Vierzon
Encyclopedia
Vierzon is a commune
in the Cher department in the Centre region
of France
.
with some light industry
and an area of forestry
and farming to the north. It is situated some 33 km northwest of Bourges
, at the junction of the D2020, D2076 and the D918 roads.
Motorways encircle the town on three sides: the A85 and A71 on the north and east and the A20 on the north and west. Railways reached Vierzon in 1847 and a central SNCF
hub, serving local and nation rail traffic, has been developed here ever since.
occupation, and the Romans themselves didn’t leave much trace of their occupation. Not until 926, when a Benedictine
monastery
was built (on the site of the current Town Hall) are there any records. The monks came from the abbey of Deuvre, at Saint-Georges-sur-la-Prée
, after the abbey was sacked by the Normans in 903. They brought with them the relics of St. Perpetua. These relics were again transferred to the church of Notre-Dame de Vierzon in 1807, where they remain today.
Also in the 10th century, the Normans built a castle atop a feudal motte. They became the seigneurs
of Vierzon and the city developed within the western ramparts of the castle.
The Plantagenets, under Richard I Lionheart in 1196, and later Edward, the Black Prince
, burned the town and took the castle. Bertrand du Guesclin
drove the Plantagenets out in 1370 and restored Vierzon to the crown of France. It became a logistics
centre for the armies of Joan of Arc.
Vierzon suffered during the wars of religion, but remained Catholic. The French Revolution
of 1789 saw no major shocks except that the parish of Vierzon was divided into two communes: the urban part and the rural (Vierzon-Village), at the request of the rural inhabitants of the parish. In 1887, the part of town on the southern bank of the river was split into Vierzon-Bourgneuf. In 1937, following a public inquiry and a prefectoral decision, the four municipalities were united as one commune.
Vierzon has not been too troubled by more recent wars. In 1870-1871, a vanguard of Uhlan
soldiers marched through the city but withdrew quickly. If Vierzon was spared by the First World War, it was sorely tried during World War II
. The Cher river was the border that divided the city into two, the south of the city being in the ‘’Free’’ French zone
whilst the north was in the German-occupied area
. In July 1944, a massive Allied bombardment destroyed a large portion of the city.
From the late 18th century until the middle of the twentieth century, the town became industrialised. Iron and steel farming tools were produced here, then glasswork and ceramics and later, agricultural machinery. With the demise of many factories in the town during the 1970s and 1980s, the unemployment rate was very high. This has since been reduced to the national average.
with: Barcelos
, Portugal Bitterfeld
, Germany Rendsburg
, Germany Develi
, Turkey Dongxihu, China El Jadida
, Morocco Hereford
, United Kingdom Kahale
, Lebanon Kamienna Góra
, Poland Miranda de Ebro
, Spain Sig
, Algeria Ronvaux
, France Wittelsheim
, France
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 Cher department in the Centre 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 France
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...
.
Geography
A medium-sized town by the banks of the Cher RiverCher River
The Cher is a river in central France, left tributary to the river Loire. Its source is in the Creuse département, north-east of Crocq. It joins the river Loire in Villandry, west of Tours....
with some light industry
Light industry
Light industry is usually less capital intensive than heavy industry, and is more consumer-oriented than business-oriented...
and an area of forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and farming to the north. It is situated some 33 km northwest of Bourges
Bourges
Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...
, at the junction of the D2020, D2076 and the D918 roads.
Motorways encircle the town on three sides: the A85 and A71 on the north and east and the A20 on the north and west. Railways reached Vierzon in 1847 and a central SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
hub, serving local and nation rail traffic, has been developed here ever since.
History
Little evidence remains of any pre-RomanAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
occupation, and the Romans themselves didn’t leave much trace of their occupation. Not until 926, when a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
was built (on the site of the current Town Hall) are there any records. The monks came from the abbey of Deuvre, at Saint-Georges-sur-la-Prée
Saint-Georges-sur-la-Prée
Saint-Georges-sur-la-Prée is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:A farming area comprising the village and a hamlet situated in the Cher River valley, some west of Vierzon at the junction of the D163, D90 and D19 roads....
, after the abbey was sacked by the Normans in 903. They brought with them the relics of St. Perpetua. These relics were again transferred to the church of Notre-Dame de Vierzon in 1807, where they remain today.
Also in the 10th century, the Normans built a castle atop a feudal motte. They became the seigneurs
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
of Vierzon and the city developed within the western ramparts of the castle.
The Plantagenets, under Richard I Lionheart in 1196, and later Edward, the Black Prince
Edward, the Black Prince
Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Aquitaine, KG was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainault as well as father to King Richard II of England....
, burned the town and took the castle. Bertrand du Guesclin
Bertrand du Guesclin
Bertrand du Guesclin , known as the Eagle of Brittany or the Black Dog of Brocéliande, was a Breton knight and French military commander during the Hundred Years' War. He was Constable of France from 1370 to his death...
drove the Plantagenets out in 1370 and restored Vierzon to the crown of France. It became a logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
centre for the armies of Joan of Arc.
