Arganchy () is a commune in the Calvados department in the

Normandy Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...

of northwestern

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

Geography

Arganchy is located in the area of

Bessin Bessin () is an area in Normandy Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Norman ...

in the valley of the Gourguichon Stream some 6.5 km south-west of

Bayeux Bayeux (, ; ) is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France. Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It is also known as the fir ...

and 7 km north-east of Castillon. Access to the commune is by the D192 road from Subles in the west passing through the commune north of the village and continuing east to join National Highway N13 east of Monceaux-en-Bessin. The village is reached by the country road ''L'Eglise'' running off the D192. The D572 highway runs through the north-western corner of the commune with an exit onto the D192 at Subles. Apart from the village there are also the hamlets of La Mauvielle, Saint-Amator, La Petite Flague, and Les Feffes in the commune. The commune is entirely farmland.Google Maps
/ref> The Cayennes Stream flows from the south to join the Gourgichon Stream east of the village which flows west to join the Drôme at Aprigny ( Agy).

Toponymy

The name ''Arganchy'' appears as ''Archenceium'' in 1198.Albert Dauzat and Charles Rostaing, ''Etymylogical Dictionary of place names in France'', Larousse, Paris, 1963 The origin of the name is attributed to the

anthroponym Anthroponymy (also anthroponymics or anthroponomastics, from Ancient Greek ἄνθρωπος ''anthrōpos'', 'human', and ὄνομα ''onoma'', 'name') is the study of ''anthroponyms'', the proper names of human beings, both individual and coll ...

''Argentius'':

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

according to René Lepelley or

Gaulish Gaulish is an extinct Celtic languages, Celtic language spoken in parts of Continental Europe before and during the period of the Roman Empire. In the narrow sense, Gaulish was the language of the Celts of Gaul (now France, Luxembourg, Belgium, ...

according to Albert Dauzat and Charles Rostaing.

History

In 1829 Arganchy (with 285 inhabitants in 1821) absorbed Saint-Amator (with 52 inhabitants) east of its territory.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors The council is composed of eleven members including the mayor and two deputy mayors.

Population

The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Arganchois'' or ''Arganchoises'' in French.

Economy

At a place called ''La Grande Abbaye'' there is a natural camping ground.

Sites and Monuments

*The Parish church of Saint-Radegonde dates from the 17th century. It contains three items which are registered as historical objects: **A

Tabernacle According to the Hebrew Bible, the tabernacle (), also known as the Tent of the Congregation (, also Tent of Meeting), was the portable earthly dwelling of God used by the Israelites from the Exodus until the conquest of Canaan. Moses was instru ...

(18th century) **A

Retable A retable is a structure or element placed either on or immediately behind and above the altar or communion table of a church. At the minimum, it may be a simple shelf for candles behind an altar, but it can also be a large and elaborate struct ...

(1670-1680) **An

Altar An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religion, religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, Church (building), churches, and other places of worship. They are use ...

, Tabernacle, and Retable (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy *A

Lavoir A lavoir (, wash-house) is a public place set aside for the washing of clothes. Communal washing places were common in Europe until industrial washing was introduced, and this process in turn was replaced by domestic washing machines and by s ...

(Public laundry): a concert venue (for the choir). *La Forte Main, north of Saint-Amator, where counterfeit coins were once made.

References

External links

Arganchy on Géoportail
National Geographic Institute (IGN) website
''Arganchy'' on the 1750 Cassini Map
{{authority control Communes of Calvados (department)