Porte Horloge of Transfers

The carries Horloge of Transfers is a historic building emblematic of the town of Vire, common Frenchwoman located in the department of the Calvados, (Basse-Normandie). It was classified historic building, by decree of the July 12th 1886.

History

The Horloge door was the principal main door of the city to the Moyen-âge, when this one was strengthened. The capital of the scrap-metal - after having been a Oppidum Gallic, then a strengthened mound under Pip the Brief - became, after the invasions Normans, an important place of war of the dukes of Normandy. The fortification of Transfers was reinforced under Guillaume I {{er}} '' the Conqueror ''. A castle with double enclosure and keep - whose only ruins of the keep remain - was built by Henri I {{er}} '' Beauclerc ''.

It was built at the 13th century. It is flanked of two turns, joined together by a Voûte, below which a street passes nowadays. It was surmounted by a Beffroi, very original with its Clocheton, at the 15th century, in order to be used as turn of guet and to receive a public clock. The top, the panoramic sight on the Bocage virois made it possible to supervise the approaches of the city and to prevent any attack. On the belfry a statue of the Vierge is carrying this inscription: “Marie protects the city. ”

If Transfers suffered much from the Second world war, this testimony of its past has escaped miraculeusement with the massive destruction - the city was destroyed to 95% - caused by the bombardments of June 1944, which devastated the Normandy after the unloading of Allied the on its beaches.

Philately

The July 10th 1967, the French post offices emitted a stamp commemorative representing the Horloge door of Transfers, of which the 1st day of emission was celebrated in the city two days before.

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