View source for Loiret

{{short description|Department in Centre-Val de Loire, France}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Loire (department)]], a department in east-central France}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Loiret
| native_name             = 
| native_name_lang        = fr<!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| type                    = [[Departments of France|Department of France]]
| image_skyline           = Hôtel Préfecture Loiret - Orléans (FR45) - 2022-07-16 - 2.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]] building in [[Orléans]]
| image_flag              = Drapeau fr département Loiret.svg
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Blason département fr Loiret.svg
| shield_alt              = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
| image_map               = Loiret-Position.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Location of Loiret in France
| pushpin_map             = 
| pushpin_label_position  = 
| pushpin_map_alt         = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
| coordinates             = {{coord|47|55|N|02|10|E|region:FR_type:adm2nd_scale:1000000_source:frwiki|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint           = 
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = France
| subdivision_type1       = [[Regions of France|Region]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Centre-Val de Loire]]
| established_title       = 
| established_date        = 
| founder                 = 
| seat_type               = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]]
| seat                    = [[Orléans]]
| parts_type              = [[Subprefectures in France|Subprefectures]]
| parts_style             = para
| p1                      = [[Montargis]]<br>[[Pithiviers]]
| government_footnotes    = 
| leader_party            = [[Union of Democrats and Independents|UDI]]
| leader_title            = [[List of presidents of departmental councils (France)|President of the Departmental Council]]
| leader_name             = Marc Gaudet<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les conseillers départementaux|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/601ef073-d986-4582-8e1a-ed14dc857fba|website=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=4 May 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
| unit_pref               = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_magnitude          = 
| area_footnotes          = {{ref|area|1}}
| area_total_km2          = 6775
| area_note               = 
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 
| elevation_min_m         = 
| elevation_max_m         = 
| population_total        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
| population_as_of        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes    = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes2}}
| population_rank         = [[List of French departments by population|37th]]
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_demonym      = 
| population_note         = 
| blank_name_sec1         = [[Departments of France|Department number]]
| blank_info_sec1         = 45
| blank_name_sec2         = [[Arrondissements of France|Arrondissements]]
| blank_info_sec2         = [[arrondissements of the Loiret department|3]]
| blank1_name_sec2        = [[Cantons in France|Cantons]]
| blank1_info_sec2        = [[Cantons of the Loiret department|21]]
| blank2_name_sec2        = [[Communes in France|Communes]]
| blank2_info_sec2        = [[Communes of the Loiret department|325]]
| timezone1               = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1             = +1
| timezone1_DST           = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +2
| postal_code_type        = 
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = 
| area_code               = 
| iso_code                = 
| website                 = 
| footnotes               = {{note|area|1}} French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries and lakes, ponds and glaciers larger than 1 km<sup>2</sup>
}}

'''Loiret''' ({{IPAc-en|l|w|ɑː|ˈ|r|eɪ}};<ref>{{Cite Dictionary.com|Loiret|access-date=23 October 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|fr|lwaʁɛ|lang}}) is a [[Departments of France|department]] in the [[Centre-Val de Loire]] [[Regions of France|region]] of north-central France. It takes its name from the river [[Loiret (river)|Loiret]], which is contained wholly within the department. In 2019, Loiret had a population of 680,434.<ref name=pop2019>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/6011060/dep45.pdf Populations légales 2019: 45 Loiret], INSEE</ref>

Its [[Prefectures in France|prefecture]] is [[Orléans]], which is about {{convert|110|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} southwest of Paris. As well as being the regional prefecture, it is a historic city on the banks of the Loire. It has a large central area with many historic buildings and mansions. [[Orléans Cathedral]], dating back to the 13th century, was rebuilt after [[Huguenots|Protestant forces]] destroyed it in 1568. Loiret has two [[Subprefectures in France|subprefectures]], in [[Montargis]] and [[Pithiviers]]. It is famous for its several [[château]]x.

