Saint Denis de l’Hôtel… A charming French village, alongside the river Loire Our village ............................................................................................................................................................... 2 Leisure & culture ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Strong in sports ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Water, still or running ............................................................................................................................................. 5 All year around, the 4 seasons of Saint Denis de l’Hôtel ......................................................................................... 6 Spring .................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Summer ............................................................................................................................................................... 6 Autumn ................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Winter ................................................................................................................................................................. 7 What to do and see while visiting us ....................................................................................................................... 8 Close proximity .................................................................................................................................................... 8 Within a 20 miles radius ...................................................................................................................................... 8 A bit further away ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Website: www.ajsdh.fr Phone : +33 6 80 91 58 61 Email: [email protected] 1 Our village Located in the department of ‘Loiret’, that is part of region ‘Centre’, close to the ‘Chateaux de la Loire’ area and at the doorstep of ‘la Sologne’, our village sits on the right bank of the Loire river, about 20 kilometers east from Orléans, the regional capital. The village hosts a population of almost 2900 inhabitants, named Dionysiens & Dionysiennes, scattered on a 7700 acres (2600 hectares) area, part of the renowned Val de Loire, registered in 2000 to the UNESCO World Heritage. We enjoy a very pleasant continental climate, our region is very much open to tourism, and we have nearby the ‘forêt d’Orléans’, the largest forest in France. our town hall, yesterday… … and today! our riverside, yesterday… … and today! Saint Denis de l’Hôtel is easy to reach: a highway puts us only 90 minutes from Paris, an expressway brings us from Orléans in 20 minutes, a bridge over the river takes us to Jargeau and the Sologne wilderness, and the Orléans airport is located on our grounds make possible further trips. In the past, Saint Denis de l’Hôtel has had a long tradition of wine production, and transportation over the river; today, our interest lays more on cultural heritage, natural environment, a renovated city center, a growing potential for business and agriculture, and very impressive sports facilities. Website: www.ajsdh.fr Phone : +33 6 80 91 58 61 Email: [email protected] 2 Leisure & culture The landmark of our village is undoubtedly Maurice Genevoix, member of the French Academy since 1946, elected perpetual secretary as of 1958, and also very prolific writer and poet, with a total of 56 books written during his long life 1890-1980. He won a few important awards such as the Goncourt prize (Raboliot, 1925), the Blumenthal prize (Remi des Rauches, 1922), and the National Gran Prize for his overall production (1974). We have two places in Saint Denis de l’Hôtel that relates to him: the Maurice Genevoix museum, located next to the church and set within a former wine house, displaying numerous pictures, books, press clips and artifacts on Maurice Genevoix life and works; and his house in Les Vernelles where he lived until the end of his life. Maurice Genevoix museum Maurice Genevoix His house in les Vernelles Right behind the Maurice Genevoix museum is our church. Built during the 12th century, demolished in 1567, rebuilt then on until 1637 (date engraved above the main entrance), what make that church unusual is that it has no pillars inside, the whole roof, made of chestnut wood and looking alike an upside down boat skeleton, is just held by the side walls. Quite long time ago, around the 17th century, the river was heavily used for transportation by water, Saint Denis de l’Hôtel had a harbor to handle the commercial traffic (wine, vinegar, wood, bells…). It was high, but ceased with the advent of railways in the early 1900’s. As part of the revival of that place, an association is actually building a replica of an ancient wash-boat (see pictures on the front page). We also have the Chateau de Chenailles, a 16th century castle set in the middle of woods at the outskirts of the village, used to host several kings of France for short stays. It is said that the famous Henri the 4th once had an argument with duchess Gabrielle d’Estrée, so bad that she rushed out thru the wood, taking refuge in a village nearby (Châteauneuf) in a house now called the ‘belle-sauve’ (the beautiful escapee); she lost one of her boots during that run, boot that is today on display at the museum. Privately held and therefore closed to visitors, it is a nice place to walk by, not only for its size as a private property, but also due to the history behind it. We also have a public library where books can be borrowed on loan, a multipurpose public room, and a municipal park that is quite large with a playground for small children, a cascade, shrubs and trees, and a walking path alongside the river. Chenailles castle Playgrounds in park Henri Coullaud Multipurpose public meeting room Website: www.ajsdh.fr Phone : +33 6 80 91 58 61 Email: [email protected] 3 Strong in sports Saint-Denis-de-l’Hôtel is very strong in sports, due to the combining of well-designed infrastructures, very dedicated help of volunteers and professional support of trainers and managers. This provides for a wide array of disciplines attracting not only lots of inhabitants but also many people from neighboring villages. To this end, Saint Denis de l’Hôtel was recently once again nominated as the ‘most sporty village of the Region Centre’, with a number of registered sports members almost equal to the overall number of inhabitants! Many types of sports can be practiced throughout numerous indoor and outdoor places: - A gymnasium for basket-ball, martial arts, badmington, archery, fencing, and some school activities - Multiple soccer fields - Both indoor and outdoor tennis courts - Pétanque (small iron bowls) fields - An olympic size cycling ring, with a 333 meters track - An airfield allows, in addition to handling small commercial flights, for parachuting, flight training, model aircrafts & helicopters flying… In addition to on-going practice, several of these sports have had departemental, regional, national and even international tournaments or championships organized in Saint Denis de l’Hôtel; as an example, a France / Ukraine soccer game for the 18-years teams old was organized in 2009. Also in 2009 was the local fencing team named ‘best fencing team in France’. In July 2011, the France cycling championship will be organized on our premises. Entrance to the city stadium covered tennis courts covered multipurpose sports arena 2004 awards ‘most sporty city in the Olympic-size cycling ring region’ soccer fields and the a winner is… fencing Website: www.ajsdh.fr Phone : +33 6 80 91 58 61 Email: [email protected] 4 Water, still or running Saint Denis de l’Hôtel sits alongside the longest (1013 kilometers) and nicest river in France; it starts in Mont Gerbier-de-Joncs in Massif Central, and runs up to Nantes where it merge with the Atlantic Ocean. Up to the middle of 19th century, many boats were navigating the river to carry people and goods of all kinds: building materials, coal, wood, linen & fabric, anchors, salt, hay and wine, people and materials. Ships were characterized by of flat bottom, and a large square sail to benefit from eastward winds hanging off a high mast that could be taken down to pass under bridges. By 1840, the train started replacing ships to carry passengers whilst transport of goods lasted a bit longer. A local association, Ancre & Loire, rehabilitates such boats, maintaining the tradition in terms of building techniques and materials. The river was often called ‘Royal River’, due to the large number of castles that were built directly on its banks – Sully, Gien, Meung sur Loire, Beaugency, Blois, Chaumont, Amboise, Langeais, Ussé, all those in Région Centre, – and where members of royal families had spent time therein. Described as the last wild river in France, it is a lush of beautiful scenery and rich natural environment. With large meanders, vast sandy islands and alluvial forests, the Loire Valley is multiple and changing. The entire river has been registered as a Site