Chenonceaux (French pronunciation: [ʃənɔ̃so] ) is a commune in the French department of Indre-et-Loire, and the region of Centre-Val de Loire, France.

Chenonceaux
Chenonceau Château and the Cher River
Chenonceau Château and the Cher River
Coat of arms of Chenonceaux
Location of Chenonceaux
Map
Chenonceaux is located in France
Chenonceaux
Chenonceaux
Chenonceaux is located in Centre-Val de Loire
Chenonceaux
Chenonceaux
Coordinates: 47°19′59″N 1°04′09″E / 47.3331°N 1.0692°E / 47.3331; 1.0692
CountryFrance
RegionCentre-Val de Loire
DepartmentIndre-et-Loire
ArrondissementLoches
CantonBléré
Government
 • Mayor (2021–2026) Pierre Poupeau[1]
Area
1
4.33 km2 (1.67 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
340
 • Density79/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
37070 /37150
Elevation54–129 m (177–423 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
The castle and its flower gardens.

It is situated in the valley of the river Cher, a tributary of the Loire,[3] about 26 km (16 mi) east of Tours and on the right bank of the Cher.

The population of permanent residents hovers about 350, but there is a large influx of tourists during the summer months because the village adjoins the former royal Château de Chenonceau, one of the most popular tourist destinations in France. The château is distinctive in being built across the river. The village is also situated in Touraine-Chenonceaux wine-growing area, and bordered on its northern edge by the Forest of Amboise.

Name

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The difference in spelling between the Château's name (Chenonceau) and the village (Chenonceaux) is attributed to Louise Dupin de Francueil, owner of the château during the French Revolution, who is said to have dropped the "x" at the end of its name to differentiate what was a symbol of royalty from the Republic. As a result of her good relations with the village, the Château was spared the iconoclastic damage suffered by many other monuments during the Revolution. Although no official sources have been found to support this claim, the Château has ever since been referred to and spelled as Chenonceau.

Mme Dupin hosted the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau in Chenonceau as tutor to her children, and among her descendants was the writer George Sand, born Aurore Dupin.

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 308—    
1975 316+0.37%
1982 361+1.92%
1990 313−1.77%
1999 325+0.42%
2007 351+0.97%
2012 360+0.51%
2017 351−0.51%
Source: INSEE[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 4 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chenonceaux" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 80.
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
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