of the dpartements of Orne, Calvados, and Manche. The Duchy of Normandy is a formerly independent duchy situated in northern France occupying the lower Seine Seine

The Seine is a major river [i] of north-western ... 

 area, the Pays de Caux Pays de Caux

The Pays de Caux, is an area in Normandy [i], occupying the greater part of the French [i] dpartement [i] ... 

 and the region to the west through the Pays d'Auge as far as the Cotentin Peninsula. Normandy was historically a province of France Provinces of France

The Kingdom of France [i] was organized into province [i]s until March 4 [i], 1790 [i], when the establishment ... 

.

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Timeline

911   Autumn - Charles the Simple agrees to the Treaty of St.-Claire-sur-Epte, ceding the lower Seine Seine

The Seine is a major river [i] of north-western ... 

 area to the Norse Scandinavia

Scandinavia is a region [i] in Northern Europe [i]. ... 

 invaders under Hrolf Ganger Rollo of Normandy

Rollo was the founder and first ruler of the Viking [i] principality in what soon became known as Normandy [i] ... 

, also known as Rollo of Normandy Rollo of Normandy

Rollo was the founder and first ruler of the Viking [i] principality in what soon became known as Normandy [i] ... 

, who is considered the founder of the duchy of Normandy.

1013   Danish Denmark

The Kingdom of Denmark is the smallest and southernmost of the Nordic countries [i]. ... 

 invasion of England England

England is the largest and most populous constituent country [i] of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

 under king Sweyn I Sweyn I of Denmark

Sweyn I, or Sweyn Forkbeard, , , was the successor to his father Harald I [i] ... 

. King Ethelred Ethelred the Unready

Ethelred the Unready , also known as Ethelred II and elred Unrd, was King of England [i] ... 

 flees to Normandy, and Sweyn becomes king of England.

1035   William II (the future William I of England William I of England

William of Normandy ruled as the Duke of Normandy [i] from 1035 [i] to 1087 [i] and as King of England [i] ... 

) becomes duke of Normandy.

1047   William the Conqueror William I of England

William of Normandy ruled as the Duke of Normandy [i] from 1035 [i] to 1087 [i] and as King of England [i] ... 

, with assistance from King Henry I of France, secured control of Normandy by defeating the rebel Norman barons at Caen Caen

Caen is a commune [i] of northwestern France [i]. ... 

 the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes

1053   October 25, battle of St-Aubin (or Arques): duke William William I of England

William of Normandy ruled as the Duke of Normandy [i] from 1035 [i] to 1087 [i] and as King of England [i] ... 

 of Normandy routed an army from Ponthieu (see deaths).

1057   William the Conqueror William I of England

William of Normandy ruled as the Duke of Normandy [i] from 1035 [i] to 1087 [i] and as King of England [i] ... 

 defeats a Franco-Angevin army at the mouth of the Dives River Dives River

The Dives is a river [i] in the Pays d'Auge [i], Normandie [i]. ... 

, Normandy.

1059   Anselm of Canterbury Anselm of Canterbury

Saint Anselm of Canterbury , a widely influential medieval philosopher [i] and theologian [i], ... 

 settles at the Benedictine monastery of Le Bec in Normandy.

1064   Harold II Harold Godwinson

Harold Godwinson, or Harold II of England was the last Anglo-Saxon [i] King of England [i] ... 

 was shipwrecked at Ponthieu, Normandy and taken captive by Count Guy.

1106   Henry I of England Henry I of England

King Henry I of England , called Henry Beauclerc was the fourth son of William I of England [i] ... 

 defeats his older brother Robert Curthose Robert III, Duke of Normandy

Robert III was a Duke of Normandy [i] and an unsuccessful claimant to the throne of England [i]. ... 

, duke of Normandy, at the Battle of Tinchebrai, and imprisons him in Devizes Devizes

Devizes is a town [i] and civil parish [i] in the English [i] county of Wiltshire [i]. ... 

 castle; Edgar Atheling and William Clito are also taken prisoner.

1118   A rebellion against Henry I of England Henry I of England

King Henry I of England , called Henry Beauclerc was the fourth son of William I of England [i] ... 

 breaks out in Normandy.

