Gien

For other uses, see Gien (disambiguation).

Gien (French pronunciation: [ʒjɛ̃]) is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.^[3]

Gien
Commune
The Loire in Gien
Coat of arms
Location of Gien
Gien Show map of France Gien Show map of Centre-Val de Loire
Coordinates: 47°41′23″N 2°37′48″E
Country	France
Region	Centre-Val de Loire
Department	Loiret
Arrondissement	Montargis
Canton	Gien
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Francis Cammal[1]
Area 1	67.86 km2 (26.20 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	13,431
• Density	200/km2 (510/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	45155 /45500
Elevation	117–190 m (384–623 ft) (avg. 161 m or 528 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Gien is on the river Loire, 80 km (50 mi) from Orléans. Gien station has rail connections to Montargis, Nevers and Paris. The town was bought for the royal domain by Philip II of France. The town is twinned with Malmesbury in England.

History

Prehistory

Evidence of prehistoric occupation of Gien has been discovered. Gien was probably a centre of trade between farmers and blacksmiths.

Antiquity

In Roman times, there was a town located in the site of Gien. However, its name remains unknown.

Middle Ages

The town of Gien-le-Vieux (Old Gien) became a parish in the high Middle Ages when Saint Peregrine, bishop of Auxerre, founded the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. In 760, the army of Pepin the short stopped at Gien-le-Vieux before going to fight against Gascony and Aquitaine. In the eighth century, Charlemagne authorised the construction of a fortified mound around the site of the present castle.

In the ninth and tenth centuries the decline of the Carolingian empire and Viking Raids led to a gradual abandonment of Gien-le-Vieux. The population mostly moved to the site of the current town of Gien which was easier to defend. However, the church of St. Peter and St. Paul survived until the seventeenth century.

The French Wars of Religion

Gien had a large Protestant community and like its neighbours, Châtillon-Coligny, Châtillon-sur-Loire and Orleans, it was a Protestant stronghold during the French wars of religion. During this period, the churches were looted and clergy hunted.

Second World War

Much of Gien was destroyed during the Second World War. The town was bombed by the Luftwaffe, who aimed to destroy the town's bridge to prevent the French Army from retreating. The bombardment created a huge fire which completely destroyed over four hundred buildings, including the town's two main churches. The town was rebuilt after the war.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	12,264	—
1975	14,621	+2.54%
1982	16,064	+1.35%
1990	16,477	+0.32%
1999	15,332	−0.80%
2007	15,442	+0.09%
2012	14,519	−1.23%
2017	14,007	−0.72%
Source: INSEE[4]

Gien population is now declining.

Sights

• Château de Gien, historic, listed castle.
• Faïencerie de Gien, founded in 1821.

See also

• Communes of the Loiret department