Region of la Taille Rouge.

The loiret

Located in the Parisian basin, the Loiret is, with the Cher, L'Eure-et-Loir, L'Indre, l'Indre-et-Loire and the Loire-et-Cher, part of the centre region. It's capital is Orléans, and its sub prefectures, Montargis and Pithiviers.

Geography: The Loiret (6, 742 square km) appears as a mosaic of diverse landscapes. In the North-west, the silt and limestone plateaus of Beauce and its farms stretch out. The argillaceous Gâtinais, with its hilly horizon and lush green landscapes pushes out towards the east. In the southwest, l'Orléanais, and the Orléans forest (the biggest forest in France), lies in the bend of the Loire. Finally, there is Sologne, with its landscapes of wood, heath, and ponds.

Population: Apart form the major position the area holds on a regional scale thanks to its population of (617,700 in habitants [1999]), the country greatly benefits from the dynamism of the regional capital, which attracts both people and economic activity, an its proximity to Paris, to which the region is very well connected. This is reflected in part in the university, which boasts top technological facilities.

Curiosities : Like the neighbouring departments, the Loiret benefits from an important architectural heritage : the cathedral of Orléans, the Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire abbey, the churches of Cortrat and Germigny-des-Prés (the oldest in France) and the castles of Châtillon-Coligny, the Bussière, Gien and Sully-sur-Loire. The proximity to Paris and the amenity of the natural landscapes are the main reasons that there are so many second homes in the Gâtinais and the Val de Loire.