   More Events >>



Encyclopedia


Normandy is a geographical region in northern France France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

. Upper Normandy consists of the French départements of Seine-Maritime and Eure, and Lower Normandy of the départements of Orne, Calvados, and Manche.

The Duchy of Normandy is a formerly independent duchy situated in northern France occupying the lower Seine Seine

The Seine is a major river [i] of north-western
... 

 area, the Pays de Caux Pays de Caux

The Pays de Caux, is an area in Normandy [i], occupying the greater part of the French [i] dpartement [i] ... 

 and the region to the west through the Pays d'Auge as far as the Cotentin Peninsula. Normandy was historically a province of France Provinces of France

The Kingdom of France [i] was organized into province [i]s until March 4 [i], 1790 [i], when the establishment ... 

. It comprised present-day Upper and Lower Normandy, as well as small areas now part of the départements of Eure-et-Loir, Mayenne, and Sarthe Sarthe

Sarthe is a French [i] dpartement [i], named after the Sarthe River [i]. ... 

.

The Channel Islands Channel Islands

The Channel Islands are a group of British-dependent [i] island [i]s off the coast of Normandy [i] ... 

, although British, are culturally and historically a part of Normandy that never reverted to the crown of France.

Population



Normandy has 3.2 million inhabitants, with an average population density of 107 per square kilometre, just under the French national average, but rising to 145 for upper Normandy. The principal cities are Rouen Rouen

Rouen is the historical capital city of Normandy [i], in northwestern France [i] on the River Seine, an ... 

 , the capital of upper Normandy and formerly of the whole province; Le Havre Le Havre

Le Havre is a city in Normandy [i], northern France [i], on the English Channel [i], at the mouth of the... 

 ; Caen Caen

Caen is a commune [i] of northwestern France [i]. ... 

 , the capital of lower Normandy; and Cherbourg-Octeville Cherbourg-Octeville

Cherbourg-Octeville is a town and commune [i] in Normandy [i], north-west France.... 

 .

Other towns include: Alençon; Arromanches; Avranches Avranches

Avranches is a commune [i] of Normandy [i], France [i], in the Manche [i] dpartement [i] ... 

; Bayeux Bayeux

Bayeux is a small town and commune [i] in the Calvados [i] dpartement [i] ... 

; Coutances Coutances

Coutances is a commune [i] of Normandy [i], France [i], in the Manche [i] ... 

; Dieppe Dieppe, Seine-Maritime

Dieppe is a town and commune [i] in the Seine-Maritime [i] dpartement [i] ... 

; Doudeville; Évreux; Falaise; Honfleur Honfleur

Honfleur is a harbour commune [i] in the Norman [i] dpartement [i] ... 

; Houlgate Houlgate

Houlgate is a resort commune [i] of the Calvados [i] dpartement [i] ... 

; Lisieux Lisieux

Lisieux is a commune [i] of the Calvados [i] dpartement [i]... 

; Mortain Mortain

Mortain is a small town and commune [i] in the Manche [i] dpartement [i] ... 

; Saint-Lô; Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte; Sainte-Mère-Église; and Villers-Bocage.

Geography

The region is bordered along the northern coasts by the English Channel English Channel

The English Channel is the part of the Atlantic Ocean [i] that separates the island [i] of Great Britain [i] ... 

. There are granite cliff Cliff

In geography [i], a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. ... 

s in the west and limestone cliffs in the east. There are also long stretches of beach in the center of the region. The bocage, patchwork of small fields with high hedges, typical of the western areas caused problems for the invading forces in the Battle of Normandy Battle of Normandy

The Battle of Normandy was fought in 1944 [i] between Nazi Germany [i] in Western Europe [i] and the in ... 

. There are meander Meander

A meander is a bend in a river, also known as an oxbow loop.
... 

s of the Seine as it approaches its estuary which form a notable feature of the landscape.

Regions


  • The Suisse normande , in the south, presents hillier terrain.
  • The Pays d'Auge is considered typical of the rich agricultural landscape of central Normandy.
  • The Roumois
  • The Lieuvin
  • The Cotentin Peninsula
    • La Hague
  • The Pays de Caux Pays de Caux

    The Pays de Caux, is an area in Normandy [i], occupying the greater part of the French [i] dpartement [i] ... 

