Sancerre

History

Located in the area of Gaul settled by the powerful Celtic (Gaule Celtique) tribe, the Bituriges, or the "Kings of the World", and after their defeat at Bourges (Avaricum), part of Roman Aquitania. Some evidence points to the existence of an early hillside Roman temple dedicated to Julius Caesar; located on the Roman road (Gordaine) from Bourges to the river town of Gordona (Castle-Gordon), now Saint Thibault and Saint Satur. Name possibly derived from "Sacred to Caesar" and later Christianized to "Saint-Cere". During the Carolingian period there was a small village on the hillside, clustered around the Saint Romble Church. An Augustinian abbey was founded in Saint Satur in 1034. A natural fortress 312 meters in height, Sancerre is a former feudal possession of the counts of Champagne (1152) in the province of Berry. They built a chateau on the hill and ramparts to protect the city. The chateau had six towers including the Tower of the Strongholds (Tour des Fiefs) and the Tower of Saint George. In times of war, a fire was lit on the top of the Saint George tower that could be seen for around. The Customs of Lorris (1155), a charter granted by Stephen I to the merchants of Sancerre was considered one of the most progressive in the Capetian kingdom. In 1184, the count of Sancerre led a band of rebels called the Brabançons against the king. They were defeated by the Confrères de la Paix, the Confraternity of Peace, a group charged with keeping order in the kingdom. In 1190, Stephen I was among the first feudal lords to abolish serfdom. The fortified city repelled the English forces twice during the Hundred Years' War but much of the surrounding area, including the Augustinian Abbey in Saint Satur and Saint Romble, were destroyed by the forces of Edward, the Black Prince.…

Most-observed species

• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,126
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  975
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  915
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  832
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  777
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  724
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  710
• Common Pipistrelle

  Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774) · Mammalia
  545

Most recent

• M 2.7 — 2008-08-17
  6 km WNW of Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier, France
• M 2.7 — 2005-05-13
  7 km WSW of Vermenton, France
• M 2.7 — 2004-01-30
  5 km ESE of Valençay, France
• M 2.7 — 2003-05-21
  France