==History==
{{Main|History of the Loiret}}
Loiret is one of the original 83 departments that was created during the [[French Revolution]] on March 4, 1790,  by order of the [[National Constituent Assembly (France)|National Constituent Assembly]]. The new departments were to be uniformly administered and approximately equal to one another in size and population. It was created from the former province of [[Orléanais]] which was too large to continue in its previous form.<ref>{{cite book|author=Schama, Simon |title=Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution |location=New York |publisher=Knopf |year=1989}}</ref>

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 [[Ancient Rome|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]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Haine, W. Scott |title=The History of France |url=https://archive.org/details/historyoffrance00hain |url-access=registration |year=2000 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-30328-9 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyoffrance00hain/page/31 31]–35}}</ref>

==Geography==
Loiret is one of six departments in the region [[Centre-Val de Loire]].<ref name="Centre" /> To the north of Loiret lie the departments of [[Eure-et-Loir]], [[Essonne]] and [[Seine-et-Marne]], to the east lies [[Yonne]], to the southeast [[Nièvre]], to the south [[Cher (département)|Cher]], and to the west [[Loir-et-Cher]].<ref name=Philips>{{cite book |title=Philips' Modern School Atlas |year=1973 |publisher=George Philip and Son, Ltd. |isbn=0-540-05278-7 |pages=42–43 }}</ref>

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]].<ref name=Philips/> The [[Canal d'Orléans]] connects the Loire at Orléans to a junction with the [[Canal du Loing]] and the [[Canal de Briare]] in the village of [[Buges]] near [[Montargis]]. The Loire and these canals formed important trading routes before the arrival of the railways.<ref>{{cite book | title = Loire Nivernais Waterways Guide 02 | year = 2010 | publisher = Editions Du Breil | isbn = 978-2-913120-00-6}}</ref> The river [[Loiret (river)|Loiret]], after which the department is named, is {{convert|12|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} 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 (river)|Ouanne]] which flows into the Loing.<ref name=Philips/>

The department has a total area of {{convert|6757|km2|mi2|0|abbr=on}} and is {{convert|119|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from west to east and {{convert|77|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from north to south. Large parts of the land are used for agriculture, and these are separated by low wooded hills and some forested areas.<ref name=Dictionary/> The northwestern part of the department is in the wheat-growing region known as [[Beauce, France|Beauce]], an undulating plateau with some of France's best agricultural land.<ref name="Centre">{{cite web |title=The Centre region of France |url=http://about-france.com/regions/region-centre.htm |access-date=29 July 2024 |publisher=About-France.com}}</ref> This area was popular with the French aristocracy in the [[Middle Ages]] and [[the Renaissance]] period, and there are many historic [[château]]x in the department including [[Château d'Augerville]], [[Château de Bellegarde (Loiret)|Château de Bellegarde]], [[Château de Gien]], [[Château du Hallier]], [[Château de Meung-sur-Loire]], [[Château de Sully-sur-Loire]] and [[Château de Trousse-Barrière]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Mesqui | first = Jean | title = Chateaux-forts et fortifications en France | publisher = Flammarion | year = 1997 | location = Paris | isbn = 2-08-012271-1 | page = [https://archive.org/details/chateauxfortsetf00mesq/page/493 493] | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/chateauxfortsetf00mesq/page/493 }}</ref>

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.<ref name=Dictionary>{{cite book|title=Comprehensive Dictionary of the World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RTfu1nRKGq4C&pg=PA612 |year=1992 |publisher=Mittal Publications |page=612 |id=GGKEY:RC6C27C4NE1}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|author=Toussaint-Samat, Maguelonne |title=A History of Food|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QmevzbQ0AsIC&pg=PA469|year=2009 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-4443-0514-2 |page=469}}</ref>

==Demography==

{{historical populations|align=none|cols=2|percentages=pagr|footnote=Sources:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://splaf.free.fr/45his.html|title=Historique du Loiret|website=Le SPLAF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4176909?geo=DEP-45|title=Évolution et structure de la population en 2016|publisher=INSEE}}</ref>|graph-pos=bottom
|13=1801|14=286,050|15=1806|16=285,315|17=1821|18=291,294|19=1831|20=305,276|21=1841|22=318,452|23=1851|24=341,029|25=1861|26=352,757|27=1872|28=353,021|29=1881|30=368,526|31=1891|32=377,718|33=1901|34=366,660|35=1911|36=364,061|37=1921|38=337,224|39=1931|40=342,679|41=1936|42=343,865|43=1946|44=346,918|45=1954|46=360,523|47=1962|48=389,854|49=1968|50=430,629|51=1975|52=490,189|53=1982|54=535,669|55=1990|56=580,612|57=1999|58=618,126|59=2006|60=645,324|61=2011|62=659,587|63=2016|64=674,330|65=2020|66=682,304}}