  • The Bessin
  • The Pays d'Ouche
  • The Norman Vexin
  • The Pays de Bray

Rivers


River River

A river is a large natural waterway [i]. ... 

s in Normandy include:
  • the Seine Seine

    The Seine is a major river [i] of north-western

... 


  • the Orne Orne River

    The Orne is a river [i] in Normandy [i], north-western France [i].

... 


  • the Vire
  • the Eure
  • the Risle Risle

    Risle is a 140 km long river [i] in Normandy [i].

... 


  • the Robec Robec

    Robec is a small river [i] in Seine-Maritime [i], Normandy [i], France [i]. ... 

  • the Touques Touques River

    Touques is a small 104 km long coastal river [i] that begins in Perche [i] in Pays d'Auge [i] in Normandy [i] ... 

  • the Couesnon Couesnon

    The Couesnon River is a short river [i] running from the dpartement [i] of Maye ... 

    , which traditionally marks the boundary between the Duchy of Brittany Duke of Brittany

    The Duke of Brittany governed Brittany [i], a region with strong traditions of independence, including a... 

     and the Duchy of Normandy.


The Pont de Normandie crossing the estuary of the Seine is regarded as a feat of modern engineering.

History

Normandy was the home of the Normans Normans

The Normans were a people who colonized Normandy [i], conquered England [i], and played a major politic ... 

 in the early Middle Ages Middle Ages

The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history [i] ... 

, the last people to successfully invade England England

England is the largest and most populous constituent country [i] of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

. The Normans were a mixture of the indigenous Gauls and of the Viking Viking

The term Viking commonly denotes the ship-borne explorers, traders, and warriors of the Norsemen [i] who ... 

 invaders under the leadership of Rollo, who besieged Paris Paris

native_name = Ville de Paris
|common_name = Paris
... 

 and was given the area of Normandy in return for defending it against future pirate Piracy

Piracy is robbery [i] committed at sea, or sometimes on the shore, by an agent without a commission [i] ... 

 attacks.

Rollo's descendant William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England in 1066 and became king William I of England William I of England

William of Normandy ruled as the Duke of Normandy [i] from 1035 [i] to 1087 [i] and as King of England [i] ... 

. Normandy remained associated with England until 1087, in 1106-1144 and in 1154-1204. Also see the Battle of Bouvines Battle of Bouvines

The Battle of Bouvines, July 27 [i], 1214 [i], was the first great international conflict of alliances a ... 

 in 1214. Normandy was occupied by English forces during the Hundred Years' War Hundred Years' War

The Hundred Years' War was a conflict between England [i] and France [i] ... 

 in 1346-1360 and again in 1415-1450.

Norman families, such as that of Tancred of Hauteville played important parts in the Crusade Crusades

The Crusades were a series of military campaigns waged in the name of Christendom [i] This term refers t ... 

s and established a kingdom in Sicily Sicily

Sicily is an autonomous region [i] of Italy [i] and the larges ... 

 and the south of Italy Italy

Italy, officially the Italian Republic , is a Southern European [i] country. ... 

.

Both Wace Wace

[i] and brought up in mainland [[Normandy]... 

 and Orderic Vitalis are important Norman writers for the history of the province.

Jean de Béthencourt Jean de Béthencourt

Jean de Bthencourt, was a French [i] explorer [i] who, in 1402 [i], led an expedition to the Canary Islands [i] ... 

 conquered and ruled the Canary Islands Canary Islands

The Canary Islands IPA [i] are an archipelago [i] of the Kingdom of Spain [i] ... 

 in the 15th century.

Prosperity returned to Normandy after the Hundred Years' War Hundred Years' War

The Hundred Years' War was a conflict between England [i] and France [i] ... 

 until the Wars of Religion when many Norman town joined the Reformation Protestant Reformation

The Protestant Reformation, also referred to as the Protestant Revolution, was a movement in the 1... 

 and battles ensued throughout the province. During the French Revolution French Revolution

The French Revolution was a pivotal period in the history of French, Europe [i]an and Western [i] ... 

