Belfonds (French pronunciation: [bɛlfɔ̃] ) is a commune in the Orne department in northwestern France.

Belfonds
The church in Belfonds
The church in Belfonds
Location of Belfonds
Map
Belfonds is located in France
Belfonds
Belfonds
Belfonds is located in Normandy
Belfonds
Belfonds
Coordinates: 48°36′41″N 0°07′07″E / 48.6114°N 0.1186°E / 48.6114; 0.1186
CountryFrance
RegionNormandy
DepartmentOrne
ArrondissementAlençon
CantonSées
IntercommunalityCC des Sources de l'Orne
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Jean-Pierre Rolland[1]
Area
1
14.29 km2 (5.52 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
202
 • Density14/km2 (37/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
61036 /61500
Elevation170–245 m (558–804 ft)
(avg. 215 m or 705 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography edit

The commune is made up of the following collection of villages and hamlets, Guichaumont, Le Haut Condé, Condé-le-Butor, Le Roussillon, La Fosse, La Philippière, La Perrière, Saint-Clair, Haussepied, Les Petites Bruyères and Belfonds.[3]

It is 1,430 hectares (5.5 sq mi) in size. The highest point in the commune is 221 metres (725 ft).

Belfonds has a total of seven water courses running through it, three rivers The Orne, La Senneviere and La Thouane. The other four watercourses are all streams, The Ponts Besnard, The Renardieres, The Iles & the Viverel.[4]


Population edit

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 292—    
1975 250−2.19%
1982 213−2.26%
1990 207−0.36%
1999 218+0.58%
2009 172−2.34%
2014 205+3.57%
2020 204−0.08%
Source: INSEE[5]

Notable buildings and places edit

National heritage sites edit

The Commune has two buildings and areas listed as a Monument historique.

  • Cléray Manor a sixteenth century manor house, that was listed as a monument in 2016.[6]
  • Saint-Latuin Chapel is the former church, of Cléray whose commune was abolished in 1802.[7] It is believed that Latuinus, first bishop of Sées took refuge here to escape the hatred of the wife of the governor of Sées, jealous of his miracles.[7] The bishop stopped at the edge of a fountain and built a cell and an oratory. The fountain is believed to have healing powers and on the last Sunday of June each year a pilgrimage is taken from the center of Belfonds.[8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Belfonds · 61500, France". Belfonds · 61500, France.
  4. ^ Sandre. "Fiche cours d'eau - L'Orne (I2--0200)".
  5. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  6. ^ "Manoir de Cléray à Belfonds - PA00110739". monumentum.fr.
  7. ^ a b "Ancienne église de Clairay à Belfonds - PA00110980". monumentum.fr.
  8. ^ "La fontaine Saint Latuin et son eau miraculeuse". Ouest-France.fr. 4 August 2016.