# Lion-sur-Mer

> commune in Calvados, France

**Wikidata**: [Q366420](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q366420)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion-sur-Mer)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lion-sur-mer

## Summary

Lion-sur-Mer is a commune located in the Calvados department in the Normandy region of northwestern France, situated on the coast of the English Channel. It is part of the arrondissement of Caen and was historically part of the canton of Douvres-la-Délivrande until March 2015. The commune lies at coordinates 49.301111° latitude and -0.318889° longitude, offering direct access to the Channel coastline.

## Key Facts

- **Country**: France
- **Region**: Normandy (Normandie)
- **Department**: Calvados (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Arrondissement**: Caen
- **Canton**: Douvres-la-Délivrande (until March 2015)
- **Commune Type**: French municipal territorial subdivision (inception: 1789)
- **Coordinates**: 49.301111° N, -0.318889° W
- **Website**: www.lionsurmer.fr, www.lionsurmer.com
- **Wikipedia Title**: Lion-sur-Mer
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Calvados, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 43

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Lion-sur-Mer?**

Lion-sur-Mer is a commune, which is the smallest administrative territorial subdivision in France for municipalities. It is located within the Calvados department in the Normandy region and falls under the jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Caen.

**What is the geographic location of Lion-sur-Mer?**

Lion-sur-Mer is positioned at coordinates 49.301111° north latitude and -0.318889° west longitude, placing it on the coast of the English Channel in northwestern France.

**Which administrative divisions is Lion-sur-Mer part of?**

Lion-sur-Mer belongs to the Calvados department (established March 4, 1790), the Caen arrondissement, and was historically part of the canton of Douvres-la-Délivrande until administrative reorganizations in March 2015.

**What is the historical context of communes in France?**

The French commune system traces its origins to 1789, following the French Revolution, when municipalities were established as the fundamental units of local administration. Lion-sur-Mer operates under this communal structure that defines local governance throughout France.

## Why It Matters

Lion-sur-Mer represents the traditional French communal system that forms the backbone of local governance in France. As part of Normandy's coastal region, the commune contributes to the cultural and administrative fabric of one of France's historic provinces. The commune's location in Calvados places it in a department with significant historical importance, particularly regarding the D-Day landings during World War II. The administrative reorganization that moved Lion-sur-Mer from the canton of Douvres-la-Délivrande in 2015 reflects the ongoing evolution of French local government structures aimed at improving administrative efficiency. Understanding Lion-sur-Mer provides insight into how France's granular administrative system operates at the municipal level, demonstrating the decentralized governance model that characterizes the French Republic.

## Notable For

- Coastal location on the English Channel in Normandy
- Part of the historic province of Normandy with significant WWII heritage nearby
- Member of the Calvados department, one of France's original departments established during the French Revolution
- Part of the Caen arrondissement, a major administrative center in Lower Normandy

## Body

### Geography and Location

Lion-sur-Mer is situated in the Normandy region of northwestern France, specifically in the Calvados department. The commune occupies a coastal position along the English Channel, at coordinates 49.301111° north latitude and -0.318889° west longitude. This strategic coastal location places the commune along one of the most significant maritime boundaries in European history.

### Administrative Structure

As a French commune, Lion-sur-Mer operates as the lowest level of administrative division in France, serving as the fundamental unit for municipal governance. The commune is part of the Calvados department, which was officially established on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution as part of the reorganization of France's administrative divisions. Lion-sur-Mer falls within the arrondissement of Caen, which serves as the intermediate administrative level between the department and the commune. Prior to March 2015, the commune was part of the canton of Douvres-la-Délivrande, after which administrative reforms reorganized the cantonal structure.

### Historical Context

The commune system in France traces its institutional origins to 1789, following the French Revolution's transformation of France's administrative structure. The commune of Lion-sur-Mer operates under this system that replaced the previous feudal and provincial divisions with a uniform municipal framework. Calvados, the department containing Lion-sur-Mer, was one of the original 83 departments created during the revolutionary period, named after the river that flows through the region.

### Regional Context

Lion-sur-Mer is located in Lower Normandy (Basse-Normandie), a historical province known for its agricultural lands, coastal cliffs, and significant role in European history. The department of Calvados is particularly renowned for its involvement in the World War II D-Day landings, with the nearby Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches seeing some of the most pivotal military operations of the conflict. The region's administrative center, Caen, serves as a major urban hub for the surrounding rural communes.

### Digital Presence

The commune maintains an online presence through its official website at www.lionsurmer.fr, with an additional domain at www.lionsurmer.com. This digital infrastructure reflects the modern administrative needs of French municipalities, providing residents and visitors with access to local government information, services, and community resources.

### Administrative Hierarchy

Lion-sur-Mer exists within France's multi-tiered administrative hierarchy: the national government in Paris holds sovereign authority, followed by the Normandy regional level, the Calvados departmental level, the Caen arrondissement level, and finally the communal level where Lion-sur-Mer operates as a municipality. This decentralized structure allows for local governance while maintaining national coherence in administrative practices.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.francegenweb.org/wiki/index.php?title=Les_communes_d%C3%A9cor%C3%A9es_du_Calvados)
2. [Source](https://herald-dick-magazine.blogspot.com/2014/06/petit-armorial-du-d-day-le-6-juin-1944.html)
3. BnF authorities
4. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
5. INSEE code
6. [Source](https://archives.calvados.fr/classificationScheme/11d99609-7d05-4864-9e3e-7f744d9c2753)
7. répertoire géographique des communes
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. Annuaire de service-public.fr
10. [Source](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2021173?geo=COM-14365)
11. [Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3293086?geo=COM-14365)
12. Populations légales 2016
13. Populations légales 2017
14. [Source](http://cassini.ehess.fr/cassini/fr/html/fiche.php?select_resultat=19669)
15. [Source](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2129090?geo=COM-14365)
16. [Source](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2129076?geo=COM-14365)
17. [Source](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2129062?geo=COM-14365)
18. [Source](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2129068?geo=COM-14365)
19. [Source](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2129059?geo=COM-14365)
20. [Source](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2123937?geo=COM-14365)
21. [Source](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2123878?geo=COM-14365)
22. [Source](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2534314?geo=COM-14365)
23. Populations légales 2018
24. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
25. Populations légales 2019
26. Populations légales 2020
27. Populations légales 2021
28. Populations de référence 2022
29. Populations de référence 2023
30. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
31. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
32. GeoNames
33. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
34. [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)
35. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)