Bavent () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region of north-western France.

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Baventais or Baventaises.

Geography

Bavent is located on the northern edge of the Caen plain some 8 km north-east of Caen and 6 km south-west of Cabourg. Access to the commune is by the D513 road from Varaville in the north-east which passes through the commune just north of the village and continues south-west to Hérouvillette. Access to the village is by the D236 which comes from Amfreville in the north-west. The D224 branches from the D513 in the commune and goes west to the village and continues to Goustranville. The D95A goes north from the village to Gonneville-en-Auge while the D95 goes south to Troarn. The D37B branches from the D513 in the west of the commune and goes north to Bréville-les-Monts. Apart from the village there are the hamlets of Chateau de Beneauville, Chef-de-Rue, Les Harnots, Grand Plain, La Ritachere, Le Prieure, La Petite Bruyere, Roncheville, and Robehomme. The commune is mostly farmland except for a large forest, the Bois de Bavent, in the south. Badvento in 1063,

The origin of this place name divides Toponymists:

  • Dauzat and Rostaing suggest bat vent meaning "a place where the wind blows" There is fact a mill at Sénoville (Manche), called La Masse de Bavent.
  • Ernest Nègre proposes an explanation of Bavent from a German anthroponym Badvin. preceded by an unknown element in the absence of an older form. The same suffix has been identified in Nogent (Novientum, from novio meaning "new") and Drevant (Derventum from Dervo meaning "oak", cf. Breton derv also meaning "oak").

The name is homophonic with Bavans (Bavens 11th century, the name of a German man Bavo with the Germanic suffix -ingen Romanized to -ingos).

Robehomme is attested in the forms: Raimberti Hulmus in 1083, Rambertihulmus in 1149, and Robbehomme in 1190.

Heraldry

Administration

thumb|Bavent Town Hall

List of Successive Mayors

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! From !! To !! Name !! Party !! Position

|-

| 1956 || 1982 || André Yvonnet || || Doctor

|-

| 1983 || 2008 || Joël Leroy || || Professor

|-

| 2008 || 2026 || Jean-Luc Garnier || || Administrative Officer

|}

Twinning

Bavent has twinning associations with:

  • Geiselbach (Germany) since 1988.
  • Stoke Canon (United Kingdom) since 1983.

Demography

thumb|The Manoir Venoix

Economy

The Terreal Group has a tile production plant in the commune.

The Mesnil pottery of Bavent manufactures finials of Faience. It holds an Enterprise label of living heritage and its expertise is included in the inventory of intangible cultural heritage in France.

Culture and heritage

thumb|The Chateau of Bavent

thumb|The Chateau of Béneauville

thumb|Saint Hilaire Church

thumb|The Robehomme Church

Civil heritage

  • The Manoir Venoix (17th century). In 1944 the mansion had significant damage and was renovated in 1948 with some additions and changes.
  • The Pavilion of Pottery (1842).
  • The Château of Béneauville (1589)
  • The Château of Béneauville Park The Chateau contains a Clock (16th century) which is registered as an historical object.

Religious heritage

  • The Church of Saint Hilaire (12th century, much altered in the 19th century).

Notable people linked to the commune

  • Henri-Gabriel-Marie Le Bègue de Germiny (1811-1900), politician, Mayor of Bavent

See also

  • Communes of the Calvados department

Notes

References

  • Bavent official website