Issoudun

Sister cities

• Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Cœur-d'Issoudun

History

Issoudun, in Latin Exoldunum or Uxellodunum, existed in and before Roman times. In 1195 it was successfully defended by the partisans of Richard Cœur de Lion against Philip II of France. During the 12th and 13th century, the history of the entire province of Berry, including the Lordship of Issoudun, was marked by the Capetian–Plantagenet rivalry. In 1195, Richard I of England defended the city from the advances of Philip II of France. The two kings met in December 1195 between Issoudun and Chârost, and reached an agreement, known as the Treaty of Issoudun. Around this time the beak-shaped keep of the castle was built. By the Treaty of Le Goulet (1200), Lords of Issoudun () returned to the suzerainty of the French Crown. The most prominent Lords of Issoudun from that period were Odo III and his son Raoul III, who was married to Margaret of Courtenay. Since Raoul III of Issoudun died (c. 1213) without direct male heirs, the Lordship was passed to several secondary heirs, through the female line of succession. First of them was William I of Chauvigny () in 1217, but final settlement was reached in 1221, after the intervention of the French Crown. In 1499, Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI, married Charlotte d'Albret, and as a dowry, was given, amongst other titles, the Lordship of Issoudun. Issoudun has in the past often suffered from fires. A very destructive one in 1651 was the result of an attack on the town in the war of The Fronde; Louis XIV rewarded its fidelity to him during that struggle by the grant of several privileges. In 1917, the U.S. Air Service established its largest European training centre, the 3rd Aviation Instruction Center, about northwest of the town. At the time of the Armistice, 11 November 1918, thirteen fields were in operation and…

Geography

Issoudun is a sub-prefecture, located in the east of the Indre department. It is in the former region of Berry. The surrounding communes are: * Les Bordes (4 km) * Saint-Aoustrille (5 km) * St. Lizaigne (7 km) * Chouday (7 km) * Lizeray (8 km) * Condé (8 km) * Thizay (8 km) * Saint-Georges-sur-Arnon (10 km) * Saint-Ambroix (10 km) * Saugy (10 km) * Saint-Aubin (11 km) * Châteauroux (27 km) * Châtre (41 km) * Le Blanc (79 km) The river of Théols passes through Issoudun. The commune of Issoudun takes up an area of 36.6 km2. The national road N151 passes through the area. The nearest airport is the Marcel Dassault Airport, 27 km away. The Issoudun station is located at 4 Pierre Favreau boulevard, 36100.

Most-observed species

• Common Pipistrelle

  Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774) · Mammalia
  4,888
• Noctule Bat

  Nyctalus noctula (Schreber, 1774) · Mammalia
  4,663
• Lesser noctule

  Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl, 1817) · Mammalia
  1,725
• Pipistrellus kuhlii (Natterer, 1819)

  Pipistrellus kuhlii (Natterer, 1819) · Mammalia
  1,424
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  249
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  221
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  211
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  210

Most recent

• M 4.2 — 2022-05-09
  5 km SW of Villebret, France
• M 2.6 — 2008-11-05
  4 km NNE of Mézières-en-Brenne, France
• M 2.7 — 2008-08-17
  6 km WNW of Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier, France
• M 3 — 2008-06-07
  3 km ENE of Cangey, France
• M 2.6 — 2007-12-22
  9 km SW of Chaillac, France
• M 3 — 2007-12-17
  3 km W of Chaumont-sur-Loire, France