a town of France, capital of an arrondissement in the department of Calvados, on the Vire, 34 miles S.W. of Caen. It is an ancient town, with steep narrow streets, and many quaint old houses; and it has a Norman castle, a fine Gothic church, a college, public library, court of law, and hospital. Woollen cloth, paper, needles, and leather are made here; and in the vicinity there are mines and forges for iron. Pop. (1856) 6735.