Meung-sur-Loire

Sister cities

• Gundelfingen

History

There is evidence of Mesolithic settlements at "Mousseau" and "La Haute-Murée". A Gallo-Roman fortified village recorded as Magdunum was built in the marais adjoining the river, which in 409 was fired by the invading Alans. The marais was drained, according to tradition by Saint Liphard around the year 520. The canalisation formed the watercourses known as the mauves. He went on to build the chapel which was to become the monastery and the abbey. His relics were deposited in the church in 1104, the year after Louis VI had founded as fortress. During the 12th century the church was rebuilt in the gothic style, and fortified accommodation for the abbot built alongside. Jeanne d'Arc visited in 1429, and this was the site of the Battle of Meung-sur-Loire. The complex was restored in 1570, again during the 19th century and again in 1985. The river defined the town, in 1857, 38 mills had the right to use the waters of the rivers to power themselves.

Geography

Meung-sur-Loire lies 15 km to the west of Orléans on the north bank of the river Loire at the confluence with . The Mauves, actually three rivers, have their source in the water table of the productive agricultural region of the Beauce. Image:loire meung sur loire.jpg|The Loire at Meung-sur-Loire Image:chmeung.jpg|The Mauve in Meung-sur-Loire

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,554
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,271
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,244
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,230
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  932
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  925
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  922
• Eurasian Collared-Dove

  Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) · Aves
  743

Most recent

• M 3 — 2008-06-07
  3 km ENE of Cangey, France
• M 3 — 2007-12-17
  3 km W of Chaumont-sur-Loire, France
• M 3.4 — 2007-12-17
  3 km W of Chaumont-sur-Loire, France
• M 3.4 — 2007-08-30
  9 km NNE of Châtillon-sur-Indre, France
• M 2.6 — 2004-12-04
  10 km SSE of Luçay-le-Mâle, France
• M 2.6 — 2004-05-08
  4 km N of Nouzilly, France