# Donville-les-Bains

> commune in Manche, France

**Wikidata**: [Q1001754](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1001754)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donville-les-Bains)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/donville-les-bains

## Summary

Donville-les-Bains is a commune located in the Manche department in the Normandy region of northwestern France, situated on the coast of the English Channel. It is part of the arrondissement of Avranches and serves as a coastal municipality known for its seaside location and proximity to the Mont Saint-Michel bay area. The commune has a population of approximately 3,100-3,500 residents and operates under the local government structure of France's commune system.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name**: Donville-les-Bains
- **Alias**: Donville
- **Country**: France
- **Administrative Region**: Normandy (Normandie)
- **Department**: Manche
- **Arrondissement**: Avranches
- **Type of Entity**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities)
- **Inception of Communes**: 1789 (commune system established)
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 48.848611111111°, Longitude -1.5775°
- **Population**: Approximately 3,100-3,500 residents (recorded values: 3209, 3152, 3293, 3166, 3138, 3419, 3495, 3215, 3199, 3351, 3309, 3253, 3109, 3081, 3103, 3133, 3146)
- **Website**: https://www.donvillelesbains.fr
- **Wikipedia Title**: Donville-les-Bains
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Manche, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 42

## FAQs

**What region and department is Donville-les-Bains located in?**

Donville-les-Bains is located in the Normandy region (Normandie) of northwestern France, specifically in the Manche department. It falls within the arrondissement of Avranches, which is one of the administrative divisions responsible for coordinating local government services in the area.

**What type of administrative area is Donville-les-Bains?**

Donville-les-Bains is a commune, which is the smallest territorial collective in France for administrative purposes. The commune system in France was established in 1789 following the French Revolution, and it serves as the fundamental unit of local government, similar to a municipality in other countries.

**How do I get to Donville-les-Bains?**

Donville-les-Bains is located at coordinates 48.848611111111° latitude and -1.5775° longitude, placing it on the coast of the English Channel in the Normandy region. The commune is situated in northwestern France, relatively close to the famous Mont Saint-Michel and the Breton border. Visitors can access the area via road networks connecting to larger cities like Caen, Rennes, and Saint-Malo.

**What is the population of Donville-les-Bains?**

Donville-les-Bains has a population of approximately 3,100 to 3,500 residents, based on recorded population figures. The population has fluctuated over the years, with recorded values ranging from 3,081 to 3,495 inhabitants, reflecting typical demographic changes seen in small French coastal communes.

**What is the website for Donville-les-Bains?**

The official website for Donville-les-Bains is https://www.donvillelesbains.fr, where residents and visitors can find information about local services, municipal administration, community events, and practical information about the commune.

## Why It Matters

Donville-les-Bains matters as a representative example of France's extensive network of coastal communes that contribute to the country's cultural, economic, and social fabric. As one of the 42 communes with sitelink connections in the Wikidata knowledge graph for Manche, it represents the granular administrative structure that forms the foundation of French local governance. The commune's location in the Manche department places it in a region of significant historical importance, particularly during the Norman Conquest of England and the D-Day landings of World War II. The commune system, which Donville-les-Bains exemplifies, is unique to France and represents a decentralized approach to governance that allows for local decision-making while maintaining national coherence. With population figures around 3,000-3,500 residents, Donville-les-Bains represents the many small to medium-sized communes that form the backbone of French rural and semi-urban life, providing essential services, maintaining local traditions, and contributing to the overall demographic and economic landscape of Normandy.

## Notable For

- **Coastal Location**: Situated on the English Channel coast in the Normandy region, placing it within one of France's most historically significant maritime regions
- **Administrative Structure**: Part of the arrondissement of Avranches, one of the administrative divisions within the Manche department
- **Local Governance**: Operates as a commune, the fundamental unit of local government in France, a system established during the French Revolution in 1789
- **Regional Identity**: Located in Normandy (Normandie), a region with profound historical significance including the Norman Conquest, Hundred Years' War, and World War II
- **Digital Presence**: Maintains an official municipal website (donvillelesbains.fr), indicating modern local governance practices

## Body

### Geography and Location

Donville-les-Bains is a coastal commune situated in the northwestern French department of Manche, which is part of the Normandy region (Normandie). The commune is positioned at coordinates 48.848611111111° latitude and -1.5775° longitude, placing it along the English Channel coastline. This location places Donville-les-Bains within the broader geographic context of the Normandy coast, a region characterized by its dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, and proximity to the famous Mont Saint-Michel, which lies to the south in the adjacent department of Ille-et-Vilaine. The commune's coastal position has historically influenced its development, economy, and cultural identity, typical of many towns along France's northern seaboard.

