La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin

Sister cities

• Cavriglia
• Newhaven

History

According to the legend, around the 6th century Saint Mesmin established a monastery at Micy, on the opposite site of the Loire river, and fought a dragon at Béraire (first name of the village). On his death in 520, Saint Mesmin was buried in the cave under the Villa Berarii (Béraire). Around 550, a first funeral basilica church was erected above the tomb of Saint Mesmin on the initiative of the viscount of Orléans, Agylus (Saint Ay). Around 675, the relics of Saint Mesmin were transferred to Orléans.

Geography

La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin borders the natural region of Beauce. The village is located 5,5 km west from Orléans on the north shore of the Loire and 114,5 km south-south-west of Paris. The municipal territory is divided into five large parallel bands oriented south-west north-east and defined by successively five large borders that shape the village : the A10 motorway which separates the village from Ingré, the Orléans-Blois railway, the departmental route 2152, the hillside of the Loire (which defines the valley to the southwest and overhanging the river to the southeast) and the Loire.