, Normandy generally supported the idea of a Federal republic against the highly centralised conception championed by the Jacobins in Paris.

During World War II World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

, the town of Dieppe was the site of the ill-fated Dieppe Raid Dieppe Raid

The Dieppe Raid, also known as The Battle of Dieppe or Operation Jubilee, during World War II [i] ... 

 by Canadian and British units in 1942. Later, Normandy was also the site of the Normandy Invasion Battle of Normandy

The Battle of Normandy was fought in 1944 [i] between Nazi Germany [i] in Western Europe [i] and the in ... 

 or Operation Overlord that began on June 6 1944, which today is also known as D-Day D-Day

In English military [i] parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack ... 

. This was the successful invasion of German-occupied France by Allied Allies of World War II

The Allies [i] of World War II [i] were the countries officially opposed to the Axis Powers [i] during t ... 

 troops. Caen, Cherbourg, Carentan, and other Norman towns endured many casualties in the fight for the province, which continued until the liberation of Le Havre on September 12.

Channel Islands

Since the Channel Islands have remained loyal to the English Crown since the division of Normandy in 1204, yet are not part of the UK but rather the Duchy of Normandy, the British monarch is toasted as Duke of Normandy. However, she is not regarded as Duke of Normandy outside her realms since claims by English monarchs to the title were given up by the Treaty of Paris of 1259. Additionally, the rights of succession to that title are subject to Salic Law Salic law

The Salic law was a body of traditional law [i] to govern the Salian Franks [i] that was codified in th ... 

, which does not allow for female inheritance of the ducal title.

Culture


Languages

The Norman language Norman language

Norman is a Romance language [i] and one of the Ol languages [i]. ... 

, a regional language Languages in France

There are a number of languages of France.... 

, is spoken by a minority of the population, with a concentration in the Cotentin peninsula in the far West, and in the Pays de Caux in the East. Many place names show the influence of this Norse Old Norse

Old Norse is the Germanic language [i] spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia [i] a ... 

-influenced oïl language; for example -bec , -fleur , -hou , -tot .

Arts


Architecture
Main article is Architecture of Normandy Architecture of Normandy

The architecture of Normandy spans a thousand years.

... 

.

Architecturally, Norman cathedrals, abbeys and castles characterise the former Duchy in a way that mirrors the similar pattern of Norman architecture Norman architecture

The term Norman architecture is used to categorise styles of Romanesque architecture [i] developed by th ... 

 in England following the Norman Conquest Norman conquest of England

The Norman conquest of England was the invasion [i] of the Kingdom of England [i] by William the Conqueror [i] ... 

 of 1066.

Domestic architecture in upper Normandy is typified by half-timbered Timber framing

Timber framing is the modern term for the traditional half-timbered construction [i] in which timber [i] ... 

 buildings that also recall vernacular English architecture, although the farm enclosures of the more harshly landscaped Pays de Caux are a more idiosyncratic response to socio-economic and climatic imperatives. Much urban architectural heritage was destroyed during the Battle of Normandy in 1944 - post-war urban reconstruction, such as in Le Havre and Saint-Lô, could be said to demonstrate both the virtues and vices of modernist Modernism

Modernism is a trend of thought which affirms the power of human beings to make, improve and reshape the... 

 and brutalist Brutalist architecture

Brutalism is an architectural style that spawned from the modernist [i] architectural [i] m... 

 trends of the 1950s and 1960s. Le Havre, the city rebuilt by Auguste Perret, was added to Unesco’s World Heritage List in 2005.

Vernacular architecture Vernacular architecture

Vernacular architecture [i] is a term used to categorize a method of construction which uses immediately... 

 in lower Normandy takes its form from granite Granite

Granite is a common and widely-occurring type of intrusive [i], felsic [i], igneous [i] ... 

, the predominant local building material. The Channel Islands also share this influence - Chausey was for many years a source of quarried granite, including that used for the construction of Mont Saint-Michel Mont Saint-Michel

Mont Saint-Michel is a small rocky tidal island [i] in Normandy [i], roughly one kilometre from the nort ... 

