Avenay


Avenay is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region of north-western France.

Geography

Avenay is located some 12 km south-west of Caen just east of Évrecy. Access to the commune is by the D36 road from Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay in the south-west which passes through the heart of the commune and the village and continues north to join the D8. Apart from the village there is the hamlet of La Coquerie on the eastern border. The commune consists entirely of farmland.
The Guigne river flows along the northern border of the commune towards the east where it joins the Orne south of Bully.

History

The oldest traces of Avenay village date from Gallo-Roman times. In 1820-1821 some remains of Gallo-Roman houses were found. In the Middle Ages, the village depended on the Bishop of Bayeux.
In 1827 Avenay absorbed Fierville-en-Bessin in the east of its territory.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors
FromToName
1850Louis Touraille
18501860Jean Labbé
18601863Adolphe Viel
18631870Pierre Gallet
18701872Jean-Louis Londe
18721875Edouard Accard
18751881Gustave Feron
18811883Pierre Sauvage
18831902Jean-Louis Londe
19021909Louis Lebrun
19091923Émile Lemoine
19231937Louis Lemonnier
19371945Jean Barbot
19451977Pierre Lecorsu
19771989François Lecorsu
19891995Lucien Martin
19952014Gérard Lemoine
20142020Jean-Louis Lechevalier
20202026Françoise Paris

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 557 inhabitants. This table includes the population of Fierville-en-Bassin prior to 1827.

Sites and Monuments

  • The Church of Mary of the Assumption.
  • Ruins of the Church of Fierville.
  • The Chateau of Fierville.
  • Pompierre Manor.

    Activities and events

Each year, during the 3rd weekend in June, the Festival Committee of Avenay organises an inter-regional competition of bread.
One hundred bakers are judged every year. The competition focuses on different types of bread: Pain brié, Pain de campagne, traditional Baguettes, Croissants etc.
The jury, composed of baking professionals and consumers, use many criteria of quality and presentation.
The results are announced on Sunday afternoon at the fair in the village. The fair begins with a snack of Tripe at 9 am which brings hundreds of gourmands. The day continues with Mass and an exceptional sale of gold tripe.
On this day, the bakers make bread and pastries using bakery equipment and ovens installed specially for the festival. Visitors can buy bread made before their eyes.
The school fair is also held on the same day. On this occasion the students of the school perform several Norman dances in traditional costumes.

Twin towns – sister cities

Avenay, along with eight other communes, Amayé-sur-Orne, Maizet, Montigny, Préaux-Bocage, Maisoncelles-sur-Ajon, Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay, Vacognes-Neuilly and Montillières-sur-Orne, is a member of The ICL Val Orne, which has organised being twinned with: