Editing Maine-et-Loire

{{short description|Department of France in Pays de la Loire}}
{{Other uses|Maine (disambiguation)|Loire (disambiguation)}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name                            = Maine-et-Loire
| native_name_lang                       = fr<!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| type                            = [[Departments of France|Department of France]]
| image_skyline                   = Angers, Jardin de l'hôtel de la préfecture.JPG
| image_alt                       = 
| image_caption                   = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]] gardens in [[Angers]]
| image_flag                      = Flag of Anjou.svg
| flag_alt                        = 
| image_shield                    = Blason_département_fr_Maine-et-Loire.svg
| shield_alt                      = 
| nickname                        = 
| motto                           = 
| image_map                       = Maine-et-Loire-Position.svg
| map_alt                         = 
| map_caption                     = Location of Maine-et-Loire in France
| pushpin_map                     = 
| pushpin_label_position          = 
| pushpin_map_alt                 = 
| pushpin_map_caption             = 
| coordinates                     = {{coord|47|27|N|0|36|W|region:FR_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint                   = 
| coordinates_footnotes           = 
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = [[France]]
| subdivision_type1               = [[Regions of France|Region]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Pays de la Loire]]
| established_title               = 
| established_date                = 
| founder                         = 
| seat_type                       = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]]
| seat                            = [[Angers]]
| parts_type                      = [[Subprefectures in France|Subprefectures]]
| parts_style                     = para
| p1                              = [[Cholet]]<br>[[Saumur]]<br>[[Segré-en-Anjou Bleu]]
| government_footnotes            = 
| leader_party                    = [[Miscellaneous right|DVD]]
| leader_title                    = [[List of presidents of departmental councils (France)|President of the Departmental Council]]
| leader_name                     = Florence Dabin<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les conseillers départementaux|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/601ef073-d986-4582-8e1a-ed14dc857fba|website=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=4 May 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
| unit_pref                       = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_magnitude                  = 
| area_footnotes                  = {{ref|area|1}}
| area_total_km2                  = 7107
| area_note                       = 
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_m                     = 
| elevation_min_m                 = 
| elevation_max_m                 = 
| population_total                = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
| population_as_of                = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes            = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes2}}
| population_rank                 = [[List of French departments by population|28th]]
| population_density_km2          = auto
| population_demonym              = 
| population_note                 = 
| blank_name_sec1                 = [[Departments of France|Department number]]
| blank_info_sec1                 = 49
| blank_name_sec2                 = [[Arrondissements of France|Arrondissements]]
| blank_info_sec2                 = [[Arrondissements of the Maine-et-Loire department|4]]
| blank1_name_sec2                = [[Cantons in France|Cantons]]
| blank1_info_sec2                = [[Cantons of the Maine-et-Loire department|21]]
| blank2_name_sec2                = [[Communes in France|Communes]]
| blank2_info_sec2                = [[Communes of the Maine-et-Loire department|177]]
| timezone1                       = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1                     = +1
| timezone1_DST                   = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST                 = +2
| postal_code_type                = 
| postal_code                     = 
| area_code_type                  = 
| area_code                       = 
| iso_code                        = 
| website                         = 
| footnotes                       = {{note|area|1}} French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries and lakes, ponds and glaciers larger than 1 km<sup>2</sup>
}}

'''Maine-et-Loire''' ({{IPA|fr|mɛn e lwaʁ|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-GrandCelinien-Maine-et-Loire.wav}}) is a [[Departments of France|department]] in the [[Loire Valley]] in the [[Pays de la Loire]] [[Regions of France|region]] in Western France. It is named after the two rivers, [[Maine (river)|Maine]] and the [[Loire]]. It borders [[Mayenne]] and [[Sarthe]] to the north, [[Loire-Atlantique]] to the west, [[Indre-et-Loire]] to the east, [[Vienne (department)|Vienne]] and [[Deux-Sèvres]] to the south, [[Vendée]] to the south-west, and [[Ille-et-Vilaine]] to the north-west. It also borders [[Ille-et-Vilaine]] in the north for just {{convert|19|m|yd|-1|order=flip}}, France's shortest department boundary. Its [[Prefectures in France|prefecture]] is [[Angers]]; its [[Subprefectures in France|subprefectures]] are [[Cholet]], [[Saumur]] and [[Segré-en-Anjou Bleu]]. Maine-et-Loire had a population of 818,273 in 2019.<ref name=pop2019>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/6011060/dep49.pdf Populations légales 2019: 49 Maine-et-Loire], INSEE</ref>

== History ==
{{further|Duchy of Anjou}}
{{see also|:fr:Histoire de Maine-et-Loire}}

Maine-et-Loire is one of the original 83 departments created during the [[French Revolution]] on 4 March 1790, mostly out of the southern portion of the former province of [[Duchy of Anjou|Anjou]].<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Maine-et-Loire |volume=17 |page=441}}</ref> Originally it was called Mayenne-et-Loire, but its name was changed to Maine-et-Loire in 1791. Its present name is drawn from the rivers [[Maine (river)|Maine]] and [[Loire]], which meet within the department.

== Geography ==
Maine-et-Loire is part of the current region of [[Pays de la Loire]]. The principal city is [[Angers]], the seat of a bishopric and of a court of appeal.<ref name=EB1911/>

It has a varied landscape, with forested ranges of hills in the south and north separated by the valley of the [[Loire]]. The highest point is Colline des Gardes at {{convert|210|m|abbr=on}}. Part of the [[Loire Valley]] [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] lies in Maine-et-Loire.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/933/|title=The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes|publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|website=whc.unesco.org|language=en|access-date=2018-02-12}}</ref>

The area has many navigable rivers such as the Loire, [[Sarthe (river)|Sarthe]], [[Mayenne (river)|Mayenne]], [[Loir]], and [[Authion]].

===Principal towns===

The most populous commune is [[Angers]], the prefecture. As of 2019, there are 6 communes with more than 20,000 inhabitants:<ref name=pop2019/>

{| class=wikitable
! Commune
! Population (2019)
|-
| [[Angers]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 155,850
|-
| [[Cholet]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 54,037
|-
| [[Saumur]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 26,467
|-
| [[Sèvremoine]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 25,162
|-
| [[Beaupréau-en-Mauges]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 23,419
|-
| [[Chemillé-en-Anjou]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 20,828
|}

== Demographics ==
The inhabitants of Maine-et-Loire have no official qualifier. They are sometimes known as ''Angevins'', from the former province of Anjou, or ''Mainéligériens'', from the name of the department.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vous voulez vous appeler Angevin ou Mainoligérien ? Dernier jour pour voter !|url=http://www.ouest-france.fr/vous-voulez-vous-appeler-angevin-ou-mainoligerien-dernier-jour-pour-voter-165308|website=ouest-france.fr|publisher=Ouest France|access-date=30 July 2014}}</ref>

Population development since 1801:{{historical populations|cols=2|align=none|percentages=pagr|footnote=Sources:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://splaf.free.fr/49his.html|title=Le SPLAF - Historique de Maine-et-Loire|website=splaf.free.fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4176909?geo=DEP-49|title=Évolution et structure de la population en 2016|publisher=INSEE}}</ref>|graph-pos=bottom|13=1801|14=375,544|15=1806|16=404,134|17=1821|18=442,859|19=1831|20=467,871|21=1841|22=488,472|23=1851|24=515,452|25=1861|26=526,012|27=1872|28=518,471|29=1881|30=523,491|31=1891|32=518,589|33=1901|34=514,658|35=1911|36=508,149|37=1921|38=474,786|39=1931|40=475,991|41=1936|42=477,690|43=1946|44=496,068|45=1954|46=518,241|47=1962|48=556,272|49=1968|50=584,704|51=1975|52=629,849|53=1982|54=675,321|55=1990|56=705,882|57=1999|58=733,813|59=2006|60=766,659|61=2011|62=790,343|63=2016|64=810,934}}

==Politics==

The president of the Departmental Council is Florence Dabin, elected in July 2021.

