Municipality of Vierville-sur-Mer
Municipal Information - Bulletin N°11 - December 2007 - "http://vierville.free.fr"
The Mayor's word
With our municipal bulletin No. 1, we affirmed our willingness to provide you with information about our village:
Decisions of the municipal council and life of associations, a look back at the past through testimonies, anecdotes, documents illustrating various aspects of the municipal history and life of the Viervillais.
In return, many of you told us how much these four semi-annual pages captured your attention (despite their modest black and white support with a tight layout) and we thank you for this interest.
I think the municipal bulletin can help everyone regain ownership of the history of their municipality (whether you have always lived there or for a few weeks a year or whether you settle there today), hopefully creating a feeling of belonging to the same community.
According to a well-known adage, to know where to go, I must know where I come from because our values and projects draw their strength from the rigor of our roots.
It is one of the tasks of a city council to look to the future.
The revision of the Land Use Plan is launched; we are resolutely turning to the next 10 years by developing a Local Urban Planning Plan, which will be based on the geographical, topographical, historical, demographic and economic specificities of Vierville.
This document will no longer be a simple collection of regulations: it will have to propose a planning and sustainable development project. It is an exciting job that promises to be for the advisors you will elect in March 2008.
For now, Christmas is near: so let's turn to all those to whom we can bring joy and attention.
Merry Christmas to all!
With our best wishes for 2008!
For the city council, the Mayor
,
Jean-Marie OXEANT
Elector lists - If you are not yet registered, we remind you that you have until the end of the year to register at the town hall in order to vote in the next municipal and cantonal elections, scheduled for March 9 and 16, 2008
Access to Séroc waste disposal facilities - Currently this access is obtained on presentation of an access card. The SEROC plans, at the beginning of 2008, to replace this card with a smart card. The new card should be withdrawn at town hall and would be used from April 1, 2008.
Erasure of networks - A quote was requested from the SDEC for the erasure of the remaining air networks in the center of the village (EDF, public lighting, France-Télécom). This would concern Rue Pavée (Western part), Rue de la Mer (upper part), the Fontaines district, Rue des Ecoles, and the replacement of the tower transformer located near the church, by a transformer located at ground level.
On an amount valued at approximately 250,000 Euros, the participation of the municipality would amount to 70,000 Euros. A funding plan will be proposed at the next municipal council meeting.
A bit of history of Vierville: The beginnings of tourism
In 1895, a "Guide for families to the beaches of Normandy" published in Paris described our municipality as follows:
« 383 inhabitants - 20km from Bayeux - Post office and telephone - Molay-Littry station (10km), correspondence car on arrival of the Paris train - Train journey: 5h1/2 - Distance by road: 261km - Doctor and pharmacist in Trévières.
(The small train from Molay-Littry to Grandcamp by Vierville was not put into service until around 1900, it was replaced by buses around 1930)
The seaside resort of Vierville is already very busy, and it would be even more so if we were not forced to do, when going down from the railway, two hours by car to get there. It is therefore especially recommended for bathers who can make a long stay at the sea without interruption. Once installed, we enjoy perfect tranquility, in the middle of laughing countryside whose varied aspects banish any idea of monotony or sadness.
The beach of fine and golden sand, with a few rare pebbles, has an extension of 6 kilometers and advances very far into the sea at low tide; hence it offers a vast field for children's games and walks of adults. The strike is bordered along its entire length by cliffs that descend gently and provide the rubble used in the country for construction. By parenthesis, this ease of obtaining the necessary materials on site makes it possible to raise houses in very good conditions (even today we can notice along the top of the cliff these small quarries). Baths are taken at high tide and cabins set up near the cliffs are used by bathers who do not like to undress at home.
Life is very cheap in Vierville, and small purses can come there without running the risk of seeing their expenses exceed their means. There are two butchers, a baker and several grocers in the village; but for products such as butter, milk, eggs, vegetables, you have to contact the peasants, because there is no market. For food, the average expense is 2 fr. 50 per day (about 8.5 E). The houses for rent are not very numerous, but there are quite a few furnished rooms, whose price varies from 30 to 50 francs per month (about 100 to 170 E), and small rentals from 100 francs (about 340 E). There are housekeepers at 1 fr. 25 per day (about 4.25 E). Three hotel-inns take boarders at a rate of 100 francs per month (about 340 E).
The beach is very favorable for fishing, especially shrimp fishing. We take as many roses as gray ones; so there is enough to satisfy all tastes. We also pick mussels.
