Châteauroux

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Châteauroux
St. Andrew's Church

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Coat of arms
Châteauroux
Coordinates: 46°48′37″N 1°41′28″E / 46.8103°N 1.6911°E / 46.8103; 1.6911Coordinates: 46°48′37″N 1°41′28″E / 46.8103°N 1.6911°E / 46.8103; 1.6911
Country France
Region Centre
Department Indre
Arrondissement Châteauroux
Intercommunality Castelroussine
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Jean-François Mayet
Area
 • Land1 25.54 km2 (9.86 sq mi)
Population (2009)
 • Population2 46,386
 • Population2 Density 1,800/km2 (4,700/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 36044 / 36000
Elevation 132–164 m (433–538 ft)
(avg. 154 m or 505 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Châteauroux (French pronunciation: ​[ʃa.to.ru]) is the capital of the Indre department in central France and the second-largest town in the province of Berry, after Bourges. Its residents are called Castelroussins.

Geography and climate

Châteauroux lies on the Indre River 250 kilometres (155 miles) south of Paris and 142 km (88 mi) south of Orléans. It is situated on the edge of the government-owned Châteauroux forest and the Brenne national park. The city boasts 450 hectares (1,100 acres) of parks, amounting to 52 m2 (560 sq ft) for each resident. Châteauroux's average elevation is 154 m (505 ft) above sea level.

Châteauroux enjoys a mild climate. Temperature extremes range from an average January low of 0.8 °C (33 °F) to an average August high of 25.1 °C (77 °F).

History

The old town, close to the river, forms a nucleus around which a newer and more extensive quarter, bordered by boulevards, has grown up; the suburbs of St. Christophe and Déols lie on the right bank of the Indre. The castle from which the city takes its name was built in the latter part of the 10th century by Raoul, prince of Déols. During the Middle Ages it was the seat of a seigniory, which was raised to the rank of countship in 1497. In 1616, when it was held by Henry II, prince of Condé, it was raised to the rank of duchy. In 1736 it returned to the crown, and was given to Marie Anne de Mailly-Nesle, duchess of Châteauroux, by Louis XV in 1744. The present Château Raoul housing the préfecture offices dates from the 15th century.

Awards

Châteauroux is one of the communes awarded the grand prize by the Concours National des Villes et Villages Fleuris, a beautification initiative begun in 1959.

Sights

  • Château Raoul
  • Musée Bertrand
  • Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires
  • Public Garden and the Jardins des Cordeliers
  • Le Parc de loisirs de Belle-Isle
  • Château de Bouges
  • Convent of the Cordeliers
  • Church of St. Martial
  • Church of St. André
  • Church of Notre Dame
  • Musée du Compagnonnage
  • Quartier St. Christophe
  • La Prairie St. Gildas
  • Equinoxe
  • Le Tarmac

Sports

La Berrichonne de Châteauroux is the town's football club based in Châteauroux, founded in 1883. The team currently plays in Ligue 2, the second division of French football, and played only one season in Ligue 1 in 1997–98. Châteauroux reached the final of the 2003–04 Coupe de France, where they were defeated 1–0 by Paris Saint-Germain, qualifying for the following season's UEFA Cup. The team play their home fixtures at the 17,173-capacity Stade Gaston Petit.

Festivals

  • Bals'arts
  • Vendredi...Musique
  • Festival Multirythmes
  • Festival Populaire du Folklore
  • Festival de théâtre "les Nocthalies"
  • Rock à Belle-Isle
  • Stage festival de danse de Châteauroux (DARC)
  • La Châteauroux Classic d'Indre Trophée Fenioux
  • La Biennale de Céramique contemporaine
  • Les Litztomanias
  • Salon du livre de Châteauroux
  • Forum des associations

Transport

There are direct services from Châteauroux railway station to Paris, Orléans, Limoges, Toulouse, and several other regional destinations. The A20 motorway connects Châteauroux with Vierzon, Brive-la-Gaillarde, and Toulouse.

The city offers free public transportation since 2001.[1] Total ridership is up 208% between 2001 and 2012.[2]

Personalities

Born in Châteauroux:

  • Henri Gratien, Comte Bertrand (1773–1844), general of Napoleon's army
  • Albert Aurier (1865–1892), symbolist poet, writer and art critic
  • Marcel Boussac (1889–1980), entrepreneur and horse breeder
  • Jack Claude Nezat (born 1943), author, City Councilor of Lésigny (France), initiator of Lésigny-Leingarten twinning, founder and first President of Rencontres Franco Allemandes, Annecy (Annecy-Bayreuth twinning)
  • Gérard Depardieu (born 1948), actor and businessman
  • Dean Brown (born 1955), jazz guitarist
  • Mardi Jacquet (born 1960), playmate
  • Tom Darby (born 1960), American journalist, Nevada Broadcast Hall of Fame inductee, author and blogger
  • Gilles Sunu (born 1991), footballer

Other personalities

  • Jean Lauron (1560–1620)
  • Jean-Claude Guymon de la Touche (1723–1760)
  • Pierre Leroux (1797–1871)
  • Napoléon Chaix (1807–1865)
  • Adolphe Combanaire (1859–1939)
  • George-Albert Aurier (1865–1892)
  • Fernand Maillaud (1862–1948)
  • Bernard Naudin (1876–1946)
  • Ernest Nivet (1871–1948)
  • Émile Goué (1904–1946)
  • Abbé Paviot
  • Édouard Ramonet (1909–1980)
  • Louis Suard

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in France

Châteauroux is twinned with:[3]

  • Germany Gütersloh (Germany) since 1977[3]
  • Burkina Faso Bittou (a commune of Burkina Faso) since November 1985[3]
  • Poland Olsztyn (Poland) since 23 February 1991[3]

Population

Historical population
Year Pop.  ±%  
1793 7,503—    
1800 8,049+7.3%
1806 8,512+5.8%
1821 10,429+22.5%
1831 11,587+11.1%
1836 13,847+19.5%
1841 13,551−2.1%
1846 14,517+7.1%
1851 15,931+9.7%
1856 18,237+14.5%
1861 16,170−11.3%
1866 17,161+6.1%
1872 18,670+8.8%
1876 19,442+4.1%
1881 21,179+8.9%
1886 22,860+7.9%
1891 23,924+4.7%
1896 23,863−0.3%
1901 24,957+4.6%
1906 25,437+1.9%
1911 26,095+2.6%
1921 26,566+1.8%
1926 25,806−2.9%
1931 26,707+3.5%
1936 28,578+7.0%
1946 34,611+21.1%
1954 36,420+5.2%
1962 45,063+23.7%
1968 49,138+9.0%
1975 53,429+8.7%
1982 51,942−2.8%
1990 50,969−1.9%
1999 49,598−2.7%
2009 46,386−6.5%

See also

References

  1. ↑ "What Really Happens When a City Makes Its Transit System Free? - Henry Grabar - The Atlantic Cities". M.theatlanticcities.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26. 
  2. ↑ "Bilan de la gratuité 2001-2011 à Châteauroux". Scribd.com. 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2013-03-26. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Le service municipal des jumelages" [Châteauroux municipal twinning service]. Ville de Châteauroux (in French). Archived from the original on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2013-08-04. 

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