St-Lô

Administrative centre of the département of Manche in Normandy region, northern France, 54 km/33 mi west of Caen, built on a hill overlooking the valley of the River Vire; population (1990) 22,800. It is an agricultural market town with some light industry; horse breeding is important, and butter and cider are made here. In World War II it was almost entirely destroyed on 10-18 July 1944, when US forces captured it from the Germans.

Most of the town was rebuilt and restored over a period of 20 years, although the two front towers of the 14th-15th century church of Notre-Dame remain in their heavily-damaged condition as a reminder of the town's ordeal. The Romanesque church of Ste Croix has been restored. The medieval quarter, in the upper town, has been largely preserved.