Saint-Doulchard (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ dulʃaʁ]) is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. It is on the outskirts of Bourges.
Saint-Doulchard | |
|---|---|
Location of Saint-Doulchard  | |
  Saint-Doulchard  Saint-Doulchard | |
| Coordinates: 47°06′20″N 2°21′27″E / 47.1056°N 2.3575°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Centre-Val de Loire |
| Department | Cher |
| Arrondissement | Bourges |
| Canton | Saint-Doulchard |
| Intercommunality | CA Bourges Plus |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Richard Boudet[1] |
| Area 1 | 24.01 km2 (9.27 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | 9,645 |
| • Density | 400/km2 (1,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 18205 /18230 |
| Elevation | 119–167 m (390–548 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
History
editIn Roman times, it was named Ampeliacum, which literally means "the vineyard hillsides", where they grew grapes.
In the Middle Ages, it was home to Dulcardus, a hermit monk who gave his name to the place - St. Doulchard, by then just a village with a small church and bell tower.
With the introduction of railways in the nineteenth century and the Michelin tyre factory in 1950, the commune has grown, attracting businesses, jobs and an ever increasing population.
Geography
editAn area of both farming and light industry comprising a small suburban town and several hamlets situated along the banks of the Yèvre and the canal de Berry, immediately to the west of Bourges at the junction of the D104 with the D60 and the N76 with the D400 road.
Population
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 5,274 | — |
| 1975 | 6,609 | +3.28% |
| 1982 | 7,928 | +2.63% |
| 1990 | 9,149 | +1.81% |
| 1999 | 9,018 | −0.16% |
| 2007 | 8,941 | −0.11% |
| 2012 | 9,242 | +0.66% |
| 2017 | 9,505 | +0.56% |
| Source: INSEE[3] | ||
Sights
edit- The church, dating from the eleventh century.
- The chateau of Varye, built in 1870, and its park.
- The fifteenth-century manorhouse and mill at Ouzy.
Personalities
edit- Philippe-Ernest Legrand, French Hellenist was born here in 1866.
- Bernard Diomède, French footballer was born here in 1974.
- William Bonnet, French racing cyclist was born here in 1982.
- Loïc Jacquet, French rugby union player was born here in 1985.
- Morgan Sanson, French footballer was born here in 1994.
International relations
editSaint-Doulchard is twinned with:
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
- ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
- ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
External links
edit- Official website of Saint Doulchard (in French)