Bléré

Geography

Bléré, in the middle of the " Garden of France" , at 27km Tours is located, 225 km in the south-west of Paris, and is close to large the Loire ch4ateau. It is distant of:

7 km of Chenonceau
10 km of Amboise
16 km of Montpoupon
17 km of Montrichard and Montlouis-sur-Loire

The town of Bléré is in the valley of the Cher and in an agricultural and wine area rather wooded.

History

The first written mention of Bléré is known to us by Gregoire de Tours, bishop of Towers at the end of the 6th century, under the name Briotreide , composed of Gallic origin indicating the village with the foot of the bridge. This name, Latinized, will evolve/move and give finally Blere as of the 13th century. The presence of a bridge means that Bléré was on a way of passage of first importance. It was acted in fact of a way initially connecting Amboise to Loches - two of the capitals Gallic of Turones - then thereafter Poitiers with Amboise and finally royal main road of Paris towards Spain.

Prehistory:

Many archaeological testimonys were found, in particular with regard to the Neolithic era. A workshop of flint size was discovered with the localities “the Madness” and “Fontenay” (in the west of Bléré, in direction of Turns).

Gallo-Roman Time

Already Gallic village, the small one quoted developed as of this time. Other important hamlets existed on the plates in the south of Bléré, and the vestiges of an important village of the Bronze Age at the time Gallo-Roman were found under Gaulpied wood. An aqueduct channeling water of the Large Fountains was built in order to lead them to the town of Turns.

Bléré, strengthened with the Middle Ages:

The lord of Bléré, Pierre Bérard, made probably consolidate fortifications of Bléré in 1449, built by one of his predecessors lord of Amboise at the 11th century. The walls delimited the old borough: in the west by the street of the Deportees (in the past street of the Ditches), in the east by the course of Vaugerin and in the south by the email Victor-Hugo (old email of the career). The bridge belonged to the device of fortifications and comprised a strong tower at its entry, side the Cross called Bacane tower, and a strong tower in its medium with drawbridge, which also acted as prison of the châtellenie. The bridge, as well as the river of Expensive, were subjected to a right of toll of which were to discharge the passers by and boatmen on the transported goods, of prerogative seigneuriale. This tower was transformed with into a communal mill with 2 grinding stones. In the center of the city, the church is, in the axis of the old bridge (shifted compared to the current one) and places it Charles-Bidault, place of an old very important market in the area. On this place the Market was built, where were held the market with corn, and on the floor audiences of justice seigneuriale.

Bléré with the S

The ground and châtellenie of Bléré belong to the 17th century with the family of Field beans, downward of Bérard. She is acquired by adjudication on Jacques de Faverolles in 1679 per Etienne Guillerault, lawyer in Parliament. In 1736, Gabriel Taschereau de Baudry buys the ground of Bléré to the heirs Guillerault de Bléré. The field passes then to its Maximilien grandson of Malon of Bercy, rich family in whom it remains until the 19th century.

Bléré, divided during the Second world war:

During the Second world war, Bléré was cut by the line of demarcation: the center town was occupied while hamlets in the south were in free zone. Thus, of the inhabitants of Bléré became frontier runners, helping certain people to pass in free zone.

Administration

Twinning

Twinning relates to all the Canton of Bléré; the seat of the committee of twinning is in Bléré

Demography

Graph of evolution of the population, 1794-1999

Places and monuments

Vault JEHAN OF SEIGNE

It is in the public garden, which replaced the old cemetery of Bléré. Of this cemetery this exceptional funerary vault remains, classified historic building since 1875. It was built in 1526 by Jehan de Seigne with the memory of her father, Guillaume de Seigne, general treasurer of artillery of the king, lord of the Moor.