Vierzon suffered during the wars of religion, but remained Catholic. The French Revolution
French 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...
of 1789 saw no major shocks except that the parish of Vierzon was divided into two communes: the urban part and the rural (Vierzon-Village), at the request of the rural inhabitants of the parish. In 1887, the part of town on the southern bank of the river was split into Vierzon-Bourgneuf. In 1937, following a public inquiry and a prefectoral decision, the four municipalities were united as one commune.
Vierzon has not been too troubled by more recent wars. In 1870-1871, a vanguard of Uhlan
Uhlan
Uhlans were Polish light cavalry armed with lances, sabres and pistols. The title was later used by lancer regiments in the Russian, Prussian, and Austrian armies....
soldiers marched through the city but withdrew quickly. If Vierzon was spared by the First World War, it was sorely tried during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Cher river was the border that divided the city into two, the south of the city being in the ‘’Free’’ French zone
Zone libre
The zone libre was a partition of the French metropolitan territory during the Second World War, established at the Second Armistice at Compiègne on June 22, 1940. It lay to the south of the demarcation line and was administered by the French government of Marshal Philippe Pétain based in Vichy,...
whilst the north was in the German-occupied area
Zone occupée
The zone occupée was the area of France where German occupying troops were deployed during the Second World War after the signature of the Second Armistice at Compiègne...
. In July 1944, a massive Allied bombardment destroyed a large portion of the city.
From the late 18th century until the middle of the twentieth century, the town became industrialised. Iron and steel farming tools were produced here, then glasswork and ceramics and later, agricultural machinery. With the demise of many factories in the town during the 1970s and 1980s, the unemployment rate was very high. This has since been reduced to the national average.
Population
Sights
- The church dating from the twelfth century.
- The 18th century Château de La Noue.
- The 15th century Château de Chaillot.
- The Manorhouse de La Gaillardière (IMH).
Personalities
- Félix PyatFélix PyatFélix Pyat was a French Socialist journalist and politician.-Biography:He was born in Vierzon , the son of a Legitimist lawyer. Called to the bar in Paris in 1831, he threw his whole energies into journalism...
, politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and journalistJournalistA journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, was born here in 1810. - Édouard VaillantÉdouard VaillantMarie Édouard Vaillant was a French politician.Born in Vierzon, Cher, son of a lawyer, Édouard Vaillant studied engineering at the École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures, graduating in 1862, and then law at the Sorbonne. In Paris he knew Charles Longuet, Louis-Auguste Rogeard, and Jules Vallès...
(1840–1915), a politician, was born here.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Vierzon is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Barcelos
Barcelos, Portugal
Barcelos is a city in Barcelos Municipality in Braga District. The city has a population of 20,625.-History:Originally a Roman settlement, it expanded and became the seat of the First Duke of Bragança in the 15th century...
, Portugal Bitterfeld
Bitterfeld
Bitterfeld is a town in the district Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 July 2007 it has been part of the town Bitterfeld-Wolfen. It is situated approx. 25 km south of Dessau, and 30 km northeast of Halle...
, Germany Rendsburg
Rendsburg
Rendsburg is a town on the River Eider and the Kiel Canal in the northeastern part of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the capital of the Kreis of Rendsburg-Eckernförde. As of 2006, it had a population of 28,476.-History:...
, Germany Develi
Develi
Develi is a town and district in Kayseri Province in Central Anatolia Region, Turkey.-History:The town's name is reported to derive from Devle Bey, a Seljuk commander of Alp Arslan, , and who was also named Dev Ali , and leader of an Oghuz Turkish clan of the same or of a similar name...
, Turkey Dongxihu, China El Jadida
El Jadida
El Jadida is a port city on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, in the province of El Jadida. It has a population of 144,440...
, Morocco Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
, United Kingdom Kahale
Kahale
Kahale is a mountain village in the district of Aley , Lebanon, 13 km from Beirut. Population estimated at 13,000 residents all of which are Maronite Catholics.- Religion :The village has three churches:...
, Lebanon Kamienna Góra
Kamienna Góra
Kamienna Góra is a town in south-western Poland with 21,440 inhabitants . It is the seat of Kamienna Góra County, and also of the rural district called Gmina Kamienna Góra, although it is not part of the territory of the latter .Kamienna Góra on the Bóbr river is situated in Lower Silesian...
, Poland Miranda de Ebro
Miranda de Ebro
Miranda de Ebro is a city on the Ebro river in the province of Burgos in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is located in the north-eastern part of the province, on the border with the province of Álava and the autonomous community of La Rioja...
, Spain Sig
Sig, Algeria
Sig is a town formerly located in Oran Province and now located in Mascara Province, northwestern Algeria....
, Algeria Ronvaux
Ronvaux
Ronvaux is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meuse department*Parc naturel régional de Lorraine...
, France Wittelsheim
Wittelsheim
Wittelsheim is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
, France