In the vicinity of Vierville, you can take some pleasant and shady walks. As for excursions, as the means of transport are completely lacking, we are obliged not to exceed a certain remote perimeter and to limit ourselves to those that are possible on foot. The castle of Saint Sever, Formigny, famous for the battle of this name, Louvières, the Bois de Saffray will particularly attract the attention of tourists. If by chance we manage to get a car, we can visit, not without approval, the coast from Port-en-Bessin to Grandcamp and the mouth of the Vire.
Hotels. - Houel Hotel; - of the Grace of God; - of the Beach.
Villas for rent. - MM. H. Genouin, E. Daon, C. Neustadt, Mrs. Le Gallois, etc. "
A few years later, around 1900, the tourist vocation of Vierville was confirmed with the commissioning of the narrow-gauge tram from Molay-Littry to Grandcamp, and the creation of the establishments built by the Le Gallois and Piprel families.
For more than a century these establishments have welcomed tourists on the beach of Vierville. Old postcards show us how they have evolved over the years.
The first Bazar de la Plage, was installed by the Le Gallois family around 1900, to the left of the downhill road, approximately at the location of the entrance to the current rue de la Percée: 
Around 1930, a large Le Gallois establishment was built a little lower, between the road and the sea, where today the monument of the National Guard is located:
After the destruction in 1943-44, a wooden barracks was installed in 1951, in the old quarry, where the house of the Séron family is now located (below) 
It was in 1958 that the current Bazar de la Plage was built:
Around 1900, the first Casino Restaurant was installed by the Piprel family in a light building, very close to the sea, about where the first aid station is located today: 
Probably around 1910, this building was moved a little higher, to avoid frequent flooding caused by storms. It was then between the Sainteny monument and the current Casino:
After the Great War, in 1925, this restaurant was completed by an adjacent hotel, the Piprel family simultaneously ceasing to operate in the village the hotel called "La Pie qui Tette", which they had owned for a long time: 
This set was destroyed in 1944 and replaced in 1955 by the current Casino hotel:
For several years, meteorological data has been collected regularly by Mr. Jacques Héleine, here are his conclusions.
Summary of winter 2006-2007 (Nov. to March):
Total frosts: 17
Days with snowfall: 3
Minimum temperature recorded: -3.3° (January 26)
Winter 2006-2007 was particularly mild.
November 2006 had set the tone with 9° average temperature (all temperatures recorded in this article were recorded under weather shelter located not far from the Vaumicel.
December was also sweet with a cold Christmas despite everything (between 0° and +2° on December 24 and 25).
January and February were even softer: 2° above the usual Vierville standards, which is considerable. Despite everything, the end of January brought us a little cold and snow.
Finally, March, which was supposed to bring spring, was colder than February (6.8° against 7.1°).
With only 17 frosts (including 1 in April) the winter of 2006-2007 broke the record for the smallest number of frosts recorded in Vierville since 1983. The previous record dates from the winter of 1994-95 (18 frosts).
This figure is to be compared with the previous winter (2005-2006): 50 frosts, or the winter 84-85 which totaled 57 frosts. The average temperature from November to March is 7.1°, close to the record.
Does this mean that our farmers will soon start growing pineapple? This is not so certain, because contrary to what television says, the increase in temperatures (at least in Vierville) does not have a regular curve (see graph).
A new rescue post
The architectural project, established by Cabinet Poupard, was definitively stopped after being seen by the architect of the Bâtiments de France and the Sub-Prefect. A summary assessment of the expenditure amounts to 120,000 Euros excluding VAT. This high amount is linked to foundations and architectural obligations in the context of respect for the environment and the Grand Site classified.
The future post will be placed under the National Guard monument, at the location of the temporary post installed during the 2007 season.
The municipality will have to seek financial aid when the amount is specified. Studies will therefore be continued in order to obtain a building permit and to launch a business consultation.
If in the meantime, our Community of Municipalities were to take the corresponding competence, all the procedures in progress and the funding would be transferred to it.
Revision of the Land Use Plan
After reviewing the offers, the Planis firm was selected, based on its references and working methods. All studies and procedures should be around 20,000E. Given the usual subsidies for these expenses, the amount remaining at the expense of the Municipality should be close to 7,000 Euros. The overall deadline is about 2 years for the entire procedure.
On this occasion, the Municipality wishes to define new urbanization zones and locations for collective services or new tourist accommodation structures.
This revision will have to be compatible with the SCOT (Schéma d'Orientation Territoriale) du Bessin, which has just been investigated from October 15 to November 15, 2007, and with all applicable texts, including the Coastal Law and the Grand Site.