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76-436: In the early 10th century, Western monasticism, which had flourished several centuries earlier with St Benedict of Nursia , was experiencing a severe decline due to unstable political and social conditions resulting from the nearly continuous Viking raids , widespread poverty and, especially, the dependence of abbeys on the local nobles who controlled all that belonged to the territories under their jurisdiction. The impetus for

152-627: A basketball team: Orléans Loiret Basket which is in the French first division . The club won the "Coupe de France" of basketball, its first major trophy, in the season 2009 – 2010. Orléans also has a football club, the US Orléans , which plays in Championnat National . There is also a semi-professional rugby team, RC Orléans . The city also has very well known clubs in karate , fencing and judo . In 2012, Orléans hosted

228-443: A Christocentric life on earth) and administrative (how to run a monastery efficiently). More than half of the chapters describe how to be obedient and humble, and what to do when a member of the community is not. About one-fourth regulate the work of God (the "opus Dei"). One-tenth outline how, and by whom, the monastery should be managed. Benedictine asceticism is known for its moderation. This devotional medal originally came from

304-552: A band of 21 monks from their abbey at Molesme to establish a new monastery. The monks acquired a plot of marsh land just south of Dijon called Cîteaux ( Latin: "Cistercium") and set about building a new monastery there which became Cîteaux Abbey , the mother Abbey of the newly founded Cistercian Order. Benedict of Nursia Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire , near Orléans , France Benedict of Nursia ( Latin : Benedictus Nursiae ; Italian : Benedetto da Norcia ; 2 March 480 – 21 March 547), often known as Saint Benedict ,

380-605: A carnival contrary to university rules. From 13 December 1560 to 31 January 1561, the French States-General after the death of Francis II of France , the eldest son of Catherine de Médicis and Henry II . He died in the Hôtel Groslot in Orléans, with his queen Mary at his side. The cathedral was rebuilt several times. The present structure had its first stone laid by Henry IV , and work on it took

456-548: A century. It thus is a mix of late Renaissance and early Louis XIV styles, and one of the last cathedrals to be built in France. When France colonised America, the territory it conquered was immense, including the whole Mississippi River (whose first European name was the River Colbert ), from its mouth to its source at the borders of Canada. Its capital was named la Nouvelle-Orléans in honour of Louis XV 's regent,

532-464: A cross in honor of Saint Benedict. On one side, the medal has an image of Saint Benedict, holding the Holy Rule in his left hand and a cross in his right. There is a raven on one side of him, with a cup on the other side of him. Around the medal's outer margin are the words "Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur" ("May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death"). The other side of

608-637: A gentle depression to about 95 m (312 ft) above sea level (at Saint-Marceau) between the Loire and the Loiret, designated a "zone inondable" (flood-risk zone). At the end of the 1960s, the Orléans-la-Source  [ fr ] neighbourhood was created, 12 kilometres (7 mi)to the south of the original commune and separated from it by the Val d'Orléans and the river Loiret (whose source

684-530: A lower average low than January at 0.9 °C (33.6 °F). The record high temperature is 41.3 °C (106.3 °F) recorded in July, while the record low temperature of −19.8 °C (−3.6 °F) was recorded in January. Precipitation is evenly distributed year-round, with Orléans receiving 642.5 millimetres (25.30 in) of precipitation annually. However, some months are slightly wetter than others, with

760-561: A middle-class house in the city, and contributing to her ransom when she was taken prisoner. Once the Hundred Years' War was over, the city recovered its former prosperity. The bridge brought in tolls and taxes, as did the merchants passing through the city. King Louis XI also greatly contributed to its prosperity, revitalising agriculture in the surrounding area (particularly the exceptionally fertile land around Beauce ) and relaunching saffron farming at Pithiviers . Later, during

836-552: A piece of land in Burgundy. In 910 he founded Cluny Abbey and asked Abbot Berno of Baume Abbey to preside. The Abbot of Cluny retained authority over the daughter houses his order founded. By the twelfth century, the Congregation of Cluny included more than a thousand monasteries. Berno had established St. Peter's monastery at Gigny and Baume Abbey on the rule as interpreted by Benedict of Aniane, who had sought to restore

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912-548: A population of 290,346. The larger metropolitan area has a population of 454,208, the 20th largest in France. The city owes its development from antiquity to the commercial exchanges resulting from the river. An important river trade port, it was the headquarters of the community of merchants frequenting the Loire. It was the capital of the Kingdom of France during the Merovingian period and played an important role in

