Combray is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in north-western France. The commune is part of the area known as Suisse Normande. Combray is also an imagined village in Marcel Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time), a book which was strongly inspired by the village of his childhood, Illiers, which has now been renamed Illiers-Combray in his honor. Combray is the title of the first part of the first volume of À la recherche du temps perdu, titled Du côté de chez Swann (Swann's Way). There is a medieval motte-and-bailey castle.

Geography

The commune is part of the area known as Suisse Normande. The commune is made up of the following collection of villages and hamlets, Les Gosselins, Les Soyers, Le Hamel, Le Bas de la Courrière and Combray. The commune has 2 watercourses running through it The Pont de Combray stream and La Vallee des Vaux stream.

Population