Loury

Geography

The village is located at the northern limit of the catchment area of the the Loire and is fed by a brook named Esse.

The principal attraction of the commune lies in the immediate proximity of the Forêt of Orleans which covers a good part of the commune.

History

Loury is mentioned for the first time at VIIIe century under the Latin name Loriacum like in a charter of the Carolingian king Raoul Ier into 925.

Of XIVe in XVIe century, the parish is the place of weekly markets and two annual fairs: Saint-good and Saint-Dulcide.

Starting from the end of XVIe century, Loury knows one period of great difficulties: set fire to bell-tower by the Huguenots, epidemics of plagues…

At the XVIIIe century, little before the revolution, is born the commune.

As from the XIXe century, Loury suffered from the rural migration, of the three wars, and in particular of the combat of June 1940, opposing the French Army diverts some and the German columns sinking on Orleans.

It is as from years 1960 that the tendency is reversed because of the factory constructions orléanaises: the commune is repopulated.

Since the Eighties, Louriots and Louriotes are increasingly numerous.

June 6th, 2007, is one month one year before the local elections, the new government pronounced, on a proposal from the Minister of Interior Department, of Outre-Mer and the Territorial collectivities, the dissolution of the municipal council of the commune of Loury.

Administration

Demography

Places and monuments

One of the first characteristics of Loury is to have not less than six castles.

Most important is the castle of the Borough, located behind the church.

The castle of the Borough, current Town hall of Loury.

In the beginning was built on this site a castle extremely provided with seven turns (three and bases it of a fourth are still observable). It was completely refitted at the XVIIè century. There remains today only the framed house of two turns, the contiguous commun runs, and a building reconverts in Museum of the Trades and the Legends of the Forest of Orleans. This building has a cellar on double level, the first being arched in semicircular arch and dating from XIVè century, the second being a narrow corridor in semicircular arch to which five also arched cells lead.

You will be able to rest agreeably in the large wooded park contiguous to the castle.

The five remaining castles deserve to be seen, but, alas they are not accessible to the public (private fields).

Most majestic is the castle of Roncière. It is located on the road of Orleans (RN 152 - Road of Givet to Orleans), at the end of a rectilinear road framed by two main forests. It probably dates from the XVIIè century, and it was refitted with XIXè. It has an old vault which was used after the assassination of the priest by the lord as Loury, the church being profaned.

The castles of Coudreceau (XVIIè), of Chesnaie (XVIIIè) are located on the old parish of Bourgneuf, attached to the XIXè century with Loury.

Finally the castles of the Hermitage (old wine property - XIXè) and of Saint-German (XIXè) are well hidden in the forest.

The church of Loury is rather interesting. Its bases go back to XIè century. The nave is XIè (the old windows and Romance doors are still seen), but strongly taken again in XVIè by the boring of new windows and the addition of the northern side. The current chorus is of XIIIè century, but it is in truth older. Finally the church Saint-Dulcide Saint-Good (it is its name!) lost its typical quadrangular bell-tower of the area, contiguous to the southern transept, at the time of a fire at the XVIIè century. It was demolished and replaced by the arrow which you see with transept crossing. One can today observe the print carried out on the ground after the excavations of 1988.

Finally you can go to see the last windmill (of pivot type) of Loury located on the farm of Épinay (visible of the road of Orleans, RN 152 - Road of Givet to Orleans). It goes back to 1884 and is today in a state of rather advanced decay (it is however registered with the Historic buildings!).

Personalities related to the commune

Antoine Masson: sculptor of the Middle Ages
Eugene Million: companion carpenter, engineer in charge of the construction of the Eiffel Tower.
Henri of Toulouse-Lautrec, painter whose father had the castle of Loury. His/her brother, deceased young was buried in the communal cemetery.

See too

Common of Loiret

External bonds

Town of Loury: official site
Welcome in Loury! : nonofficial site
Loury on the site of the national geographical Institute
Loury on the site of INSEE
Loury on the site toutes-les-villes.com
Loury on the site of Quid
Localization of Loury on a chart of France and communes bordering
Plane on Loury on Mapquest

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