# Cintheaux

> commune in Calvados, France

**Wikidata**: [Q839839](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q839839)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cintheaux)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cintheaux

## Summary

Cintheaux is a commune in the Calvados department of Normandy, northwestern France, located at coordinates 49.055277777778°N, -0.29222222222222°W. It belongs to the arrondissement of Caen and was historically part of the canton of Bretteville-sur-Laize until March 2015. As a commune of France—a territorial subdivision dating back to 1789—Cintheaux operates under the administrative framework of the French Republic.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Cintheaux, Calvados, Normandy, France
- **Department**: Calvados (French department established March 4, 1790)
- **Arrondissement**: Caen
- **Historical Canton**: Bretteville-sur-Laize (until March 2015)
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 49.055277777778, Longitude -0.29222222222222
- **Population**: 195, 194, 198, 190, 189, 172, 159, 161, 172, 180, 183, 190, 188, 187, 181, 176, 170 (recorded figures)
- **Website**: https://cintheaux-cingal.suisse-normande.com/
- **Wikipedia Title**: Cintheaux
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Calvados, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 47

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Cintheaux?**

Cintheaux is a commune (commune de France), which is the lowest-level administrative territorial subdivision in France. The commune system was established in 1789 and serves as the fundamental unit of local government, similar to a municipality in other countries.

**Which department and region does Cintheaux belong to?**

Cintheaux is located in the Calvados department, which is part of the Normandy region (Normandie) in northwestern France. The department was created on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution.

**What arrondissement is Cintheaux part of?**

Cintheaux falls under the arrondissement of Caen, which is an administrative district within the Calvados department. The arrondissement serves as an intermediate level between the department and the commune.

**What was the historical administrative affiliation of Cintheaux?**

Prior to March 2015, Cintheaux was part of the canton of Bretteville-sur-Laize. Cantons in France serve as electoral districts for elections to the General Council (Conseil Général) and are used for various administrative purposes, though their boundaries have been redrawn in recent administrative reorganizations.

**What are the geographic coordinates of Cintheaux?**

Cintheaux is located at latitude 49.055277777778 degrees north and longitude -0.29222222222222 degrees west, placing it in the western part of the Calvados department near the Normandy coast.

## Why It Matters

Cintheaux matters as an example of the fundamental administrative unit of France—the commune. With over 35,000 communes across French territory, this system represents France's decentralized approach to local governance. Each commune, regardless of size, has its own mayor and municipal council, making local democracy accessible at the most grassroots level. Cintheaux's location in Normandy places it in a region of significant historical importance, particularly regarding the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy during World War II. The commune contributes to the cultural and administrative fabric of Calvados, one of the original departments created during the French Revolution, embodying over two centuries of continuous municipal organization within the French Republic.

## Notable For

- Part of Calvados, one of the original 83 departments created in 1790 during the French Revolution
- Located in Normandy, a region of major historical significance in European history
- Part of the commune system established in 1789, one of the oldest continuous local government systems in the world
- Situated within the arrondissement of Caen, a key administrative and historical center in Normandy

## Body

### Geography and Location

Cintheaux is situated in the northwestern French department of Calvados, which lies within the Normandy region. The commune's precise geographic coordinates are 49.055277777778 degrees north latitude and -0.29222222222222 degrees west longitude. This positioning places Cintheaux in the western portion of the Calvados department, relatively close to the Normandy coast. The terrain of the region is characterized by the Normandy countryside, which includes rolling hills, farmland, and the characteristic bocage (hedgerow) landscape typical of northwestern France. Calvados is bordered by the English Channel to the north, the department of Orne to the south, Manche to the west, and Seine-Maritime to the east, positioning Cintheaux within a region of significant agricultural and historical importance.

### Administrative History

Cintheaux operates as a commune de France, the basic territorial unit of local government in France. The commune system was established in 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing the previous system of parishes and jurisdictions. This makes Cintheaux part of an administrative framework that has existed for over 235 years. The commune belongs to the department of Calvados, which was officially created on March 4, 1790, as part of the revolutionary reorganization of French territorial administration. Calvados was one of the original 83 departments established at that time, named after the river that flows through the region. Cintheaux is part of the arrondissement of Caen, an administrative division that organizes departments into smaller districts for governmental and judicial purposes. Prior to the French administrative reorganization of March 2015, Cintheaux was included in the canton of Bretteville-sur-Laize, which served as an electoral district for local and departmental elections.

### Population and Demographics

The population figures recorded for Cintheaux show the following yearly counts: 195, 194, 198, 190, 189, 172, 159, 161, 172, 180, 183, 190, 188, 187, 181, 176, and 170. These figures demonstrate the demographic fluctuations common in rural French communes, particularly in Normandy's agricultural regions. Many small communes in France have experienced population decline as younger residents move to larger urban centers for employment and educational opportunities. The commune system in France ensures that even small settlements like Cintheaux maintain their own municipal government, allowing residents to participate in local democracy regardless of population size.

### Regional Context: Normandy and Calvados

Cintheaux is located in Normandy (Normandie), a region of profound historical significance in European history. Normandy is perhaps most famous for the D-Day landings of June 6, 1944, when Allied forces landed on the beaches of Calvados and neighboring departments during the liberation of Western Europe in World War II. The region features numerous historical sites commemorating this pivotal moment in world history. Beyond its wartime significance, Normandy is known for its distinctive culture, cuisine (including the famous Calvados apple brandy named after the department), architectural heritage including medieval abbeys and cathedrals, and agricultural production particularly of dairy products and apples. The department of Calvados takes its name from the river that flows through the region, and its capital is Caen, a city with a rich medieval and modern history. Cintheaux's placement within the arrondissement of Caen connects it to this important regional center.

### Local Administration and Government

As a French commune, Cintheaux is governed by a mayor (maire) and a municipal council (conseil municipal), who are elected by residents during municipal elections held every six years. The commune operates as the most local level of government in France, responsible for local services such as civil registration (births, marriages, deaths), local taxation, urban planning, maintenance of local roads and public spaces, and coordination of local services. French communes range in size from small rural settlements like Cintheaux to major metropolitan areas like Paris, but all operate under the same fundamental legal framework established by the French Constitution and the General Code of Territorial Authorities (Code général des collectivités territoriales). The commune maintains its own website at https://cintheaux-cingal.suisse-normande.com/, providing information to residents and visitors about local services and community matters.

### Relationship to National Structure

Cintheaux exists within France's hierarchical administrative structure: France is divided into 18 regions (including overseas territories), which are divided into 96 departments in metropolitan France and overseas departments, which are divided into arrondissements, which are divided into cantons, which contain communes. This structure represents France's unitary state organization, where local governments operate under the authority of national government while maintaining local autonomy within their competencies. France, established as a country through the Treaty of Verdun in 843 AD (which created West Francia) and later as the First French Empire in 1804, operates as a semi-presidential republic with a constitution established on October 4, 1958, founding the Fifth Republic. Cintheaux, as a commune within this system, represents the most grassroots level of French democratic governance.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
3. INSEE code
4. [Source](https://archives.calvados.fr/classificationScheme/11d99609-7d05-4864-9e3e-7f744d9c2753)
5. répertoire géographique des communes
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Annuaire de service-public.fr
8. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
9. Populations légales 2016
10. Populations légales 2017
11. Populations légales 2018
12. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
13. Populations légales 2019
14. Populations légales 2020
15. Populations légales 2021
16. Populations de référence 2022
17. Populations de référence 2023
18. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
19. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
20. GeoNames
21. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
22. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
23. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)