### Administrative Context

Donville-les-Bains operates as a commune, which is the lowest level of administrative territorial collective in France. The commune system was established in 1789 following the French Revolution, replacing the previous system of parishes and villages. As a commune, Donville-les-Bains exercises powers in local urban planning, municipal infrastructure, civil registration, and local taxation. The commune is part of the arrondissement of Avranches, which serves as an administrative division coordinating state services and local government functions across several communes in the southern part of the Manche department. The Manche department itself was created on March 4, 1790, during the initial reorganization of France into departments following the Revolution, and it encompasses the Cotentin Peninsula and surrounding areas of Normandy.

### Historical Context

The commune of Donville-les-Bains exists within the broader historical framework of Normandy, one of France's most historically significant regions. The region gave its name to the Normans (Northmen), Viking settlers who established the Duchy of Normandy in the 10th century, which later played a crucial role in English history following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Manche department, created during the French Revolution, encompasses territory that has been contested throughout French history, including during the Hundred Years' War and World War II, when the D-Day landings occurred on its beaches in June 1944. The commune system itself represents a fundamental democratic innovation, establishing local self-governance that distinguishes French administrative organization from many other European nations.

### Demographics and Population

Donville-les-Bains has a population of approximately 3,100 to 3,500 residents, based on recorded population figures that show fluctuations over time. The population values recorded in the source material (3209, 3152, 3293, 3166, 3138, 3419, 3495, 3215, 3199, 3351, 3309, 3253, 3109, 3081, 3103, 3133, 3146) likely represent different census years or estimation periods. This population size is typical of many rural and semi-urban communes throughout France, where local government serves communities that, while not large by urban standards, maintain distinct identities, local services, and community institutions. The population density and demographic patterns of Donville-les-Bains reflect broader trends in rural Normandy, including challenges related to aging populations and youth emigration to larger urban centers that affect many smaller French communes.

### Local Government and Services

As a French commune, Donville-les-Bains is governed by a municipal council headed by a mayor, who exercises executive powers at the local level. The commune maintains its own website (https://www.donvillelesbains.fr), indicating active communication with residents and visitors through digital platforms. This online presence allows the municipality to disseminate information about local services, administrative procedures, community events, and practical guidance for residents and tourists. The commune's administrative functions include civil status registration (births, marriages, deaths), local urban planning and building permits, municipal property management, and coordination of local services such as water, sanitation, and local roads.

### Relationship to Broader Administrative Structures

Donville-les-Bains exists within a hierarchical system of French territorial organization. At the base level, the commune serves as the fundamental unit of local administration. Several communes are grouped together into arrondissements, with Donville-les-Bains belonging to the arrondissement of Avranches. The arrondissement, in turn, falls within the department of Manche, which is one of five departments in the Normandy region. This multi-layered administrative structure reflects the French approach to decentralization, where local governments at various levels exercise different competencies while remaining part of a coherent national system. The department of Manche, created in 1790, encompasses the entire Cotentin Peninsula and surrounding areas, with its prefecture (capital) located in Saint-Lô.

### Cultural and Regional Identity

Donville-les-Bains shares in the broader cultural heritage of Normandy, a region renowned for its culinary traditions (including Camembert cheese, cider, and Calvados brandy), architectural heritage (including Mont Saint-Michel and the Bayeux Tapestry), and artistic legacy. The commune's location in Manche places it within a region that has inspired countless artists, writers, and musicians throughout French history. The name "Donville-les-Bains" itself suggests a connection to bathing and seaside recreation, reflecting the tradition of coastal resorts that developed along the French Channel coast in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This naming convention is common among French seaside communes that developed as vacation destinations during the period of industrialization and the growth of paid leisure time.

### Connectivity and Modern Infrastructure

The commune maintains digital connectivity through its official website, enabling e-government services and information dissemination. The website address (donvillelesbains.fr) follows the standard French convention for municipal websites, using the .fr country code top-level domain that identifies French internet resources. This digital presence reflects the integration of French local government into modern administrative practices, allowing citizens to access services, information, and forms online. The commune's geographic coordinates (48.848611111111, -1.5775) also place it within modern mapping and navigation systems, facilitating access for visitors and delivery services.

### Position in Knowledge Systems

In the context of structured knowledge systems, Donville-les-Bains is documented in Wikidata with a sitelink count of 42, indicating its presence across multiple Wikimedia projects. The Wikipedia article titled "Donville-les-Bains" provides encyclopedic coverage of the commune, while the Wikidata entry captures structured data including geographic coordinates, population figures, administrative relationships, and connections to higher-level territorial entities. This documentation reflects the comprehensive approach to cataloging French territorial entities in global knowledge bases, ensuring that information about even small communes is systematically recorded and accessible.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
4. INSEE code
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. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
19. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
20. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
21. GeoNames
22. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
23. [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)
24. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
25. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File