===Current National Assembly Representatives===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Constituency!!Member<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/|title=Assemblée nationale ~ Les députés, le vote de la loi, le Parlement français|first=Assemblée|last=Nationale|website=Assemblée nationale}}</ref>!!Party
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|Ecology Democracy Solidarity}}" |
| [[Maine-et-Loire's 1st constituency]]
| [[Matthieu Orphelin]]
| [[Ecology Democracy Solidarity]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|En Marche!}}" |
| [[Maine-et-Loire's 2nd constituency]]
| [[Stella Dupont]]
| [[La République En Marche!]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|The Republicans (France)}}" |
| [[Maine-et-Loire's 3rd constituency]]
| [[Jean-Charles Taugourdeau]]
| [[The Republicans (France)|The Republicans]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|En Marche!}}" |
| [[Maine-et-Loire's 4th constituency]]
| [[Laëtitia Saint-Paul]]
| [[La République En Marche!]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|En Marche!}}" |
| [[Maine-et-Loire's 5th constituency]]
| [[Denis Masséglia]]
| [[La République En Marche!]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|La République En Marche!}}" |
| [[Maine-et-Loire's 6th constituency]]
| [[Nicole Dubré-Chirat]]
| [[La République En Marche!]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Movement (France)}}" |
| [[Maine-et-Loire's 7th constituency]]
| [[Philippe Bolo]]
| [[Democratic Movement (France)|MoDem]]
|}

==Tourism==
[[Châteaux of the Loire Valley|'''Châteaux''' of the Loire Valley]] 
* [[Château de Montsoreau-Museum of Contemporary Art|Château de Montsoreau]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.les-chateaux-de-la-loire.com/en/accueil/1-montsoreau-castel.html|title=Château de Montsoreau-Contemporary Art Museum - Les Châteaux de la Loire|website=Les Châteaux de la Loire|language=en-us|access-date=2018-10-06|archive-date=2019-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329233928/http://www.les-chateaux-de-la-loire.com/en/accueil/1-montsoreau-castel.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inspirock.com/france/montsoreau/chateau-de-montsoreau-museum-of-contemporary-art-a773378305|title=Visit Chateau de Montsoreau-Museum of contemporary art on your trip to Montsoreau|website=www.inspirock.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-06|archive-date=2018-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006194951/https://www.inspirock.com/france/montsoreau/chateau-de-montsoreau-museum-of-contemporary-art-a773378305|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Fontevraud Abbey|Royal Abbey of Fontevraud]].
* [[Château de Brissac]].
* [[Château de Saumur]].
* [[Château d'Angers]].
* [[Château de Brézé]].
'''[[Duchy of Anjou|Anjou]]''' traditions
* The largest vineyard of the Loire Valley.
* The [[:fr:Boule de fort|boule de fort]], the traditional [[boules]] game in Anjou

'''[[Angers]]''' and around:
* The [[Château d'Angers|Angers castle]] and the [[:fr:Tapisserie de l'Apocalypse|Apocalypse Tapestry]], the largest tapestry in the world.
* The [[Cointreau]] museum, in [[Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou]]
* The [[Château de Brissac]], the tallest castle of the Loire Valley.
* The [[List of twisted spires|crooked spires]] in [[Baugé]] region.

