Olivet, Loiret
Encyclopedia
Olivet is a commune
in the Loiret
department in north-central France.
bend of the Loire
, which crosses from east to west. Olivet belongs to the vallée de la Loire
sector between Sully-sur-Loire
and Chalonnes-sur-Loire
, which was in 2000 inscribed by UNESCO
as a World Heritage Site
.
Olivet is 120 km south-south-west of Paris. Olivet is bordered to the north by Orléans
and to the south by the Sologne
.
Olivet is crossed by the Loiret
, a 13 km long river which is both a tributary
and a resurgence
of the Loire
.
The first name of the village, during eleventh century, was Saint Martin du Loiret. The name Olivet comes probably from Mount of olives.
The village suffered severe destructions during the Hundred Years' War
, especially during the Siege of Orléans
.
During the nineteenth century the river sides became a resort. Most of the surface was still devoted to agriculture, specialised in flowers, vegetable and fruits.
Nowadays Olivet is a growing city of more than 20.000 inhabitants.
s and boat garages.
On the north side of the main bridge, the Horloge fleurie is a giant clock on a flowery slope.
The Eglise Saint Martin is a historical monument whose building began in the thirteenth century.
Lorsque finissait le siècle, roman de Louis d'Illiers, présenté par Julie Bertrand-Sabiani, Orléans Corsaire éditions 2010.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the 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 :...
department in north-central France.
Geography
Olivet is located in the septentrionalSeptentrional
Septentrional is a word that means "of the north", rarely used in English but commonly used in Latin and in the Romance languages. Early maps of North America, mostly those before 1700, often refer to the northern- or northwestern-most unexplored areas of the continent at "Septentrional" or...
bend of the Loire
Loire
Loire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
, which crosses from east to west. Olivet belongs to the vallée de la Loire
Loire Valley
The Loire Valley , spanning , is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River in central France. Its area comprises approximately . It is referred to as the Cradle of the French Language, and the Garden of France due to the abundance of vineyards, fruit orchards, and artichoke, asparagus, and...
sector between Sully-sur-Loire
Sully-sur-Loire
Sully-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...
and Chalonnes-sur-Loire
Chalonnes-sur-Loire
Chalonnes-sur-Loire is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France. The closest airport to Chalonnes Sur Loire is Angers Airport also worth considering are Nantes Airport , Rennes Airport , or Tours Airport ....
, which was in 2000 inscribed by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
as a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
Olivet is 120 km south-south-west of Paris. Olivet is bordered to the north by Orléans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
and to the south by the Sologne
Sologne
Sologne , a region of north-central France extending over portions of the départements of Loiret, Loir-et-Cher and Cher...
.
Olivet is crossed by the 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 :...
, a 13 km long river which is both a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
and a resurgence
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
of the Loire
Loire
Loire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
.
History
The first traces of inhabitants belong to the Merovingian era. The water mills along the river were built by monks during the tenth century.The first name of the village, during eleventh century, was Saint Martin du Loiret. The name Olivet comes probably from Mount of olives.
The village suffered severe destructions during the Hundred Years' War
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War was a series of separate wars waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou, for the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings...
, especially during the Siege of Orléans
Siege of Orléans
The Siege of Orléans marked a turning point in the Hundred Years' War between France and England. This was Joan of Arc's first major military victory and the first major French success to follow the crushing defeat at Agincourt in 1415. The outset of this siege marked the pinnacle of English power...
.
During the nineteenth century the river sides became a resort. Most of the surface was still devoted to agriculture, specialised in flowers, vegetable and fruits.
Nowadays Olivet is a growing city of more than 20.000 inhabitants.
Places of interest
The peaceful river Loiret, surroundered by trees and home of numerous swans, offers pleasant public walks. They show glimpses of water mills, old castles, guinguetteGuinguette
Guinguettes were popular drinking establishments located in the suburbs of Paris and other cities in France. Guinguettes would also serve as restaurants and, often, as dance venues. The origin of the term comes from guinguet, indicating a sour white light local wine...
s and boat garages.
On the north side of the main bridge, the Horloge fleurie is a giant clock on a flowery slope.
The Eglise Saint Martin is a historical monument whose building began in the thirteenth century.
Gastronomy
- Olivet, a cheese often covered with ashes, hay or plane leaves
- poire d'Olivet, a pear liquor with a whole pear inside the bottle
People
- Gentien Hervet (1499–1584), writer and translator
- Gaston d'IlliersGaston d'IlliersGaston d'Illiers was a French animalier sculptor who specialised in horses. His bronze statuettes are very realistic.-Biography:Gaston d'Illiers devoted all his life to his two passions: horses and sculpture. He was a very fine rider and showed a deep knowledge of horses...
(1876–1932), sculptor - Louis d'Illiers (1880–1953), writer
Lorsque finissait le siècle, roman de Louis d'Illiers, présenté par Julie Bertrand-Sabiani, Orléans Corsaire éditions 2010.
- Jules-Marie Simon (1871–1970), writer
- Isidore Bernhart (1898–1976), pataphysician’PataphysicsPataphysics is a philosophy or pseudophilosophy dedicated to studying what lies beyond the realm of metaphysics. The term was coined and the concept created by French writer Alfred Jarry , who defined 'pataphysics as "the science of imaginary solutions, which symbolically attributes the properties...
- Pierre MichonPierre MichonPierre Michon is a French writer. His first novel, Small lives , is widely regarded as a masterpiece in contemporary French literature. He won several prizes for Small lives, The Origin of the World and his body of work...
(1945- ), writer
External links
- (French) Official city website