Beaugency

French commune
nomcommune=Beaugency
Château de Beaugency
longitude=1.6325
latitude=47.7791666667
région=Centre
département=Loiret
arrondissement=Orléans
canton=Beaugency
insee=45028
cp=45190
maire=Claude Bourdin
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=
alt moy=98 m|alt mini=78 m|alt maxi=118 m
hectares=1,645 ha
km²=16.45
sans=7,106
date-sans=
dens=953.8
date-dens=

Beaugency is a town and commune on the right bank of Loire River in the Loiret "département", France.

History

The lords of Beaugency attained considerable importance in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries; at the end of the 13th century the fiefdom was sold to the crown, and afterwards passed to the house of Orléans, then to those of Dunois and Longueville and ultimately again to that of Orléans.

The city of Beaugency has experienced a sometimes violent military history. It was occupied on four separate occasions by the English. On June 16 – 17, 1429, it was the site of the famous Battle of Beaugency, when it was finally freed by Joan of Arc. Beaugency also played an important strategic role in the Hundred Years' War. It was burned by the protestants in 1567 and suffered extensive damage to the walls, the castle, and the church.

On the 8th, 9th and 10th of December 1870 the German army, commanded by the grand-duke of Mecklenburg, defeated the French army of the Loire, under General Chanzy, in the battle of Beaugency (or Villorceau-Josnes), which was fought on the left bank of the Loire to the northwest of Beaugency.

In 1940 and again in 1944 the city was bombed by Nazi Germany. However, on September 16, 1944: surrender of the German Major General Botho Henning Elster with 18,850 men and 754 officers at the Loire bridge of Beaugency to U.S. Major General Robert C. Macon of the 83rd Infantry Division.

Economy

Until 1846 Beaugency was an important commercial center due to trade along the Loire. After trade moved from the river to rail traffic, the city's role changed and Beaugency became a market center for the surrounding agricultural district. Today Beaugency's economy depends largely on tourism.

Sights

* Medieval keep (11th century) Coord|47|46|39|N|1|37|59|E|scale:5000
* Lock of Dunois (14. /15th century)
* Church Saint Etienne (11th century)
* Abbey church (12th century)
* City hall (16th century)
* Bridge (14th century)

References

*1911

External links

* [http://www.beaugen.net Beaugency yesterday, vintage cards]