Eure-et-Loir
Encyclopedia
Eure-et-Loir is a French
department, named after the Eure
and Loir rivers.
on March 4, 1790 pursuant to the Act of December 22, 1789. It was created from parts of provinces of Orléanais
(Beauce), Maine (Perche
), but also Île-de-France (Drouais, Thimerais, Valley Avre Hurepoix).
The current department corresponds to the central part of the land of the Carnutes
who had their capital at Autricum (Chartres)
. The Carnutes are known for their commitment, real or imagined, to the ancient Druidic religion
. A holy place in the "Forest of the Carnutes" used to host the annual Druidic
assembly. In the north of the department another pre-Roman people, the little-known Durocasses, had their capital at Dreux
.
, politically it belongs to the current region
of Centre (Val de Loire)
and is surrounded by the departments of Loir-et-Cher
, Loiret
, Essonne
, Yvelines
, Eure
, Orne
, and Sarthe
.
The Agriculture Department is also promoted by the Cluster AgroDynamic, a reclamation of agricultural resources department set up in different sectors: agro-energy, agribusiness, agricultural materials, Agrohealth.
, the park will cover 245 ha of the military base and produce the equivalent output of 160 wind turbines.
of the Union for a Popular Movement
.
Tourism website
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France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
department, named after the Eure
Eure River
The Eure is a river in northern France, left tributary of the Seine. It rises at Marchainville in the Orne département and joins the Seine near Pont-de-l'Arche...
and Loir rivers.
History
Eure-et-Loir is one of the original 83 departments created during the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
on March 4, 1790 pursuant to the Act of December 22, 1789. It was created from parts of provinces of Orléanais
Orléanais
Orléanais is a former province of France, around the cities of Orléans, Chartres, and Blois.The name comes from Orléans, its main city and traditional capital. The province was one of those into which France was divided before the French Revolution...
(Beauce), Maine (Perche
Perche
Perche is a former province of northern France extending over the départements of Orne, Eure, Eure-et-Loir and Sarthe, which were created from Perche during the French Revolution.-Geography:...
), but also Île-de-France (Drouais, Thimerais, Valley Avre Hurepoix).
The current department corresponds to the central part of the land of the Carnutes
Carnutes
The Carnutes, a powerful Celtic people in the heart of independent Gaul, dwelled in a particularly extensive territory between the Sequana and the Liger rivers. Their lands later corresponded to the dioceses of Chartres, Orléans and Blois, that is, the greater part of the modern departments of...
who had their capital at Autricum (Chartres)
Chartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
. The Carnutes are known for their commitment, real or imagined, to the ancient Druidic religion
Celtic mythology
Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. Like other Iron Age Europeans, the early Celts maintained a polytheistic mythology and religious structure...
. A holy place in the "Forest of the Carnutes" used to host the annual Druidic
Druid
A druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age....
assembly. In the north of the department another pre-Roman people, the little-known Durocasses, had their capital at Dreux
Dreux
Dreux is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.-History:Dreux was known in ancient times as Durocassium, the capital of the Durocasses Celtic tribe. Despite the legend, its name was not related with Druids. The Romans established here a fortified camp known as Castrum...
.
Geography
Eure-et-Loir comprises the main part of the region of BeauceBeauce
Beauce is a natural region in northern France, located between the Seine and Loire rivers. It now comprises the Eure-et-Loir département and parts of Loiret, Essonne and Loir-et-Cher. The region shared the history of the province of Orléanais and the county of Chartres, which is its only major...
, politically it belongs to the current region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
of Centre (Val de Loire)
Centre (France)
Centre is one of the 27 regions of France, located towards the northwest of the actual centre of the country, around the Loire Valley. Its capital is Orléans, although its largest city is Tours.-Features:...
and is surrounded by the departments of Loir-et-Cher
Loir-et-Cher
Loir-et-Cher is a département in north-central France named after the rivers Loir and Cher.-History:Loir-et-Cher is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Orléanais and...
, Loiret
Loiret
Loiret is a department in north-central FranceThe department is named after the river Loiret, a tributary of the Loire. The Loiret is located wholly within the department.- History :...
, Essonne
Essonne
Essonne is a French department in the region of Île-de-France. It is named after the Essonne River.It was formed on 1 January 1968 when Seine-et-Oise was split into smaller departments.- History :...