.

The south part of Bagnoles-de-l'Orne Bagnoles-de-l'Orne

Bagnoles-de-l'Orne is a commune [i] of the Orne [i] dpartement [i] ... 

, which is called “Belle Époque” district is filled with superb bourgeois villas with polychrome façades, bow windows and unique roofing. This area, built between 1886 and 1914, has an authentic “Bagnolese” style and is typical of high-society country vacation of the time.
Philosophy
Philosophers Norman by birth include:

  • Alain


  • Michel Onfray


  • Clément Rosset


Literature
Writers in the French language French language

French is the third-largest of the Romance languages [i] in terms of number of native speakers, after Spanish [i] ... 

 connected with Normandy include:

  • Turold
  • Boulainvilliers
  • Alphonse Allais Alphonse Allais

    Alphonse Allais was a French [i] writer and humorist [i], born in Honfleur [i], Calvados [i].

... 


  • Jacques-François Ancelot
  • Roland Barthes Roland Barthes

    Roland Barthes was a French [i] literary critic [i], literary [i] and social theorist [i]... 

  • Olivier Basselin
  • Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont
  • Rémi Belleau
  • Isaac de Benserade Isaac de Benserade

    [i]

... 


  • Jean Bertaut
  • Jean-Jacques Boisard
  • François le Metel de Boisrobert
  • Louis Bouilhet
  • André Breton André Breton

    Andr Breton was a French [i] writer [i], poet [i], and surrealist [i] theorist, and is best know ... 

  • Alain Chartier
  • Pierre Corneille Pierre Corneille

    Pierre Corneille was a French tragedian [i] who was one of the three great 17th Century French ... 

  • Thomas Corneille Thomas Corneille

    Thomas Corneille was a French dramatist [i]. ... 

  • Jean de Crèvecoeur


  • Madame d'Aulnoy Madame d'Aulnoy

    Marie-Catherine Le Jumel de Barneville, Baronne d'Aulnoy was a French [i] writer [i] known for he ... 

  • Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly Jules Amédée Barbey d'Aurevilly

    Jules Amde Barbey d'Aurevilly, was a French [i] novelist [i].

... 


  • Casimir Delavigne Casimir Delavigne

    Jean-Franois Casimir Delavigne, was a French [i] poet [i] and dramatist [i].

... 


  • Philippe Delerm
  • Jean Dubuffet Jean Dubuffet

    Jean Philippe Arthur Dubuffet was one of the most famous French [i] painter [i]s and sculptors [i] ... 

  • Annie Ernaux
  • Octave Feuillet
  • Gustave Flaubert Gustave Flaubert

    Gustave Flaubert was a French [i] novelist [i] who is counted among the greatest Western novelists [i] ... 

  • Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle

    Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle, also referred to as Bernard le Bouyer de Fontenelle was a French [i] ... 

  • Jean Vauquelin de la Fresnaye
  • Arthur de Gobineau Arthur de Gobineau

    Joseph Arthur Comte de Gobineau was a French [i] aristocrat [i] who became famous for advocating ... 

  • Remy de Gourmont
  • Pierre Gringore
  • Maurice Leblanc Maurice Leblanc

    Maurice Leblanc Maurice-Marie-Emile Leblanc was a French [i] novelist and writer of short stories [i] ... 

  • François de Malherbe François de Malherbe

    Franois de Malherbe was a French [i] poet [i], critic [i] and translator. ... 

  • Hector Malot Hector Malot

    Hector Malot was a French writer born in La Bouille [i], close to Rouen [i]. ... 

  • Jean Marot
  • Guy de Maupassant Guy de Maupassant

    Henri Ren Albert Guy de Maupassant was a popular 19th-century French [i] writer [i]. ... 

  • André Maurois


  • François-Eudes de Mézeray
  • Octave Mirbeau Octave Mirbeau

    Octave Mirbeau was a French journalist [i], art critic [i], pamphleteer [i], novelist [i], and playwright [i] ... 

  • Antoine de Montchrestien
  • Françoise Bertaut de Motteville
  • Nicolas Oresme Nicolas Oresme

    Nicole Oresme or Nicolas d'Oresme was one of the most famous and influential philosophers [i] of t... 

