Arganchy () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region of northwestern France.
Geography Arganchy is located in the area of Bessin in the valley of the Gourguichon Stream some 6.5 km south-west of Bayeux 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
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 Argentius: Latin according to René LepelleyRené Lepelley, Etymological Dictionary of commune names in Normandy, Éditions Charles Corlet, Condé-sur-Noireau, 1996, , p. 50 or Gaulish 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 MayorsList of Mayors of France From To Name Party 2001 Geneviève Michel 2001 2008 Claudine Dalmassie 2008 2026 Daniel Avoine ind.
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.Le nom des habitants du 14 - Calvados, habitants.fr
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 (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Retable (1670-1680)Ministry of Culture, Palissy An Altar, Tabernacle, and Retable (18th century)Ministry of Culture, Palissy A Lavoir (Public laundry): a concert venue (for the choir). La Forte Main, north of Saint-Amator, where counterfeit coins were once made.
See also Communes of the Calvados department
References
External links Arganchy on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website Arganchy on the 1750 Cassini Map