'''[[Saumur]]''' and around:
* The [[Cadre Noir]], one of the most famous horsemanship school in the world.
* [[Montsoreau Flea Market]] is the largest [[Flea Market]] in the [[Loire Valley]] taking place every second Sunday of the month.<ref>{{Cite web|language=en|url=http://www.chateau-montsoreau.com/wordpress/en/practicals-informations/|title=Practical Information|website=Château de Montsoreau-Museum of Contemporary Art|access-date=2018-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321155118/http://www.chateau-montsoreau.com/wordpress/en/practicals-informations/|archive-date=2019-03-21|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tv5monde.com/programmes/en/programme-tv-snapshots-of-the-loire-the-montsoreau-flea-market/26165//|title=Snapshots of the Loire The Montsoreau flea market|language=en|website=TVMONDE|access-date=2018-09-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|language=en-US|url=https://www.fleamapket.com/listing/puces-de-montsoreau/|title=Discover the World's 500 Best Flea Markets|website=Fleamapket|access-date=2018-09-17}}</ref>
* [[Château de Montsoreau-Museum of Contemporary Art|Château de Montsoreau-Museum of contemporary art]], featuring the [[Philippe Méaille]] Collection, largest collection of works by the British [[conceptual art]]ists, [[Art & Language]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.artnet.com/market/art-language-philippe-meaille-french-chateau-310458|title=Largest Art & Language Collection Finds Home - artnet News|date=2015-06-23|work=artnet News|access-date=2018-02-12|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MACBA banks on History|url=http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-features/news/macba-opening/|publisher=Artinamericamagazine.com|date=2011}}</ref><ref name="macba a&l">{{cite web |title=Art & Language Uncompleted|url=http://www.macba.cat/en/exhibition-art-language-uncompleted/1/exhibitions/expo|publisher=macba.cat|date=2014}}</ref>
* The [[Fontevraud Abbey|Royal Abbey of Fontevraud]] and the graves of the [[House of Plantagenet]], including [[Richard I of England]].
* The [[Tank]] museum of Saumur, which display the largest tank collection in France.
* Around [[Saumur]], the largest concentration of [[caveman|troglodyte]] house in Europe.

'''[[Cholet]]''' and around:
* The textile museum of [[Cholet]], and the creation of the famous red and white [[handkerchief]].
* The [[:fr:Château de Touvois|Château de Touvois]]
* The [[Parc Oriental de Maulévrier]], the largest [[Japanese garden]] of France

'''[[Segré]]''' and around:
* The fortified city of [[Pouancé]] and its [[Castle of Pouancé|medieval castle]].
* The [[:fr:Noyant-la-Gravoyère#La Mine Bleue|Blue Mine]], a slate mine, with a [[funicular]] which goes 130 meters under the surface.
* The National [[Stud farm|stud]] of [[Le Lion-d'Angers]], which host every year [[:fr:Le Mondial du Lion|Le Mondial du Lion]]
* The [[:fr:Château de Challain-la-Potherie|Château de Challain-la-Potherie]]
<gallery>
File:Loire Maine Angers2 tango7174.jpg|[[Château d'Angers]]
File:Saumur.JPG|[[Saumur]]
File:Cadre noir - cabriole à la main.jpg|[[Cadre Noir]] 
File:Fontevraud3.jpg|[[Fontevraud Abbey]]
File:Montreuil-Bellay castle, aerial view - Retouched.jpg|[[Montreuil-Bellay]]
File:Château de Montsoreau(Maine-et-Loire).jpg|[[Château de Montsoreau-Museum of Contemporary Art]]
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Cantons of the Maine-et-Loire department]]
*[[Communes of the Maine-et-Loire department]]
*[[Arrondissements of the Maine-et-Loire department]]
*[[Anjou wine]]
*[[Château de Challain-la-Potherie]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Maine-et-Loire}}
* {{in lang|fr}} [http://www.maine-et-loire.gouv.fr/ Prefecture website]
* {{in lang|fr}} [https://www.maine-et-loire.fr/ Departmental Council website]
* {{in lang|en}} [http://www.anjou-tourisme.com/index.asp?lg=2 Anjou Tourism Board website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041209073118/http://www.anjou-tourisme.com/index.asp?lg=2 |date=2004-12-09 }}
* {{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Maine-et-Loire |short=x}}

{{Departments of France}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maine-Et-Loire}}
[[Category:Maine-et-Loire| ]]
[[Category:1790 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Departments of Pays de la Loire]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1790]]