  • Raymond Queneau
  • Pascal Quignard
  • Henri de Régnier
  • Jean Rotrou Jean Rotrou

    Jean Rotrou was a French [i] poet [i] and tragedian [i].

... 


  • Antoine Gérard de Saint-Amant
  • Charles de Saint-Évremond
  • Abbé de Saint-Pierre
  • Bernardin de Saint-Pierre Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre

    Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre was a French [i] writer and botanist [i]. ... 

  • Armand Salacrou
  • Georges de Scudéry
  • Madeleine de Scudéry
  • Jean Renaud de Segrais
  • Alexis de Tocqueville Alexis de Tocqueville

    Alexis-Charles-Henri Clrel de Tocqueville was a French [i] political thinker [i] and historian [i] ... 






Writers in the English language English language

English is a widely distributed language that originated in England [i] but is now the primary language ... 

 connected with Normandy include:

  • Peter Motteux 


  • J. Hector St. John de Crèvecœur




Writers in the Latin language Latin

Latin is an ancient Indo-European language [i] originally spoken in Latium [i], ... 

 connected with Normandy include:

  • Orderic Vitalis


Writers in the Norman language Norman language

Norman is a Romance language [i] and one of the Ol languages [i]. ... 

 include:

  • Béroul
  • Marie de France
  • Wace Wace

    [i] and brought up in mainland [[Normandy]... 




  • Thomas of Britain
  • Robert Pipon Marett Robert Pipon Marett

    Sir Robert Pipon Marett was a lawyer [i], journalist [i], poet [i], politician, and Bailiff [i] ... 






See also Anglo-Norman literature, Gesta Normannorum Ducum


Painting
From the 1860s, plein-air painters, who worked outside the studio, were attracted to Normandy by the ease of railway access from Paris. Claude Monet Claude Monet

Claude Monet also known as Oscar-Claude Monet or Claude Oscar Monet was a French [i] ... 

's waterlily garden at Giverny Giverny

Giverny is a village and commune [i] of the Eure [i] dpartement [i] ... 

 is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the region. Eugène Boudin Eugène Boudin

Eugne Boudin was one of the first French [i] landscape painters to paint outdoors.
... 

's paintings of fashionable seaside scenes are also typical.

Artists Norman by birth include:


  • Eugène Boudin Eugène Boudin

    Eugne Boudin was one of the first French [i] landscape painters to paint outdoors.

... 


  • André Breton André Breton

    Andr Breton was a French [i] writer [i], poet [i], and surrealist [i] theorist, and is best know ... 

  • Pierre Toutain Dorbec Pierre Toutain-Dorbec

    Pierre Toutain Dorbec

Sculptor, Painter, Photographer, Writer
... 


  • Jacques Toutain Dorbec
  • Jean Dubuffet Jean Dubuffet

    Jean Philippe Arthur Dubuffet was one of the most famous French [i] painter [i]s and sculptors [i] ... 

  • Marcel Duchamp Marcel Duchamp

    Marcel Duchamp was a French artist whose work and ideas had considerable influence on the development... 




  • Suzanne Duchamp
  • Raoul Dufy Raoul Dufy

    Raoul Dufy was a French [i] Fauvist [i] painter. ... 

  • Othon Friesz
  • Théodore Géricault Théodore Géricault

    Thodore Gricault was a famous French [i] painter, known for The Raft of the Medusa [i] and ot ... 

  • Jean Hélion
  • Jean Jouvenet


  • Fernand Léger Fernand Léger

    Joseph Fernand Henri Lger was a French artist [i] and filmmaker.

... 


  • Jean-François Millet Jean-François Millet

    Jean-Franois Millet was a painter [i] and one of the founders of the Barbizon school [i] in rural France [i] ... 

  • Nicolas Poussin Nicolas Poussin

    Nicolas Poussin was a French [i] painter [i], the founder and greatest practitioner of 17th century [i]... 

  • Jean Restout
  • Jacques Villon Jacques Villon

    Jacques Villon was a French [i] cubist [i] painter and printmaker.

... 