, Yvelines
Yvelines
Yvelines is a French department in the region of Île-de-France.-History:Yvelines was created from the western part of the defunct department of Seine-et-Oise on 1 January 1968 in accordance with a law passed on 10 January 1964 and a décret d'application from 26 February 1965.It gained the...
, Eure
Eure
Eure is a department in the north of France named after the river Eure.- History :Eure is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
, Orne
Orne
Orne is a department in the northwest of France, named after the river Orne.- History :Orne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution, on March 4, 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Normandy and Perche.- Geography :Orne is in the region of...
, and Sarthe
Sarthe
Sarthe is a French department, named after the Sarthe River.- History :The department was created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790, pursuant to the law of December 22, 1789, starting from a part of the province of Maine which was divided into two departments, Sarthe to the east and...
.
Economy
The Eure-et-Loir is a department of agricultural tradition (Beauce), but also at the forefront in three economic sectors :Agriculture
The department is a major economic player in the production of grain and oilseed in France. Its agricultural economy is still heavily dependent on economic and regulatory environment of the markets for crops. The Eure-et-Loir is the first French grain. He is also the national leader in the production of rapeseed and peas. Wheat production is by far the iconic department. Thus, nearly 40% of farmland in the department are devoted to the cultivation of wheat, which generated an average of 29% of commercial agricultural production department during the past 5 years.The Agriculture Department is also promoted by the Cluster AgroDynamic, a reclamation of agricultural resources department set up in different sectors: agro-energy, agribusiness, agricultural materials, Agrohealth.
Industries
- Around ChartresChartresChartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
, Cosmetic Valley cluster, which is the first pole of the French beauty industry and well-being (perfumes / cosmetics), with big names such as GuerlainGuerlainGuerlain is a French perfume house, among the oldest in the world. It has a large and loyal customer following, and is held in high esteem in the perfume industry...
, Paco RabannePaco RabanneFrancisco "Paco" Rabaneda Cuervo, more commonly known as Paco Rabanne is a Franco-Spanish fashion designer. He fled Spain for France with his mother when the Spanish Civil War broke out...
, Lolita LempickaLolita LempickaLolita Lempicka is the pseudonym of Josiane Maryse Pividal , a French fashion designer. The pseudonym is meant to be an homage to the novelist Vladimir Nabokov and the Art Deco painter Tamara de Lempicka, combining the nickname of the title character of the former's Lolita with the surname of the...
, JC Castelbajac, Jean-Paul GaultierJean-Paul GaultierJean Paul Gaultier , born 24 April 1952 in Arcueil, Val-de-Marne, France) is a French haute couture fashion designer. Gaultier was the creative director of Hermès from 2003 to 2010. In the past, he has hosted the television series Eurotrash....
... The Cosmetic Valley represents 2.5 billion euros of turnover, includes 200 companies, working in collaboration with the Universities of Orleans and Paris, employing more than 30,000 employees. - the pharmaceutical industry, and around DreuxDreuxDreux is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.-History:Dreux was known in ancient times as Durocassium, the capital of the Durocasses Celtic tribe. Despite the legend, its name was not related with Druids. The Romans established here a fortified camp known as Castrum...
Polepharma. Created in 2002 under the leadership of CODEL Polepharma is a cluster of French pharmaceutical production which includes companies like IpsenIpsenIpsen is a French pharmaceutical company headquartered in Paris, France. It primarily develops and markets medications used in oncology, endocrinology and the treatment of neuromuscular disorders. In 2005, Ipsen spent € 169 million—20.9% of consolidated sales—on research and development, according...
, Novo NordiskNovo NordiskNovo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services. Created in 1989 through a merger of two Danish companies dating back to the 1920s, it has become one of the world's leading companies in diabetes care, where Novo Nordisk pursues research into pulmonary delivery systems;...
, Expanscience, Leo Pharma, Ethypharm Famar, Norgine, Nypro, Synerlab / Sophartex, Seratec .. . The cluster represents 50% of the drug in France and 30,000 jobs. The Pole Pharma is also one of the creator of the inter-regional alliance that regoupe Pharma Valley among its three networks partners: Polepharma, CBS and Grepic Technopole. By itself, the alliance has 50% of the drug in France, 60% of the production sites located in France and 2.5 billion euros of turnover. - the food industry, promoted by Agrodynamic (rural center of excellence), with two major companies in the sector: Ebly Chateaudun and a subsidiary Andros Auneau.
