Livarot facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Livarot
Part of Livarot-Pays-d'Auge
The church in Livarot
Coat of arms
Livarot Location in France Show map of France Livarot Location in Normandy Show map of Normandy
Country	France
Region	Normandy
Department	Calvados
Arrondissement	Lisieux
Canton	Livarot-Pays-d'Auge
Commune	Livarot-Pays-d'Auge
Area 1	12.09 km2 (4.67 sq mi)
Population  (2019)	2,022
• Density	167.25/km2 (433.16/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal code	14140
Elevation	52–184 m (171–604 ft) (avg. 64 m or 210 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Livarot (French pronunciation: [livaʁo]) is a former town in France. It is located in the Normandy region, in the Calvados area. On January 1, 2016, Livarot joined with other towns to form a new, larger town called Livarot-Pays-d'Auge.

About 2,052 people lived in Livarot in 2017. The people from Livarot are called Livarotais.

This town is known for several famous companies. One is the Graindorge cheese factory, which makes the well-known Livarot cheese. The town also produces La Fermière (CCLF) calvados cider.

Where is Livarot Located?

Livarot is found where two main roads, the D4 and D579, meet. The closest big city is Caen, which is about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) to the northwest.

		Livarot

A Look at Livarot's History

Livarot's name was first recorded as Livarrot in 1155.

Livarot During World War II

During World War II, Livarot played a small part in history. On July 17, 1944, a German general named Erwin Rommel was injured nearby. The pharmacist and Mayor of Livarot gave him first aid.

Livarot was freed from German control on August 19, 1944. British soldiers from the British 7th Armoured Division entered the town that day. They found a bridge over the Vie river that had not been destroyed. The French Resistance helped by sharing information.

What is the Coat of Arms of Livarot?

The Livarot coat of arms shows a blue background. At the top, there are red and silver diamond shapes, and red and gold stripes. A golden shepherd's crook is placed over these designs. In the center, there is a silver shield with a red lion wearing a golden crown. Two golden fleur-de-lis symbols are also shown.

How Many People Live in Livarot?

In 2012, Livarot had 2,183 residents. The number of people living in towns under 10,000 is counted every five years. This helps keep track of how the population changes over time. For example, in 1975, Livarot had 2,654 inhabitants.

What is Livarot's Economy Like?

The economy of Livarot is well-known for its cheese.

• Livarot cheese is a very famous product from this area.

Places to See and Historic Sites

Livarot has several interesting places to visit.

• The former Leroy factory [fr] was built in 1841. It is now considered a historic monument.
• The Church of Saint-Ouen dates back to the 15th century. It has been changed a lot over the years. Its 19th-century organ gallery is also a classified historic monument.
• The old Bisson cheesemakery from 1902 has been turned into a museum. It showcases iron art.
• The L'Isle Manor was built in 1912. It used to belong to the Bisson family.
• The Graindorge cheesemakery burned down in 1999 but was rebuilt in 2001.
• You can still see parts of an old castle. This castle was once owned by Charles II of Navarre, who was the King of Navarre.
• The menhir of the Pierre Tournante [fr] is an ancient standing stone.

• Places and monuments in Livarot
• 

  The Leroy factory

• 

  The old Bisson cheesmakery

• 

  Le manor of l'Isle

• 

  The Pierre Tournante

Activities and Events in Livarot

Town Twinning

Livarot has a special friendship with another town.

• Since 1975, Livarot has been twinned with South Molton in the United Kingdom. This means they share cultural exchanges and friendly ties.

Sports in Livarot

The local sports club is called the Étoile Sportive Livarotaise.

• It has two football (soccer) teams that play in local leagues.
• The cycling part of the club has trained many famous riders. These include François Lemarchand and his son Romain Lemarchand.
• Livarot was also the starting point for Stage 7 of the 2015 Tour de France cycling race.

Annual Events

• The Livarot Cheese Fair is a popular event. It takes place every year in August.

Famous People from Livarot

Several notable people have connections to Livarot:

• Charles II of Navarre (1332-1387): He was the King of Navarre and owned the old castle in Livarot.
• Jacques Dufresne [fr] (1732-1832): He was a local priest and a representative for the clergy.
• Alfred Rioult de Neuville [fr] (1802-1894): A politician born and died in Livarot.
• Joël Le Bigot [fr] (born 1946): A radio host from Quebec, born in Livarot.
• François Lemarchand (born 1960): A professional cyclist from Livarot.

See also

In Spanish: Livarot para niños