# Le Fournet

> commune in Calvados, France

**Wikidata**: [Q865036](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q865036)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Fournet)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/le-fournet

## Summary
Le Fournet is a commune located in the Calvados department of France, within the Normandy region. It is a small administrative division with a population that has fluctuated between 31 and 77 residents over recorded years, situated at coordinates 49.2033°N, 0.1086°E.

## Key Facts
- **Type**: Commune (municipality) in France.
- **Location**: Calvados department, Normandy region, France.
- **Coordinates**: 49.2033°N, 0.1086°E.
- **Population**: Recorded figures include 31, 38, 43, 50, 57, 58, 60, 62, 66, 71, 76, and 77 residents across different years.
- **Administrative History**:
  - Part of the canton of Cambremer until March 2015.
  - Located in the arrondissement of Lisieux.
- **Department**: Calvados (established March 4, 1790).
- **Country**: France (semi-presidential republic, founding member of the EU, permanent UN Security Council member).
- **Wikidata Sitelinks**: 42 references across languages.
- **Wikipedia Title**: "Le Fournet."

## FAQs
**What is a commune in France?**
A commune is the smallest administrative division in France, functioning as a municipality with local governance. Communes like Le Fournet handle local services, urban planning, and civic administration under the broader framework of departments (e.g., Calvados) and regions (e.g., Normandy).

**Where exactly is Le Fournet located?**
Le Fournet is situated in the Calvados department of Normandy, France, at geographic coordinates 49.2033°N, 0.1086°E. It falls within the former canton of Cambremer and the arrondissement of Lisieux.

**How has the population of Le Fournet changed over time?**
Population records for Le Fournet show variability, with counts ranging from 31 to 77 residents. Specific figures include 31, 38 (twice), 43 (twice), 50, 57, 58 (twice), 60, 62, 66, 71, 76 (three times), and 77, reflecting typical fluctuations in rural French municipalities.

**What administrative structures govern Le Fournet?**
Le Fournet is governed as part of the Calvados department (created in 1790) and the arrondissement of Lisieux. Until 2015, it belonged to the canton of Cambremer, which was reorganized under France’s territorial reforms.

**Why is Calvados significant to Le Fournet?**
Calvados is a French department in Normandy known for its historic and cultural heritage, including the production of the apple brandy of the same name. As part of Calvados, Le Fournet is embedded in this regional identity, which influences local traditions, agriculture, and governance.

## Why It Matters
Le Fournet exemplifies the role of small communes in preserving France’s rural and administrative fabric. As one of over 35,000 communes nationwide, it represents the decentralized governance model that ensures local representation and community-specific decision-making. Its existence within Calvados—a department with deep historical roots tied to the French Revolution (1790)—highlights the enduring structure of France’s territorial organization. While modest in size, communes like Le Fournet are vital for maintaining regional identity, managing local resources, and fostering civic engagement in areas outside major urban centers.

## Notable For
- **Small-Scale Governance**: Represents France’s hyper-local administrative system, where even the smallest villages have autonomous municipal status.
- **Population Dynamics**: Demonstrates the demographic challenges and resilience of rural French communes, with population figures reflecting broader trends in Normandy.
- **Historical Continuity**: Part of Calvados, a department established during the French Revolution, linking Le Fournet to France’s foundational administrative reforms.
- **Geographic Precision**: Located at a specific coordinate (49.2033°N, 0.1086°E), illustrating the detailed territorial mapping of French communes.
- **Administrative Reorganization**: Affected by the 2015 canton reforms, showcasing France’s ongoing efforts to modernize local governance.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Le Fournet is a commune in the Calvados department of Normandy, France. Its geographic coordinates are 49.2033°N latitude and 0.1086°E longitude, placing it in the northwestern part of the country. The commune is part of the arrondissement of Lisieux and was historically within the canton of Cambremer until the territorial reorganization in March 2015.

### Administrative Structure
As a commune, Le Fournet operates under France’s decentralized municipal system. It is governed by a mayor (*maire*) and a municipal council (*conseil municipal*), elected by local residents. The commune is nested within larger administrative layers:
- **Department**: Calvados (created on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution).
- **Arrondissement**: Lisieux, which oversees multiple cantons and communes.
- **Former Canton**: Cambremer (dissolved in 2015 as part of France’s reduction of cantons from 4,032 to 2,054).

### Demographics
Population data for Le Fournet shows fluctuations typical of rural French municipalities:
- **Lowest Recorded**: 31 residents.
- **Highest Recorded**: 77 residents.
- **Common Figures**: 38, 43, 58, 76 (each appearing multiple times in records).

These variations reflect broader demographic trends in Normandy, including rural depopulation and periodic revitalization efforts.

### Historical Context
Le Fournet’s administrative history is tied to France’s post-Revolutionary territorial organization. The Calvados department, where it is located, was one of the original 83 departments created in 1790 to replace the pre-Revolutionary provinces. The commune system itself dates to 1789, emphasizing local autonomy within a centralized state.

### Relationship to Calvados
Calvados is renowned for its:
- **Apple Brandy**: The region’s signature *Calvados* spirit, protected by geographical indication.
- **D-Day Landings**: Key sites from the 1944 Normandy landings (e.g., Omaha Beach).
- **Cultural Heritage**: Medieval abbeys, châteaux, and the Bayeux Tapestry.

As part of Calvados, Le Fournet shares in this regional identity, though its direct contributions are primarily administrative and residential.

### Modern Reforms
The 2015 canton reorganization aimed to streamline governance by reducing the number of cantons nationwide. Le Fournet’s shift from the canton of Cambremer to a new structure reflects France’s adaptive approach to local administration, balancing efficiency with representation.

### Comparative Significance
While Le Fournet is a minor commune, its existence underscores the importance of France’s communal system:
- **Local Democracy**: Ensures representation even in sparsely populated areas.
- **Service Delivery**: Manages local infrastructure, schools, and public services.
- **Cultural Preservation**: Maintains regional traditions and languages (e.g., Norman French dialects).

### Data and Documentation
Le Fournet is documented in Wikidata with 42 sitelinks, indicating its recognition across multiple language editions of Wikipedia. The commune’s Wikipedia title is simply "Le Fournet," with no additional disambiguation required.

### Broader French Context
France’s 35,000+ communes vary widely in size and influence, from Paris (population ~2.1 million) to Le Fournet (population <100). This system ensures that even the smallest villages have a voice in national governance, though debates continue over merging smaller communes to reduce administrative costs.

### Key Takeaways
- **Governance**: Le Fournet is a self-governing municipality within France’s layered administrative hierarchy.
- **Demographics**: Its small, fluctuating population reflects rural Normandy’s challenges.
- **History**: Tied to post-Revolutionary reforms and modern territorial adjustments.
- **Regional Identity**: Embedded in Calvados’ cultural and historical landscape.

This structure ensures that Le Fournet, despite its size, plays a defined role in France’s broader civic and administrative framework.

## 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)