- industry and woodcraft and furniture around the association Perchebois.
- the rubber and plastics, through the cluster Elastopole.
- Engineering industry width Octea
Energy
The department also has the lead in renewable energy. Already ranked second nationally in terms of power generation through its wind farms located in particular in the Beauce region of Eure-et-Loir in 2012 will be the largest producer of electricity with photovoltaic French original creation on the airbase NATO disused Crucey-Villages near Brezolles in the region's natural Thymerais, the largest photovoltaic park in France. Given in February 2011 by the General Council to the operator, EDF Energies NouvellesEDF Energies Nouvelles
EDF Energies Nouvelles is a French renewable energy corporation, half owned by French electric utility Électricité de France. It was formed in 2004 from its predecessor SIIF Energies and was floated on the Paris stock exchange in 2006....
, the park will cover 245 ha of the military base and produce the equivalent output of 160 wind turbines.
Politics
The President of the General Council is Albéric de MontgolfierAlbéric de Montgolfier
Albéric de Montgolfier is a member of the Senate of France, representing the Eure-et-Loir department. He is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement.-References:*...
of the Union for a Popular Movement
Union for a Popular Movement
The Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party...
.
| Party | seats | |
|---|---|---|
| • | Union for a Popular Movement Union for a Popular Movement The Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party... |
10 |
| Socialist Party Socialist Party (France) The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement... |
8 | |
| Miscellaneous Left Miscellaneous Left Miscellaneous Left in France refers to left-wing candidates that are not member of any large party. They either include small left-wing parties or dissidents expelled from their parties for running against their party's candidate. Numerous DVG candidates are elected at a local level, and a smaller... |
1 | |
| • | Miscellaneous Right Miscellaneous Right Miscellaneous Right in France refers to right-wing candidates that are not member of any large party. They either include small right-wing parties, dissidents expelled from their parties for running against their party's candidate, as well as candidates who were never formal members of a party... |
7 |
| • | New Centre New Centre New Centre , also known as the European Social Liberal Party is a centre-right political party in France, formed by the members of the Union for French Democracy – including a majority of former parliamentarians – who did not agree with François Bayrou's... |
2 |
| Left Radical Party Left Radical Party The Radical Party of the Left is a minor social-liberal, and in opposition to its common understanding of its name, a moderate centre-left political party in France advocating radicalism, secularism to its french extend known as laïcité, progressivism, pro-Europeanism, individual freedom and... |
1 | |
| • | MoDem Democratic Movement (France) The Democratic Movement , MoDem) is a centrist, social liberal and pro-European French political party that was founded by centrist politician François Bayrou to succeed his Union for French Democracy and to contest the 2007 legislative election, after his strong showing in the 2007 presidential... |
1 |
Tourism
- The most important tourist attraction is the cathedral of ChartresCathedral of ChartresThe French medieval Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres is a Latin Rite Catholic cathedral located in Chartres, about southwest of Paris, is considered one of the finest examples of the French High Gothic style...
, with its magnificent stained-glass windows. - Church: Saint-Pierre of Dreux, Saint-Denis (Toury)
- Chapelle Royale of Dreux
- Beffroi of Dreux
- Abbaye Saint-Florentin (Bonneval)
- Castle of Anet, of Chateaudun, of Maillebois, of Maintenon, of Montigny (Cloyes-sur-Loir), of Montigny-sur-Avre, of Charbonnières (Authon-du-Perche), Castle Saint-John (Nogent-le-Rotrou), Castle of Villepion (Orgères-en-Beauce), Castle of Reverseaux (Voves)
- Regional parc of the Perche
Middle Ages
- Hasting, vikingVikingThe term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
chief who was Count of Chartres (882-892) - Hugues Capet (deceased en Eure-et-Loir near VovesVovesVoves is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
) - Lords of Puiset
- Fulbert de Chartres bishop founder of l'École de Chartres
- John of SalisburyJohn of SalisburyJohn of Salisbury , who described himself as Johannes Parvus , was an English author, educationalist, diplomat and bishop of Chartres, and was born at Salisbury.-Early life and education:...
(1115-1180), student of Abélard and of Fulbert de Chartres. British intellectual, friend of Thomas BecketThomas BecketThomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
. Bishop of Chartres from 1176 to 1180. - Bernard of Tiron, founder of the monastic order of Tiron and of the abbey of Thiron-Gardais.