The Large Home

It is about a manor which was the house seigneuriale of Bléré and the seat of the châtellenie. It is Pierre Bérard, knight, Master of hotel of the King, lord lord of the manor of Bléré, the Cross, Civray and Chissay, which made build the “Large Home” about 1446, following the acquisition of the ground of Bléré. Formerly called " castle of Bléré" , it was initially larger, with dependences, dovecotes, gardens and monumental gate of entry. Forsaken by the lords of Bléré at the end of the 17th century, of important work of rehabilitation had been undertaken since 1781 by Maximilien of Malon of Bercy, marquis de Bercy and lord of Bléré. Its death hardly a few months after stopped its projects for Bléré. Important modifications took place with. The common one acquired this place in 1950 and undertook the destruction of the whole of the dependences and a wing in 1960 in order to replace them by the courses and buildings of the public school.

Church Saint-Christophe

It is composed of two distinct buildings: the church of Saint-Christophe (XI°, XII° S.) and the vault Holy-Agnes, joined together by a construction of the 15th century. It was built on the site of a church much older. Vaults were annexed to him: the Midsummer's Day vault with the XV° S. on the initiative of Gonzalve d' Ars, governor of Bléré, the Fortier vault with the XVI° S. where rests Florimond Fortier, lord of Resnay, and especially the vault seigneuriale about 1464, built to receive the tomb of Pierre Bérard and his wife Jeanne Chérité and which shelters a pieta carved by Louis Borie.

Home of Boisramé

This home dates from the 16th century and was built on the site of a manor strengthened by Guillaume de Seigne, treasurer of royal artillery, about 1523. It belongs then to his son Jehan de Seigne. At the 17th century, it was the property of the Sallier family, lords of Atheist then of Lauconnière, then that of the Daen family at the 18th century, lords of Atheist at the 18th century. In 1770, it passed in the inheritance of the Lefèbvre line.

Coursicauderie

Also known under the name of Lemaître hotel, this castle was the residence of Auguste Lemaître and Francoise Gaberot, a rich person family of Bléré, which they made build in 1841 by Parisian architect A. Panost. This property, surrounded by high walls and equipped with a park was acquired in 1982 by the commune of Bléré, which after some installations in made the seat of its town hall.

Castle of Fontenay

The place and lodging of Fontenay were the property at the 17th century of the family of Boisgauthier, then of that of Dubois de Montmoreau and Georges Guill. This property was initially related to that of the seigniory of Arpentil (Herpenty) near. These properties were acquired by Gabriel Taschereau de Baudry into 1730 with the hands of Mr. Greffier, receiver general of finances of Poitiers, and joined together with the field of the castle of Bléré. The castle had been built at the 16th century, but it was very damaged by the fire which the Prussians started in reprisals in 1871. Auguste Bucquet his owner of then engaged his rebuilding.

Castle of Fossembault

Remain built in 1832 on the site of a manor of the 16th century which was the residence of the family of Bretonnière. At the 17th century, it was that of the Nau family, then that of Etienne Guillerault father, lawyer in Parliament, anobli by Louis XIV and at the beginning of the 18th century inhabited by its backs small nephews Etienne and Simon Fremy, heirs lords to Bléré. Also acquired hands of Fremy by Gabriel Taschereau de Baudry in 1736 and joined together with the field of the castle of Bléré.

Manor of Beauregard

Gentilhommière of the 17th century, property of the Haren family of.

The View-point

Very pretty residence built in 1832 for Henry Marcel.

Manor of Boispateau

Old house seigneuriale of the 16th century, property of the family of Seigne at the 16th century, of which they had obtained from it erection in stronghold by concession granted by the abbey of Saint-Julien.

Manor of Crespières

Remain rebuilt at the 19th century on the place of a house seigneuriale of the 15th century of which there remains the dovecote, integrated into current construction, like two turrets of enclosure. This ground seigneuriale was the property of Antoine of Had, sior of Crespières, in 1600 and was sold to Jacques de Faverolles, knight, lord of Bléré in 1653 whose its descendants remained owners until the 18th century.

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