Argenton-sur-Creuse

Argenton-sur-Creuse
The Creuse river and surrounding buildings
Coat of arms
Location of Argenton-sur-Creuse
Country	France
Region	Centre-Val de Loire
Department	Indre
Arrondissement	Châteauroux
Canton	Argenton-sur-Creuse
Intercommunality	Pays d'Argenton-sur-Creuse
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Michel Sapin
Area 1	29.34 km2 (11.33 sq mi)
Population  (2009)	5,160
• Density	180/km2 (460/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	36006 /36200
Elevation	99–234 m (325–768 ft) (avg. 119 m or 390 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Argenton-sur-Creuse is a commune in the Indre department in central France. It lies on the Creuse River, 19 miles south-southwest of Châteauroux, close to the A20 motorway.

History

The modern city is built close to the site of the Gallo-Roman city of Argentomagus which lies a little to the north. The site has been developed as a museum visitor attraction. The name of the ancient town probably derives from the Latin word for "silver", as the town was a center of silver work.

The 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica of 1911 described the city as follows: "The river is crossed by two bridges, and its banks are bordered by picturesque old houses. There are numerous tanneries, and the manufacture of boots, shoes and linen goods is carried on". One of the riverside mills has been converted into the "Museum of the Shirt and Masculine Elegance".

Notable people

• Antoine Berman (1942-1991), translator and philosopher
• Gilles Clément (born 1943), botanist and writer
• Raymond Rollinat (1859-1931), naturalist
• Germaine Rouillard (1881–1946)
• Michel Sapin (born 1952), politician

Neighborhood

The village of Saint-Benoît-du-Sault is 20 minutes away by road. South of Argenton is the valley of the River Creuse. The village of Gargilesse is nearby; there the home of the writer George Sand may be visited.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1801	3,329	—
1826	3,950	+18.7%
1846	4,546	+15.1%
1962	6,344	+39.6%
1968	6,400	+0.9%
1975	6,424	+0.4%
1982	5,848	−9.0%
1990	5,193	−11.2%
1999	5,146	−0.9%
2009	5,160	+0.3%

See also

• Communes of the Indre department

References

• INSEE

External links

• Tourist Information Office website (in French)
• Argentomagus museum website (English-language version)