- Jean II of France, who signed the Treaty of Brittany during the Hundred Years War at Sours, BrittanyBrittanyBrittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
- Philippe VI of France died at the Abbey of Notre-Dame of Coulombs, near Nogent-le-RoiNogent-le-RoiNogent-le-Roi is a commune in the department of Eure-et-Loir in the Centre region in northern France.It is located some 20 kilometres north of Chartres and a shorter distance to the southeast of Dreux.-Population:-Royal deaths:...
Renaissance
- Rémy BelleauRemy BelleauRemy Belleau , was a poet of the French Renaissance. He is most known for his paradoxical poems of praise for simple things and his poems about precious stones....
(1526-1577) poet of the Pléiade - Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, Duc d'Épernon, minion of Henri III of France.
- Henri IV of France entombed in Chartres Cathedral
- Maximilien de Béthune, duke of Sully-sur-LoireSully-sur-LoireSully-sur-Loire is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.-Castle:The château of Sully-sur-Loire dates from the end of the 14th century and is a prime example of medieval fortress. It was built at a strategic crossing of the Loire river...
died at the château Villebon (Eure-et-Loir), buried at Nogent-le-RotrouNogent-le-RotrouNogent-le-Rotrou is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.It is a sub-prefecture and is located on the Huisne River, 56 kilometres west of Chartres on the RN23 and 150 kilometres south west of Paris, to which it is linked by both rail and motorway...
) - Jeanne of France (1464-1505), born in Nogent-le-RoiNogent-le-RoiNogent-le-Roi is a commune in the department of Eure-et-Loir in the Centre region in northern France.It is located some 20 kilometres north of Chartres and a shorter distance to the southeast of Dreux.-Population:-Royal deaths:...
, wife of Louis XII of FranceLouis XII of FranceLouis proved to be a popular king. At the end of his reign the crown deficit was no greater than it had been when he succeeded Charles VIII in 1498, despite several expensive military campaigns in Italy. His fiscal reforms of 1504 and 1508 tightened and improved procedures for the collection of taxes...
, canonised by the Pope Pius XII in 1950. - Diane de PoitiersDiane de PoitiersDiane de Poitiers was a French noblewoman and a prominent courtier at the courts of kings Francis I and his son, Henry II of France. She became notorious as the latter's favourite mistress...
19th and 20th century
- Chaïm SoutineChaim SoutineChaïm Soutine was a Jewish painter from Belarus. Soutine made a major contribution to the expressionist movement while living in Paris....
- Émile ZolaÉmile ZolaÉmile François Zola was a French writer, the most important exemplar of the literary school of naturalism and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism...
, who was inspired by Romilly-sur-AigreRomilly-sur-AigreRomilly-sur-Aigre is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
for his novel La Terre - Marcel ProustMarcel ProustValentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust was a French novelist, critic, and essayist best known for his monumental À la recherche du temps perdu...
spent time during his youth in the town Illiers-CombrayIlliers-CombrayIlliers-Combray is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in north central France.-Population:-Literature:Combray was Marcel Proust's name for the market town of Illiers, of which the vivid recreation opens his vast semi-autobiographical novel In Search of Lost Time...
where his aunt lived - Lolita LempickaLolita LempickaLolita Lempicka is the pseudonym of Josiane Maryse Pividal , a French fashion designer. The pseudonym is meant to be an homage to the novelist Vladimir Nabokov and the Art Deco painter Tamara de Lempicka, combining the nickname of the title character of the former's Lolita with the surname of the...
, perfumier who lives in Berchères-sur-VesgreBerchères-sur-VesgreBerchères-sur-Vesgre is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.-Population:-External links:*...
Media
The media in Eure-et-Loir include the following:- Daily newspapers: L'Écho Républicain, La République du Centre
- Weekly newspapers: Horizon (agricultural journal), L'Action Républicaine, Le Perche, L'Écho de Brou
- Local radio and TV stations: Radio Intensité (Châteaudun), RTV (Dreux), Radio Grand Ciel
See also
- Cantons of the Eure-et-Loir department
- Communes of the Eure-et-Loir department
- Intercommunalities of the Eure-et-Loir department
- Arrondissements of the Eure-et-Loir department
External links
General Conseil website Prefecture websiteTourism website
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