Vieux, Calvados

Vieux () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France.

Geography

La Guigne river is the only watercourse to flow through the commune.

History

The town contains numerous Roman era ruins, as Vieux was a settlement called Aregenua, and appears on the Roman map, Tabula Peutingeriana. Vieux was the Roman capital of the Viducasses Gallic tribe.

During the Battle of Normandy in 1944, Vieux was designated as Hill 112 position, a strategic point for the Battle of Caen, the area of rue d'Esquay and the Bas de Vieux were badly affected by the allied bombardment of July 6, 1944. The portion of these streets, destroyed at this time are now dated for its name.

Points of interest

Hill 112 Memorial site - is built in recognition of the 10,000 men who lost their lives in the 10 week battle for this strategically important hill as part of Operation Epsom and Operation Jupiter (1944). The memorial is shared across 3 communes whose borders all meet near the top of the hill, so in addition to Vieux, there is Esquay-Notre-Dame and Fontaine-ÃÂtoupefour. The memorial features a restored A22 Churchill Mk VII tank a 25-pounder Gun and 112 trees planted to form a cross.

Museums

Vieux-la-Romaine is a Museum of France dedicated to showcasing the life in Aregenua and how it evolved over from a Roman capital to a Medieval village. The Museum contains a Roman Garden, 2 roman houses and a forum.

National Heritage Sites

The commune has three sites listed as a Monument historique.

Archaeological remains The houses of the Vieux-la-Romaine museum were listed as monuments in 1988.
Gallo-Roman theater within the Vieux-la-Romaine museum listed as a monument in 1980.
Chapelle Saint-Jean-Baptiste-du-Clos thirteenth centaury chapel that was listed as a monument in 1994.

Population

Twin towns Ã¢ÂÂ sister cities

Vieux is twinned with:

Otterton, England. Since 1976

References

External links

Site of the archaeological museum of Vieux-la-Romaine