History of Loir-et-Cher

Resulting from the verb “to separate”, whose significance first was to divide or divide, the word of " département" applies initially to the XVIIe century with the ministries before qualifying a territorial administrative unit with the XVIIIe siècle.
It is the revolution which creates the departments in 1790. Formed starting from the old county of Blois, the duchy of Vendôme, and other small detached territories of greater entities, that of the Loir-et-Cher is artificial, without geographical unit nor historical. But Blois, indicated like prefecture, finds the role which it had lost since the departure of the royal court at the end of XVIe century.

Prehistory and Gallo-Romans

The man, which one found very antiquated flint tools, settles in valley of the Dormouse (Saint-Hilaire-the-Gravel) 1,1 million front years J. - C. the Neolithic period is rich monumental testimonys, through dolmens and megaliths (the Vault-Vendômoise, Tripleville, Moor-the-Gallic). The first mention written concerning the department is probably in the War of Gaules, where resistance to César of the population of Noviodunum is described, Neung-on-Beuvron. Under the Roman domination open out many agricultural domains, as well in Beauce as in the Sologne, while develop civic buildings, forum, thermal baths, theater, temple, or a building whose vocation was not identified, Mazelles with Thésée.

Early middle ages

Christianization appears by the installation of saints hermits, whose memory remains long-lived in the churches of the department: Eusice saint in Selles-sur-Cher, which preserves some columns mérovingiennes marble, holy Dyé where only the " confession" remain of a basilica built in IXe century. At the time Carolingian are established powerful ecclesiastical establishments, which contribute fully to the agricultural development of the area (mills on Cisse).

Fights seigneuriales

The civil capacity of the lords of Blois and Vendôme in parallel does not cease growing, source of important conflicts for the domination on Vendômois or the possession of Touraine. In the fortresses built on the valley testify to the Dormouse (Fréteval, Lavardin). But in XIIe and XIIIe centuries, at the time when the power of certain feudal families is reduced, the fight continues between their suzerains, king d' Angleterre or of France. In parallel, the cities take their rise, obtain charters of frankness (Blois) and are strengthened (Marchenoir, Mondoubleau). In XIVe century, Vendômois and Blésois enter the royal family, and the One hundred Year old war sees the churches and the monasteries to strengthen itself. The duke of Orleans Charles, brother of the king Charles V, return of captivity, fact of Blois its residence, attracting around him artists and poets. By consequence, Blois becomes an administrative capital with the service of which certain blésoises families begin their social rise.

The Loire Valley, stay of the kings

The accession with the throne of Louis XII, duke of Orleans, count de Blois, durably installs the court in Loire Valley: the city embellishes hotels with the new decorations (more the good example which remains about it, in spite of the rehandlings, is the hotel of Alluye), the residences of pleasure rise in the campaigns (Bury, Beauregard, Fougères). Castle of Blois itself becomes window of innovation architectural and decorative, while Chambord whose initial plan takes as a starting point Léonard de Vinci (who had also projected a sumptuous residence with Romorantin), is the fruit of reflections and constant experiments of François 1st. But the religious fights, true civil wars which ensanglantent the kingdom starting from the medium of XVIe century, put an end to this " age of or" : collegial the Saint-Georges de Vendôme is profaned in 1562-1563, Blois ransacked in 1568. To try to alleviate these conflicts, of the general states are joined together in Blois, city royal, in 1576 and 1588. It is at this second meeting that the duke of Own way is carried out by Henri III.

The drowsiness of the traditional time

The interest that Gaston of Orleans, brother of Louis XIII, carries to his duchy of Blois makes it possible Blésois to maintain a certain prosperity: the senior civil servants of the State continue to build in Loire Valley (Cheverny, Selles-sur-Cher). In Blois especially, Gaston decides in 1635 of the enlarging of the castle: it is the construction of the wing " Mansart". The tanneries vendômoises preserve a certain activity, but Blois is especially famous for its clock and watch makers. The Counter-Reformation appears in the foundation of many religious establishments, Oratoriens with Vendôme, Visitation (current seat of the departmental administration) and college of the Jesuits in Blois; especially, the diocese of Blois is created in 1697 from that of Orleans and Chartres, to try to convert the Protestant communities of the area, however weakened already well by the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
At the XVIIIe century, Blois drowses whereas certain castles, always property of large lords, are arranged with the mode of time, more the good example while remaining Ménars where the marchioness of Pompadour makes raise by Gabriel two new wings and where the marquis de Marigny, his/her brother, arranges then superb gardens.

The XIXe century

It is a department poor which is created in 1790, that the cleansing and the development of the Sologne, the improvement of the outputs in Beauce like industrialization, develop little by little. In Romorantin, among others, the factory of cloths Normalizing built its power since 1783. In Blois, it is the chocolate manufacturer Auguste Poulain, initially small craftsman, who builds a factory upsetting the urban landscape, as also the factories of Rousset shoes do it. The railroad arrives at Blois in 1846, marking the death of navigation on the Loire. It is also the redécouverte Renaissance architecture and the first great restorations of the castle of Blois, under the impulse of Felix Duban.
The action of the land great landowners as from 1830 makes it possible to gain arable lands of the Sologne, whereas the area becomes a privileged destination for hunting. It is a new time of construction of castles " with the manner de".

Combat of 1870

It was forgotten, the Loir-et-Cher was the theater many confrontations, in the valley of the Dormouse in particular, or in Chambord, which commemorate the column on Beuvron with Cellettes or the monument with the mobile 75e in Blois.

The XXe century

The First World War touches the Loir-et-Cher as of August 1914: the 113e regiment of infantry, confined with the Maurice barracks from Saxony to Blois is destroyed with the battle of Signeulx. As elsewhere, the women take over in the agricultural work. The proximity of the face and the good railway network explain the installation as of 1915 of military infirmaries, in Vendômois initially, then that of the first American base in France, established in Gièvres.
Two outstanding politicians of the XXe century are originating in the department: Camille Chautemps, appointed then senator de Loir-et-Cher, several times minister in the inter-war period, and Joseph Paul-Boncour, deputy, minister, who refuses the full powerss with Pétain in 1940 and will sign for France the charter of the United Nations in 1945.
The second world war does not save the Loir-et-Cher: Blois and Vendôme, severely bombarded, see disappearing from the pilot whole districts of their rich person history. And on the railway line Paris-Bordeaux-Spain, in Montoire has place the meeting between Hitler and the marshal Pétain, sign visible of the French defeat and the collaboration.
The line of demarcation passes on Expensive, the extreme south of the department is thus in free zone. Resistance is organized and of many networks take part in the release of the department at the summer 1944.
In 1951, Pierre Sudreau is named prefect of the department. He is the youngest prefect of France at the time, and will become later appointed then mayor of Blois.
While remaining rural, the Loir-et-Cher is industrialized little by little: in 1963, the nuclear power settles with the Saint-Laurent-of-Water power station, while tourism becomes little by little an economic factor, with creation with Chambord in 1951 of the first son et lumi2ere display.

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