Loiret (; ) is a department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of north-central France. It takes its name from the river Loiret, which is contained wholly within the department. In 2023, Loiret had a population of 691,268.

The Loire Valley was occupied in Palaeolithic times as attested by numerous archaeological sites in the department. The Celts were here, bringing crafts and trades, and the Romans occupied the area after the Gallic Wars. They built roads and founded cities such as Cenabum, on the site of present-day Orléans, and Sceaux-du-Gâtinais. Around 451, the Huns invaded the region but were repelled before reaching Cenabum. The Franks reached the Loire and Clovis I reigned in the area. A time of peace and prosperity ensued during the reign of Charlemagne.

Geography

Loiret is one of six departments in the region Centre-Val de Loire.

The department consists of mostly flat low-lying land through which flows the river Loire. This river enters the department near Châtillon-sur-Loire in the southeast, flows northwestwards to Orleans where it turns to flow south west, leaving the department near Beaugency. The river Loiret, after which the department is named, is long and joins the Loire southwest of Orléans. Its source is at Orléans-la-Source, and its mouth at Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Mesmin. Other rivers in the department, are the Loing, a right-bank tributary of the Loire, and the Ouanne which flows into the Loing. This area was popular with the French aristocracy in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period, and there are many historic châteaux in the department including Château d'Augerville, Château de Bellegarde, Château de Gien, Château du Hallier, Château de Meung-sur-Loire, Château de Sully-sur-Loire and Château de Trousse-Barrière.

The part of the department south of the Loire is known as the Sologne and is an area of heathland and marshland, interspersed by hills where vines are grown. The eastern part of the department is known as Gâtinais and was part of a province of that name. Until the beginning of the 21st century, it used to be renowned for the production of saffron, but the crop could not be mechanised, and production dwindled as the cost of production became too high.

Demography

Principal towns

The most populous commune is Orléans, the prefecture. As of 2023, there are 6 communes with more than 15,000 inhabitants, all of which are part of the agglomeration of Orléans:

{| class=wikitable

! Commune

! Population (2023)

|-

| Orléans

| style="text-align: center;" | 116,357

|-

| Olivet

| style="text-align: center;" | 23,507

|-

| Saint-Jean-de-Braye

| style="text-align: center;" | 23,147

|-

| Fleury-les-Aubrais

| style="text-align: center;" | 21,804

|-

| Saran

| style="text-align: center;" | 17,316

|-

| Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle

| style="text-align: center;" | 16,768

|}

Economy

Of the of land in the department, are arable, are vines, are pasture, are forested, are plantations and orchards and are unproductive moorland and heathland. The soil is in general fertile and productive; the Beauce is the main wheat-growing region, oats are widely cultivated and rye is also grown. Other crops include fruit, asparagus, saffron and herbs. Vines are cultivated and wine produced, and the area is noted for its fruit preservation. Bee-keeping also takes place and honey is produced.!!Party

|-

|style="background-color: " |

| Loiret's 1st constituency

| Stéphanie Rist

| Renaissance

|-

|style="background-color: " |

| Loiret's 2nd constituency

| Emmanuel Duplessy

| Génération.s

|-

|style="background-color: " |

| Loiret's 3rd constituency

| Constance de Pélichy

| Miscellaneous right

|-

|style="background-color: " |

| Loiret's 4th constituency

| Thomas Ménagé

| National Rally

|-

|style="background-color: " |

| Loiret's 5th constituency

| Anthony Brosse

| Renaissance

|-

|style="background-color: " |

| Loiret's 6th constituency

| Richard Ramos

| MoDem

|}

Transport

The department benefits from its proximity to Paris to which it has good transport links. Orléans does not yet have a TGV but is connected to Paris via fast express trains. The A71 autoroute links Paris with Orléans and Clermont-Ferrand,

<gallery>

Orleans - Cathedral int 01.jpg|Orléans Cathedral

Chateau de Sully sur Loire DSC 0188.JPG|Château de Sully-sur-Loire

France Loiret Yevre-le-Chatel Chateau 06.JPG|Yèvre-le-Châtel

Beaugency2.jpg|Beaugency

MeungSurLoire01.jpg|Meung-sur-Loire

</gallery>

See also

  • Cantons of the Loiret department
  • Communes of the Loiret department
  • Arrondissements of the Loiret department

References

  • Prefecture website
  • Departmental Council website

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