During the Middle Ages, Barfleur was one of the chief ports of embarkation for England.[2]
1066: A large medallion fixed to a rock in the harbour marks the Normans' departure from Barfleur before the battle of Hastings.
1120: The White Ship, carrying the sole legitimate heir to Henry I of England, William Adelin, went down approximately a mile northeast of the harbour,[3] setting the stage for the period of civil war in England known as the Anarchy.[2]
1944: Barfleur was occupied by the Germans during WWII. As allied forces approached following the D-Day invasion, the German commander evacuated the city prior to any confrontation to ensure that it would not be damaged, as he liked the city so much.
About two miles (3.2 km) to the north is Cape Barfleur, with a lighthouse 233 feet (71 m) high.[2] It is twinned with Lyme Regis in the UK. A Brittany Ferries vessel is named after the village and operates from nearby Cherbourg-Octeville to Poole in the UK.
