Issoudun

Issoudun (French pronunciation: ​[isudœ̃]) is a commune in the Indre department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. It is also referred to as Issoundun, which is the ancient name.

Issoudun
Subprefecture and commune
White tower
Coat of arms
Location of Issoudun
Issoudun
Issoudun
Coordinates: 46°57′39″N 1°59′40″E
CountryFrance
RegionCentre-Val de Loire
DepartmentIndre
ArrondissementIssoudun
CantonIssoudun
IntercommunalityCC Pays d'Issoudun
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) André Laignel
Area
1
36.60 km2 (14.13 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[1]
11,905
 • Density330/km2 (840/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
36088 /36100
Elevation122–161 m (400–528 ft)
(avg. 129 m or 423 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

Location

Issoudun is a sub-prefecture, located in the east of the Indre department. It is in the former region of Berry. The surrounding communes are:

  • Les Bordes (4 km)
  • Saint-Aoustrille (5 km)
  • St. Lizaigne (7 km)
  • Chouday (7 km)
  • Lizeray (8 km)
  • Condé (8 km)
  • Thizay (8 km)
  • Saint-Georges-sur-Arnon (10 km)
  • Saint-Ambroix (10 km)
  • Saugy (10 km)
  • Saint-Aubin (11 km)
  • Châteauroux (27 km)
  • Châtre (41 km)
  • Le Blanc (79 km)

Terrain

The river of Théols passes through Issoudun.

The commune of Issoudun takes up an area of 36.6 km².

Transport

The national road N151 passes through the area.

The nearest airport is the Marcel Dassault Airport, 27 km away.

The Issoudun Station is located at 4 Pierre Favreau boulevard, 36100.

History

Middle Ages

In 1195, Richard I of England defended the city from the advances of Philip II of France. Around this time the beak-shaped keep of the castle was built.

In 1499, Cesare Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI, married Charlotte d'Albret, and as a dowry, was given, amongst other titles, the Lordship of Issoudun.[2]

World War I

In 1917, the U.S. Air Service established its largest European training centre, the 3rd Aviation Instruction Center, about nine miles northwest of the town. At the time of the Armistice, 11 November 1918, thirteen fields were in operation and well over 10,000 ground personnel, student pilots and instructors were located there. It was at that time the largest air base in the world. A single monument on Department Route 960 remains to mark Issoudun's part in the Great War.

The United States Air Service formally left Issoudun on 28 June 1919, almost eight months after the war ended. The sites of the former airfields have returned to their previous status as agricultural fields.

On 28 June 2009, the people of Issoudun had a commemoration ceremony in honour of the American aviators who had trained, and in many cases, died while training there.

Recent Events

On 14 July 2009, Bastille Day, Issoudun hosted the arrival of the 10th stage of the Tour De France.

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1793 13,491—    
1800 10,265−23.9%
1806 10,719+4.4%
1821 11,077+3.3%
1831 11,664+5.3%
1836 11,654−0.1%
1841 12,234+5.0%
1846 12,852+5.1%
1851 13,346+3.8%
1856 13,320−0.2%
1861 14,282+7.2%
1866 14,261−0.1%
1872 14,230−0.2%
1876 13,703−3.7%
1881 14,928+8.9%
1886 15,231+2.0%
1891 13,564−10.9%
1896 14,116+4.1%
1901 14,222+0.8%
1906 13,949−1.9%
1911 13,709−1.7%
1921 11,893−13.2%
1926 11,809−0.7%
1931 11,684−1.1%
1936 11,511−1.5%
1946 12,645+9.9%
1954 12,945+2.4%
1962 13,900+7.4%
1968 15,108+8.7%
1975 15,956+5.6%
1982 14,696−7.9%
1990 13,859−5.7%
1999 13,680−1.3%
2009 13,230−3.3%
2011 12,931−2.3%

Landmarks
  • RFI at Issoudun
  • Volga ALLISS Module
  • Ganges ALLISS Module
  • Former RFI Issoudun Relay station feeders and curtain arrays
  • Former RFI Issoudun Relay curtain arrays (1990s)

The International broadcasting center of TDF (Télédiffusion de France) is at Issoudun/Ste Aoustrille. Issoudun is currently used by TDF for shortwave transmissions. The site uses 12 rotary ALLISS antennas fed by 12 transmitters of 500 kW each to transmit shortwave broadcasts by Radio France International (RFI), along with other broadcast services.

Issoudun figures prominently in Balzac's novel A Bachelor's Establishment (also known as The Black Sheep) which the Guardian has ranked as the 12th greatest novel of all time.

See also

References
  1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. Bradford, Sarah (2011). Cesare Borgia (2011 Edition, Original 1976. ed.). United Kingdom: Penguin UK. p. 356. ISBN 978-0297771241.
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