Ablon () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France.

Geography

Ablon is 5 km south east of Honfleur and 16 km north-west of Pont-Audemer with its northern border on the Seine Estuary. It can be reached on Highway D580A from Honfleur turning right on the small country road called Cote de Vats to reach the village of Ablon. Road D140 (Route de Genneville) from Genneville in the south passes through the western side of the commune to join the D580a just outside the commune. The D144 road forms the southern border of the commune. Ablon is in the north-eastern corner of the Calvados department with its eastern border being the departmental border with Eure.

The Morelle river passes through the north of the commune from east to west although oddly does not form part of the commune. The Canal de Retour is parallel to it but also does not form part of the commune.

History

In 1809, Ablon grew in size following its union with two neighbouring communes: Crémanville and Ableville.

Ablon was the site of a Nobel dynamite factory from 1879 until 1989. The factory ceased operations following an explosion on 3 March 1988 which killed 5, including the factory's director, and left 8 injured. Windows were broken more than a kilometre away in the village of Honfleur.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors of Ablon

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! From !! To !! Name !! Party

|-

| 2001 || 2008 || Christian Trocque || UMP

|-

| 2008 || Current || Xavier Canu || DVD

|}

Population

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Ablonnais or Ablonnaises in French.

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has two buildings that are registered as historical monuments:

  • The Chateau of Ablon (1767 and 1845)
  • The Dynamite Factory (1885 to 1916).
  • A Weighing machine (20th century)
  • A Nitroglycerine production line (20th century)

;Other sites of interest:

  • La Houssaye Manor-farm

Religious heritage

thumb|The Church of Saint-Pierre

The Parish Church of Saint-Pierre contains one item that is registered as an historical object:

  • A Baptismal font (12th century)

See also

  • Communes of the Calvados department

References

  • Ablon official website
  • Ablon on the old IGN website
  • Ablon on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website
  • Ablon on the 1750 Cassini Map