Music
Composers and musicians Norman by birth include:


  • Erik Satie Erik Satie

    Eric Alfred Leslie Satie was a French [i] composer [i], pianist [i] and writer [i].

... 


  • Daniel Auber Daniel Auber

    Daniel Franois Esprit Auber, French [i] composer [i], the son of a Paris print-seller, was born i ... 

  • Arthur Honegger Arthur Honegger

    Arthur Honegger was a Swiss [i] composer [i], who was born in France and lived a large part of his life ... 

  • Marcel Dupré Marcel Dupré

    Marcel Dupr, was a French organist [i], pianist [i], composer [i], and pedagogue [i]. ... 

  • François-Adrien Boïeldieu


  • André Caplet
  • François d'Agincourt
  • Françoiz Breut Françoiz Breut

    ... 

  • Daniel Balavoine Daniel Balavoine

    Daniel Balavoine was a French [i] singer [i] and songwriter [i]. ... 

  • Guillaume Costeley


  • Vincent Delerm
  • Jacques Duphly
  • Maurice Duruflé
  • Jean-Luc Ponty Jean-Luc Ponty

    Jean-Luc Ponty is a virtuoso French violinist [i] and jazz [i] composer [i].

... 



Design
Christian Dior Christian Dior

Christian Dior, was an influential French [i] fashion designer [i].
... 

, fashion designer, was born in Granville. Laetitia Casta, supermodel, was born in Pont-Audemer and her mother Line Blin is Norman since several generations.

Religion


The cathedral Cathedral

A cathedral is a Christian [i] church [i] building, specifically of a denomination with an... 

s of Normandy have exerted influence down the centuries in matters of both faith and politics. Mont Saint-Michel Mont Saint-Michel

Mont Saint-Michel is a small rocky tidal island [i] in Normandy [i], roughly one kilometre from the nort ... 

 is a historic pilgrimage Pilgrimage

[i]A pilgrimage is a term primarily used in religion [i] and spirituality [i] of a lon ... 

 site. The influence of Celtic Christianity can still be found in the Cotentin.

Many saint Saint

A saint is a term used to refer to someone who is a holy person [i]. ... 

s have been revered in Normandy down the centuries, including:
  • St. Aubert Saint Aubert

    St. Aubert was bishop of Avranches [i] in the 8th century [i] and is credited with founding Mont Saint Michel [i] ... 

     who is remembered as the founder of Mont Saint-Michel
  • Saint Marcouf and Saint Lô who are important saints in Lower Normandy
  • Helier Helier

    Saint Helier, a 6th century [i] ascetic hermit [i], is patron saint [i] of Jersey [i] in the Channel Islands [i] ... 

     and Samson of Dol who are evangelizers of the Channel Islands
  • Thomas Becket Thomas Becket

    St. Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury [i] from 1162 [i] to 1170 [i]. ... 

    , an Anglo-Norman Anglo-Norman

    The Anglo-Normans were the descendants of the Normans [i] who ruled England [i] following the conquest b ... 

     whose parents were from Rouen, who was the object of a considerable cult in mainland Normandy following his martyrdom
  • St. Joan of Arc Joan of Arc

    Joan of Arc, also known as Jeanne d'Arc, was a national hero [i]ine of France [i] and is a saint [i] ... 

     who was martyr Martyr

    In the classical Christian view, a martyr is an innocent Christian who, without seeking death , is murde... 

    ed in Rouen, and who is especially remembered in that city
  • Thérèse de Lisieux Thérèse de Lisieux

    Saint Thrse de Lisieux, or more properly Sainte Thrse de l'Enfant-Jsus et de la Sainte Face, born ... 

     whose cult in Lisieux is a focus for religious devotion


Normandy does not have one generally-agreed patron saint, although this title has been ascribed to Saint Michael, and to Saint Ouen.

Prominent Protestants ministers include Pierre Allix, Jacques Basnages, and Samuel Bochart.

