# Monfréville

> commune in Calvados, France

**Wikidata**: [Q219853](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219853)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monfréville)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/monfr-ville

## Summary

Monfréville is a commune located in the Calvados department in the Normandy region of northwestern France. It sits at coordinates 49.308333°N latitude and -1.037778°E longitude and is part of the canton of Isigny-sur-Mer within the arrondissement of Bayeux. As a French commune, Monfréville operates as a territorial subdivision for municipalities, a system established during the French Revolution in 1789.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Monfréville is situated in the Calvados department of Normandy, France
- **Administrative divisions**: Part of the canton of Isigny-sur-Mer and the arrondissement of Bayeux
- **Department inception**: Calvados was established on March 4, 1790
- **Commune system inception**: The commune system in France dates to 1789
- **Coordinates**: 49.308333°N latitude, -1.037778°E longitude
- **Population data**: Historical population figures include 103, 103, 101, 94, 90, 155, 154, 135, 102, 94, 103, 106, 90, 91, 90, 96, and 101 residents across recorded periods
- **Country**: France — a semi-presidential republic and founding member of the European Union
- **Region**: Normandy (Normandie)
- **Wikipedia sitelink count**: 41
- **Image**: Features the Church of Monfréville (Eglise-Monfreville-14.JPG), photographed by Rundvald and released into the public domain

## FAQs

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

Monfréville is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. It is part of the canton of Isigny-sur-Mer and the arrondissement of Bayeux in the Calvados department.

**Which region and department is Monfréville located in?**

Monfréville is located in the Normandy region (Normandie) of northwestern France, specifically in the Calvados department. Normandy is known for its historical significance, including the Norman Conquest of England and the D-Day landings during World War II.

**What are the administrative divisions that contain Monfréville?**

Monfréville is organized within a hierarchical structure: France (country) → Normandy (region) → Calvados (department, established 1790) → arrondissement of Bayeux → canton of Isigny-sur-Mer → commune of Monfréville.

**What is the population of Monfréville?**

Monfréville is a small commune with population figures recorded in the range of 90 to 155 residents across various census periods, indicating a modest rural settlement in Normandy.

**What notable landmarks exist in Monfréville?**

The commune features the Church of Monfréville (Eglise-Monfreville-14.JPG), a religious structure documented through photography. The image is available on Wikimedia Commons and is in the public domain.

## Why It Matters

Monfréville represents the foundational unit of French local government and exemplifies the medieval and revolutionary administrative heritage that characterizes France's territorial organization. As one of the approximately 34,000 communes in France, Monfréville participates in the decentralized administrative system that has governed French municipalities since the Revolution of 1789. The commune system allows for local governance while maintaining the unitary character of the French state.

The Calvados department itself carries historical significance, named after the famous liqueur and representing the core territory of the Norman people who significantly influenced European history through the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The region's agricultural character and coastal proximity have shaped local communities like Monfréville for centuries.

Understanding Monfréville provides insight into how France maintains its distinctive blend of centralized state authority with local administrative autonomy. The commune serves as the level of government closest to citizens, handling local affairs, maintaining public spaces, and representing residents in the broader administrative hierarchy.

## Notable For

- **Historical administrative structure**: Part of the French commune system established during the Revolution of 1789
- **Norman heritage**: Located in Calvados, a department named after the historic Norman territory
- **Administrative organization**: Part of the canton of Isigny-sur-Mer and the arrondissement of Bayeux
- **Documented heritage**: Features a photographed church building available in the public domain through Wikimedia Commons

## Body

### Geography and Location

Monfréville is positioned at coordinates 49.308333°N latitude and -1.037778°E longitude, placing it in the northwestern French department of Calvados. The commune lies within the Normandy region, a territory historically known for its agricultural productivity, coastal cliffs, and significant role in both medieval and modern European history. The location in the arrondissement of Bayeux situates Monfréville within a jurisdiction named after the city of Bayeux, which dates to Roman times and became a major center during the Norman period.

### Administrative Structure

Monfréville operates as a commune, which represents the lowest level of territorial administration in France. This system traces its origins to the French Revolution, when the National Constituent Assembly abolished the previous feudal divisions and established communes as the fundamental units of local government in 1789. The commune of Monfréville falls within several administrative layers: the canton of Isigny-sur-Mer provides representation at the departmental council level, while the arrondissement of Bayeux organizes judicial and administrative functions within the region.

The Calvados department itself was created on March 4, 1790, during the initial reorganization of France into departments following the Revolution. Named after a river in the region, Calvados became one of the original 83 departments established to replace the historical provinces of the Ancien Régime. The department is part of the Normandy region, which encompasses five departments: Calvados, Manche, Orne, Seine-Maritime, and Eure.

### Demographics and Population

As a small rural commune in Normandy, Monfréville maintains a modest population consistent with the agricultural character of the region. The historical population data shows variation across recorded periods, with figures ranging from 90 to 155 residents. This population range reflects the demographic patterns common to rural French communes, where aging populations and rural-to-urban migration have affected many smaller settlements since the mid-20th century.

The commune's small population places it among the numerous rural municipalities that form the backbone of French territorial organization. These communes, regardless of size, maintain the same legal status and administrative powers, reflecting France's commitment to uniform local governance regardless of population.

### Cultural Heritage

Monfréville features notable architectural heritage in the form of its church (Eglise-Monfreville-14.JPG), documented through photography by Rundvald. This religious structure represents the traditional architectural heritage found throughout rural Normandy, where churches often date to medieval or early modern periods and serve as landmarks of community identity.

The image of the church has been made available through Wikimedia Commons in the public domain, allowing for documentation and educational use. Such documentation contributes to the broader preservation of French rural heritage, where churches, chapels, and other religious structures often serve as the oldest surviving buildings in small communes.

### Relationship to Broader French Administration

Monfréville exists within France's distinctive unitary system, which combines centralized state authority with local administrative units. The French commune system differs significantly from municipal structures in federal nations, as communes operate under the general framework established by national legislation while maintaining local autonomy for day-to-day governance.

The commune's position within the canton of Isigny-sur-Mer connects it to departmental representation, while the arrondissement of Bayeux provides intermediate administrative functions between the department and the commune. This multi-layered system allows for both local responsiveness and regional coordination in governance, planning, and public services.

France's broader administrative organization includes 18 regions (12 in metropolitan France, 6 overseas), 101 departments in metropolitan France and overseas, and approximately 34,000 communes. Monfréville participates in this system as one of the communes within Calvados, which itself contains numerous similar small municipalities that collectively form the administrative landscape of Normandy.

## 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)