Manche

For other uses, see Manche (disambiguation).

For the Spanish region, see La Mancha.

Manche
Department
Prefecture building of the Manche department, in Saint-Lô
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Manche in France
Coordinates: 49°03′N 01°15′E
Country	France
Region	Normandy
Prefecture	Saint-Lô
Subprefectures	Avranches Cherbourg Coutances
Government
• President of the General Council	Marc Lefèvre (DVD)
Area 1
• Total	5,951 km2 (2,298 sq mi)
Population  (2015)
• Total	499,287
• Density	84/km2 (220/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Manchois, Manchots
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Department number	50
Arrondissements	4
Constituency	4
Cantons	27
Intercommunality	8
Communes	477
^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2

Manche (French pronunciation: [mɑ̃ʃ]) is a French department in Normandy (Normandie), named for the English Channel, which is known as La Manche, literally "the sleeve" in French. The department borders its northern and western shores and part of its eastern shore.

History

Manche is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the province of Normandie.

The first capital was Coutances until 1796, and it resumed that role after World War II because of the almost complete destruction of Saint-Lô during the battle of Normandy following D-Day. When Saint-Lô was rebuilt, it again became the capital.

Geography

Map of Cotentin peninsula

The Department includes the Cotentin Peninsula down to the famous Mont St Michel; though of the off-shore Channel Islands only Chausey forms part of the territory of the department.

Manche borders the Normandy departments of Calvados to the east and Orne to the southeast. Mayenne, a department of the Pays de la Loire, is to the south-east, and Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany is to the south-west.

The region is lush and green with sandy beaches, remaining very rural and farming oriented. The peninsula was originally joined as a single land mass to Cornwall and Dorset in England, meaning that the underlying countrysides of both are very similar - although as farming practices have varied considerably between the UK and France, there are substantial regional differences today in terms of flora and fauna. Flat marsh areas in the department are known for their bird watching. The region and around St Lo is also the horse capital of France, where the cooler climate compared to the south is ideal for breeding and training.

France's first EPR reactor is near completion at Cherbourg and the TGV fast trains are planned for Paris to Caen and Cherbourg for 2020.

Climate

The climate is oceanic, with relatively mild winters temperatures can go below zero for a few days occasionally. Temperate summers, around 20 °C, can occasionally reach 35 °C in direct sun light. Precipitation is substantial, and varies greatly by region, between 700mm on the coast and 1300mm in the southern central area. Highly localised, not life-threatening flash flooding has been experienced over the last few years in the spring period.

The west coast benefits from the Gulf stream's influence, allowing the naturalization of many Mediterranean and exotic plants (mimosas, palms, agaves...).

There is often a sea breeze on the coast, which combined with tides contributes to quick temperature changes over a single day. Sea temperatures can be very pleasant for swimming between June and October.

Demographics

Inhabitants of the department are called Manchots or Manchois.

Sports

A neighborhood in Saint-André-de-l'Épine

• Football: main clubs: AS Cherbourg, US Avranches, FC Saint-Lô, US Granville, CS Villedieu, FC Équeurdreville-Hainneville...
• Cycling: the Tour de France has visited the department 21 times with stages ending at Cherbourg (16), Avranches (2), Granville (1), Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët (1), and the Mont-Saint-Michel (1).
• Sailing: the Solitaire du Figaro has come to Cherbourg several times.
• Tennis: hosts the Challenger La Manche tournament.
• Thai boxing: Villedieu-les-Poêles
• Badminton: Two local clubs compete in the national championship (N3): St Hilaire du Harcouet and Hainneville.
• Golf: course: Granville, Bréhal, Coutainville, Cherbourg, Centre Manche, Fontenay, Côte des Isles

Tourism

• 
  Mont-Saint-Michel
• 
  Chausey islands
• 
  Coutances Cathedral
• 
  Tour Vauban in Tatihou
• 
  Napoleon's statue in Cherbourg
• 
  Le Redoutable submarine at the Cité de la Mer
• 
  A vestige of the Normandy landings in Utah Beach

See also

• Cantons of the Manche department
• Communes of the Manche department
• Arrondissements of the Manche department
• Cotentinais, the Norman dialect of Manche.

External links

• Template:Fr icon Prefecture website
• Template:Fr icon General Council website
• Template:En icon Template:ODP
• Template:Fr icon A whole wiki about the Manche !
• Template:Fr icon Comité départemental du tourisme de la Manche