Bernières-sur-Mer
Bernières-sur-Mer (French pronunciation: [bɛʁnjɛʁ syʁ mɛʁ] ⓘ, literally Bernières on Sea), in the arrondissement of Caen, is a commune in the Calvados department of Normandy, in northwestern France. It is part of the canton of Courseulles-sur-Mer. It lies on the English Channel coast, 3 km east of Courseulles-sur-Mer, and 17 km north of Caen.
Bernières-sur-Mer | |
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Notre Dame | |
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Coat of arms | |
Location of Bernières-sur-Mer | |
Bernières-sur-Mer Bernières-sur-Mer | |
| Coordinates: 49°19′59″N 0°25′14″W | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Normandy |
| Department | Calvados |
| Arrondissement | Caen |
| Canton | Courseulles-sur-Mer |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Thomas Dupont Federici |
| Area 1 | 7.66 km2 (2.96 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | 2,388 |
| • Density | 310/km2 (810/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 14066 /14990 |
| Elevation | 0–55 m (0–180 ft) (avg. 4 m or 13 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Bernières-sur-Mer is one of the oldest towns of the Côte de Nacre. Gallo-Roman traces are scattered on the territory of the municipality, and are visible in the cliffs of the "Cape Romain" east of the town. The Middle Ages saw the prosperity of Bernières - enjoying the magnificence of William the Conqueror. The Church of Bernières illustrates perfectly evolution of the region during the first half of the second millennium. In the early 20th century, served by the railway, its hotels and sandy beach, surrounded by dunes and the embankment welcomed visitors from across France.
The town was liberated by The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada on 6 June 1944 as part of the leading assault wave of D-Day Operation Overlord. Later, Le Régiment de la Chaudière, landed in reserve as part of the 8th Canadian Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division. The remains of the Atlantic Wall are still visible and are a place of remembrance where Berniérais honor each year the memory of the Canadians.