Food and drink



Normandy is famous for its rich, rolling countryside, which provides plentiful pasture for dairy cattle Cattle

Cattle are domesticated [i] ungulate [i]s, a member of the subfamily [i] Bovinae [i] of t ... 

 and orchards for apple Apple

The apple is a tree [i] and its pomaceous [i] fruit [i], of the species Malus domestica in the ... 

s. The dairy produce of the region is renowned: its cheeses are world famous and include Camembert Camembert (cheese)

Camembert is a soft, creamy French [i] cheese [i]. ... 

, Livarot, Pont l'Evêque, Brillat-Savarin, Neufchâtel, and Boursin. Normandy butter is highly prized, as is Normandy cream, both of which are lavishly used in local gastronomic specialties. Fish and seafood are of superior quality in Normandy. Turbot and oysters from the Cotentin Peninsula are major delicacies throughout France. Normandy is the chief oyster Oyster

The name oyster is used for a number of different groups of mollusc [i]s which grow for the most part in ... 

-cultivating, as well the biggest scallop-exporting, region in France.

Normandy is a major cider Cider

Cider, known in the U.S.... 

-producing region . Perry Perry

Perry or pear cider is an alcoholic beverage [i] made of fermented [i] pear [i] juice [i] ... 

 is also produced, but in less significant quantities. The apple brandy, of which the most famous variety is calvados, is also popular. The mealtime trou normand, or Norman break, is a pause between meal courses in which diners partake of a glassful of calvados, is still observed in many homes and restaurants. Pommeau is an aperitif produced by blending unfermented cider and apple brandy. Another aperitif is the kir Kir

This article deals with the beverage named Kir.... 

 normand
, a measure of cassis topped up with cider. Benedictine is produced in Fécamp Fécamp

... 

.

Apples are also used in cooking: for example, moules à la normande are mussel Mussel

[i]
... 

s cooked with apples and cream, bourdelots are apples baked in pastry, partridges are flamed with reinette apples, and localities all over the province have their own variation of apple tart. A classic pastry dish from the region is flan Normand a flaky pastry-based variant of the apple tart.

Other regional specialities include tripe Tripe

Tripe is a type of edible offal [i] made from the stomach [i] of various domestic animals. ... 

s à la mode de Caen
, andouille Andouille

Andouille is a spiced, heavily smoked pork [i] sausage [i], distinguished in some varieties by its use o ... 

s
and andouillettes, salt meadow lamb, seafood , and teurgoule .

Normandy dishes include duckling à la rouennaise, sautéed chicken yvetois, and goose en daube. Rabbit is cooked with morel Morel

The morel is a genus of edible cup fungi [i].... 

s, or à la havraise . Other dishes are sheep's trotters à la rouennaise, casseroled veal, larded calf's liver braised with carrots, and veal in cream and mushrooms.

Normandy is also noted for its pastries. It is the birthplace of brioche Brioche

Brioche is a light but rich French [i] bread [i] or cake [i] made with a yeast [i] dough enriched ... 

s and also turns out douillons , craquelins, roulettes in Rouen, fouaces in Caen, fallues in Lisieux, sablés in Lisieux. Confectionery of the region includes Rouen apple sugar, Isigny caramels, Bayeux mint chews, Falaise berlingots, Le Havre marzipans, Argentan croquettes, and Rouen macaroons.

Normandy is the native land of Taillevent, cook of the kings of France Charles V Charles V of France

Charles V the Wise was king of France [i] from 1364 [i] to 1380 [i] and a member of the Valois Dynasty [i] ... 

 and Charles VI Charles VI of France

Charles VI the Well-Beloved, later known as the Mad was a King of France [i] and a member of the Valois Dynasty [i] ... 

. He wrote the earliest French cookery book named Le Viandier.

Symbols


The traditional provincial flag of Normandy, gules, two leopards passant or, is used in both modern regions.

The historic three-leopard version is used by some associations and individuals, especially those who support reunification of the regions and cultural links with the Channel Islands and England.

The unofficial anthem of the region is the song "Ma Normandie".

See also


  • Battle of Normandy Battle of Normandy

    The Battle of Normandy was fought in 1944 [i] between Nazi Germany [i] in Western Europe [i] and the in ... 

  • Duchy of Normandy
  • Duke of Normandy
  • List of postal codes in Normandy
  • British military history
  • COGEMA La Hague site

External links