Gien
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Gien
Gien is the town in the Central France, set on the banks of the River Loire. It has been known for a long time for its fine earthenware and a large factory. This small town covers 67.86 square kilometers and just about 15,500 inhabitants live there. The population density is 226 inhabitants per square kilometre. The average altitude is 161 metres above sea level.
The site of present day Gien, has been occupied since the prehistoric times. It is to Gien-le-Vieux whom the first Giennois gather and lasting the Roman domination, this simple hamlet thrives and develops. After Francs arrived the country was administratively reorganized into several kingdoms, Gien belonged to that of Orleans. During the reign of Gontran, Gien was placed under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Auxerre, and it remained so until the Revolution. In 1199, following the royal intervention, the entire County and the town of Gien were incorporated in the Crown. Luis IX endeavored to enrich the town by confirming its economic privileges and building a stone bridge (finished in 1246). After Revolution the castle becomes property of the department. At the same time the installation of a faience manufacture started. Gien is last famous once in the history at the time of the Second World War. On 11 June German or Italian planes bombed the town and it was damaged badly. The reconstruction started in June 1946 and it is sometimes referred to it as to the “jewel of French rebuilding”.
Gien is a picturesque and interesting town with many curious old houses. To the most famous attraction in Gien belong Faience Factory Museum and Boutique, where one can buy the hand-worked, arty stuff and which display the more extravagant plates, vases and ceramic knick-knacks produced over the last 180 years, ranging from exquisitely worked vases to some monstrously pretentious objects d'art. Then there is the Hunting Museum (Musée International de la Chasse et de la Nature), previous Chateau de Gien (15th century red and black brick Chateau, where Luis XIV and his mother Anne of Austria hid during the Frondes – revolts against taxation). And finally there is the Gien Museum, built in old clay body cave dating back to 16th century. It tells the history of the town’s fine earthenware from 1821 to the present.
The site of present day Gien, has been occupied since the prehistoric times. It is to Gien-le-Vieux whom the first Giennois gather and lasting the Roman domination, this simple hamlet thrives and develops. After Francs arrived the country was administratively reorganized into several kingdoms, Gien belonged to that of Orleans. During the reign of Gontran, Gien was placed under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Auxerre, and it remained so until the Revolution. In 1199, following the royal intervention, the entire County and the town of Gien were incorporated in the Crown. Luis IX endeavored to enrich the town by confirming its economic privileges and building a stone bridge (finished in 1246). After Revolution the castle becomes property of the department. At the same time the installation of a faience manufacture started. Gien is last famous once in the history at the time of the Second World War. On 11 June German or Italian planes bombed the town and it was damaged badly. The reconstruction started in June 1946 and it is sometimes referred to it as to the “jewel of French rebuilding”.
Gien is a picturesque and interesting town with many curious old houses. To the most famous attraction in Gien belong Faience Factory Museum and Boutique, where one can buy the hand-worked, arty stuff and which display the more extravagant plates, vases and ceramic knick-knacks produced over the last 180 years, ranging from exquisitely worked vases to some monstrously pretentious objects d'art. Then there is the Hunting Museum (Musée International de la Chasse et de la Nature), previous Chateau de Gien (15th century red and black brick Chateau, where Luis XIV and his mother Anne of Austria hid during the Frondes – revolts against taxation). And finally there is the Gien Museum, built in old clay body cave dating back to 16th century. It tells the history of the town’s fine earthenware from 1821 to the present.