Montoire-sur-le-Loir
Montoire- sur -le- Loir is a French municipality with 4042 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Loir -et -Cher in the Centre region. It belongs to the district and is the capital of Vendôme ( chef-lieu ) of the 18 municipalities comprising canton Montoire- sur -le- Loir.
- 3.1 Chapel of Saint- Gilles
Geography
The small town of Montoire- sur -le- Loir on the middle reaches of the Loir is located approximately in the center of the city triangle of Le Mans - Tours- Orléans. The village is located at about 90 meters above the sea. To the north of 21 km ² large municipality area will reach a maximum height of 146 m in a wooded area ( Bois de Fargot ). To Montoire- sur -le- Loir include the districts Fargot, Fosse, Saint- Quentin- lès- Troo, Ruau, Valleron and the Loir River opposite Saint- Oustrille, neighboring municipalities are Fontaine- les- Coteaux and Lunay in the north, Les Roches- l'Évêque and Saint- Rimay in the northeast, Villavard in the east, Lavardin in the south, Saint -Martin -des- Bois in the southwest and west and Troo to the northwest.
History
Montoire was built around the 7th century priory, founded in Saint- Gilles. The town lies on the Loir on a hill on which Charles the Bald in the 9th century built a castle to protect against the Norman invasions. From the end of the 11th century built at this location by the Lords of Montoire lock parts of the keep and the enclosure wall are still preserved. One of the French pilgrimage routes led through Montoire, and also the pilgrims on the road to Tours to the grave of Saint Martin stopped here.
Of historical interest in modern times are the meeting of Adolf Hitler with the French Prime Minister Laval and Marshal Pétain, which took place on 22 October and on 24 October in Montoire 1940. A arisen on 24 October Photo of the two leaders was spread extensively by the German propaganda and marks a turning point for the Vichy Government: On October 30, Pétain told by radio that he would tread the path of collaboration now.
Population Development
Attractions
Places of interest in Montoire:
- Some Renaissance houses,
- The ruins of the building built in the 11th century by the first lords of the castle Montoire with remnants of the Donjon and the enclosing walls,
- The chapel of Saint- Gilles with Romanesque frescoes,
- The church of Saint- Laurent,
- The Botanical Garden " La Fosse ".
Chapel Saint- Gilles
The Chapel of Saint- Gilles ( Giles) belonged to the former Benedictine priory of the monastery of Saint -Calais, probably founded in the 11th century by the Lords of Montoire. The situation on the pilgrim routes points to economic well-being. The most famous prior of Saint- Gilles in 1566, the poet Pierre de Ronsard.
After the dissolution of the priory during the French Revolution, the building fell into disrepair, and although 1840 precious decorative paintings from the Romanesque epoch had been exposed inside, there was no interest in the municipal council. Only the private rescue initiative of the Gerard family secured the existence of the chapel.
The Paintings of Saint- Gilles are among the most elaborate and beautiful, which are ever over come from the Romanesque period. In all three apses, forming trefoil choir and transept, the monumental Christ enthroned ( Majestas Domini ) appears. The oldest representation in the dome of the eastern apse dates from the second quarter of the 12th century.
Images from Montoire
Stretch of road towards the castle ruins
Chapel Saint- Gilles
Partnership
Montoire- sur -le- Loir is twinned with the Polish Łowicz.