===Principal towns===

The most populous commune is [[Orléans]], the prefecture. As of 2019, there are 6 communes with more than 15,000 inhabitants, all of which are part of the [[urban unit|agglomeration]] of Orléans:<ref name=pop2019/><ref>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/unite-urbaine-2020/45701-orleans Unité urbaine 2020 d'Orléans (45701)], INSEE</ref>

{| class=wikitable
! Commune
! Population (2019)
|-
| [[Orléans]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 116,269
|-
| [[Olivet, Loiret|Olivet]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 22,386
|-
| [[Saint-Jean-de-Braye]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 21,288
|-
| [[Fleury-les-Aubrais]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 21,010
|-
| [[Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 16,411
|-
| [[Saran, Loiret|Saran]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 16,357
|}

==Economy==
Of the {{convert|1669332|acres}} of land in the department, {{convert|975000|acres}} are arable, {{convert|100000|acres}} are vines, {{convert|60000|acres}} are pasture, {{convert|280000|acres}} are forested, {{convert|16000|acres}} are plantations and orchards and {{convert|140000|acres}} 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.<ref name=Dictionary/> Loiret has little industrial development, and commerce is centred about the sale of corn, timber, cattle, chestnuts, cider, honey, flour, fruits, fish, salt, saffron and wool. The only minerals extracted are stone, limestone, marl and clay.<ref name=Dictionary/>

==Politics==
{{See also|Departmental Council of Loiret}}
The [[List of presidents of departmental councils (France)|president of the Departmental Council]] is Marc Gaudet, elected in 2017.

===Current National Assembly Representatives===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Constituency!!Member<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/|title=Assemblée nationale ~ Les députés, le vote de la loi, le Parlement français|first=Assemblée|last=Nationale|website=Assemblée nationale}}</ref>!!Party
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|En Marche!}}" |
| [[Loiret's 1st constituency]]
| [[Stéphanie Rist]]
| [[La République En Marche!]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|En Marche!}}" |
| [[Loiret's 2nd constituency]]
| [[Caroline Janvier]]
| [[La République En Marche!]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|National Rally}}" |
| [[Loiret's 3rd constituency]]
| [[Mathilde Paris]]
| [[National Rally]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|National Rally}}" |
| [[Loiret's 4th constituency]]
| [[Thomas Ménagé]]
| [[National Rally]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|En Marche!}}" |
| [[Loiret's 5th constituency]]
| [[Anthony Brosse]]
| [[La République En Marche]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Movement (France)}}" |
| [[Loiret's 6th constituency]]
| [[Richard Ramos]]
| [[Democratic Movement (France)|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]],<ref name=Centre/> the [[A10 autoroute (France)|A10 autoroute]] links Paris with Orléans and [[Bordeaux]], and the [[Route nationale 20]] links Paris with Orléans, [[Limoges]], [[Toulouse]] and Spain.

==Tourism==
Orléans is a popular [[tourist destination]] and is associated with [[Joan of Arc]]. The [[Orléans Cathedral|Cathedral of Sainte-Croix]] was built in the Gothic style between 1278 and 1329, destroyed by Protestant forces in 1568, and rebuilt between the 17th and 19th centuries.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/place/Sainte-Croix-Cathedral |title=Sainte-Croix Cathedral  |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=17 October 2015}}</ref>

<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==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*[https://www.loiret.gouv.fr/ Prefecture website] {{in lang|fr}}
*[https://www.loiret.fr/ Departmental Council website] {{in lang|fr}}
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 {{in lang|en}}

{{Departments of France}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Loiret| ]]
[[Category:1790 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Departments of Centre-Val de Loire]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1790]]