Durtal
| Durtal | ||
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| region | Pays de la Loire | |
| Department | Maine-et-Loire | |
| Arrondissement | Angers | |
| Canton | Tiercé | |
| Community association | Anjou Loir et Sarthe | |
| Coordinates | 47 ° 40 ′ N , 0 ° 14 ′ W | |
| height | 21-94 m | |
| surface | 60.58 km 2 | |
| Residents | 3,387 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 56 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 49430 | |
| INSEE code | 49127 | |
| Website | Durtal | |
 Durtal Castle above the city |
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Durtal , an old Graf seat is a French municipality with 3387 inhabitants (at January 1, 2017) in the department of Maine-et-Loire in the region of Pays de la Loire .
geography
Durtal lies on the Loir River . The old town and most of the residential areas are on the right bank of the river, where small settlements and farms are also scattered across the district. The small tributary Argance also flows into the Loir here. Beyond the Loir Bridge there is some business and the Forêt de Chambiers ("Forest of Chambiers"), which extends far south. In the north and east, Durtal borders the Sarthe department .
history
A Bronze Age ax is the oldest trace of settlement in the district. Traces of a Celtic settlement have also been found in the municipality.
Due to its 11th century fortress, Durtal considers itself the historic northern gateway to Anjou . The impressive castle was the seat of an influential dynasty of counts until the French Revolution . The original name was probably Durum Stallum ( Eng . Fixed storage place). Around 1050 a castle was first associated with this exposed geographic location. In 1096, Hubert de Champagne initiated the expansion of the place, which at that time was already a market town. Before he set off as a crusader for the Holy Land , he commissioned the Angers monks to build the church and the settlement of Saint Léonard to the left of the river, opposite the castle. He also gave the monks land on both sides of the Loir Bridge, which already existed at that time. 1114 one finds the name Turestal for Durtal . In the 12th century, the castle came into the possession of the de Parthenay family. The Hundred Years War of the English against the Auld Alliance in the 14th and 15th centuries affected Durtal several times. The plague also raged several times over the centuries.
In the 16th century, Durtal received significant impetus from the rise of François de Scépeaux to Marshal of France and in 1564 it became the seat of a county. The palace complex was extensively renovated and expanded and became a meeting place for the high nobility up to and including King Karl IX. and Catherine de Medici . Durtal became an important stop between Angers and Le Mans . In 1571 de Scépeaux died in the Chambiers forest during a carriage ride with King Charles at the place that is now called la table au Roy . Tradition speaks of poisoning.
Economy and Infrastructure
economy
A well-stocked market has been held in the heart of the old town every Tuesday morning since the 17th century. Overall, the tradition of this market can be traced back to the 14th century. - The location on the river meant that over time mainly tanneries, mills and later papermakers have settled. The construction of the railway from Angers to La Fleche then brought significant economic impetus in the 19th century. Today there is a cardboard factory and a food industry in particular. There are also precision engineering companies and electronics companies.
traffic
Durtal has a connection to the A 11 . The national road N 23, which connects La Flèche and Seiches , goes right through the town. However, the D 859 départemental road from Châteauneuf-sur-Sarthe , which used to meet the N 23 in Durtal, is now routed north of the development as a bypass road and thus relieves Durtal of motorway feeder traffic from the direction of La Flèche.
The former branch line La Flèche - Durtal has long been closed. The closest train station is now Sablé-sur-Sarthe (26 km). The nearest airport is Angers bei Marcé , 15 km away.
Attractions
See also: List of the Monuments historiques in Durtal
- The main attraction is the castle that dominates the city. Four gates lead into it. The building fabric dates from the 15th to 17th centuries.
- City center with alleys and corners
- Church of St. Léonard on the opposite bank of the Loire
Partner communities
- Untereisesheim in Baden-Württemberg , Germany, since 1995
Tourism and leisure
tourism
Durtal doesn’t have a lot of accommodation options, but it does have the whole range from camping very close to the castle to wellness hotels in historical villas. Day tourists mainly head for the castle and the promenade on the Loir.
Sport and entertainment
There is a swimming pool and canoeing on the Loir. The Chambiers forest is ideal for long walks. Also in Durtal is the particular form of bowling game of Baugeois , de Boule find the fort.
Regular events
The highlight of the year is La Fête du Loir , the Loir Festival, which takes place every July. The wine fair in March and the antique market in September are also of regional importance.
Personalities
- François de Scépeaux, comte de Durtal , Seigneur de Vieilleville (1510–1571), French statesman and diplomat, Marshal of France since 1562, was born in Durtal.
literature
- Le Patrimoine des Communes de Maine-et-Loire . Flohic Editions, Volume 1, Paris 2001, ISBN 2-84234-117-1 , pp. 591-599.