988-425: A proprietary interest and expected to install their kinsmen as abbots. Local aristocrats often established churches, monasteries, and convents that they then considered as family property, taking revenues from them, and leaving the monks that remained subsisting in poverty. Some monasteries were established by feudal lords with the intention of retiring there at some point. The Benedictine Rule , in these monasteries,

1064-509: A provincial calendar of saints is published in each province. In almost all of these, Saint Benedict is commemorated on 11 July. Benedict is remembered in the Church of England with a Lesser Festival on 11 July. Benedict wrote the Rule for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot. The Rule comprises seventy-three short chapters. Its wisdom is twofold: spiritual (how to live

1140-617: A tow. An Inexplosible -type  [ fr ] paddle steamer owned by the mairie was put in place in August 2007, facing Place de la Loire and containing a bar. Every two years, the Festival de Loire recalls the role played by the river in the commune's history. On the river's north bank, near the town centre, is the Canal d'Orléans , which connects to the Canal du Loing and the Canal de Briare at Buges near Montargis . The canal

1216-456: Is Benedict's day of death and that his memorial is celebrated on 11 July, while on 11 July it devotes seven lines to speaking of him, and mentions the tradition that he died on 21 March. The Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Benedict on 14 March. The Lutheran Churches celebrate the Feast of Saint Benedict on July 11. The Anglican Communion has no single universal calendar, but

1292-599: Is in the Parc Floral de la Source ). This quarter's altitude varies from about 100 to 110 m (330 to 360 ft). Orléans experiences an oceanic climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfb ), similar to much of central France. July, the warmest month, has an average temperature of 19.4 °C (66.9 °F) and a high of 25.4 °C (77.7 °F), while January, the coldest month, has an average temperature of 3.9 °C (39.0 °F) and an average low temperature of 1.1 °C (34.0 °F), although February has

1368-407: Is just one part of a vast system of construction that previously allowed the Loire to remain navigable to this point. The Loire was formerly an important navigation and trading route, and is at the heart of the city's foundation in the second century BC as a center of trade or emporium . More recently, during the 17th century, the river enabled Orleans to become a major hub for refining sugar, which

1444-418: Is no longer used along its whole length. Its route within Orléans runs parallel to the river, separated from it by a wall or muret , with a promenade along the top. Its last pound was transformed into an outdoor swimming pool in the 1960s, then filled in. It was reopened in 2007 for the "fêtes de Loire." There are plans to revive use of the canal for recreation and install a pleasure-boat port there. Cenabum

1520-609: Is the patron saint of speleologists . On the island of Tenerife ( Spain ) he is the patron saint of fields and farmers. An important romeria ( Romería Regional de San Benito Abad ) is held on this island in his honor, one of the most important in the country. In the pre-1970 General Roman Calendar , his feast is kept on 21 March, the day of his death according to some manuscripts of the Martyrologium Hieronymianum and that of Bede . Because on that date his liturgical memorial would always be impeded by

1596-531: Is the prefecture of the department of Loiret and of the region of Centre-Val de Loire . Orléans is located on the river Loire nestled in the heart of the Loire Valley, classified as a World Heritage Site , where the river curves south towards the Massif Central . In 2020, the city had 117,026 inhabitants within its municipal boundaries. Orléans is the center of Orléans Métropole that has

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1672-725: The A75 ). Orléans is served by two main railway stations: the central Gare d'Orléans and the Gare des Aubrais-Orléans , in the northern suburbs. Most long-distance trains call only at the Les Aubrais-Orléans station, which offers connections to Paris, Lille, Tours, Brive-la-Gaillarde, Nevers, and several regional destinations. Orléans is the birthplace of: Museums in Orléans: Parks in Orléans: Orléans has

1748-808: The Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the city again became strategically important thanks to its geographical position, and was occupied by the Prussians on 13 October that year. The armée de la Loire was formed under the orders of General d'Aurelle de Paladines and based itself not far from Orléans at Beauce . During the Second World War , the German army made the Orléans Fleury-les-Aubrais railway station one of their central logistical rail hubs. The Pont Georges V

1824-474: The Hundred Years' War , particularly known for the role of Joan of Arc during the siege of Orléans . Every first week of May since 1432, the city pays homage to the "Maid of Orléans" during the Johannic Holidays which has been listed in the inventory of intangible cultural heritage in France . One of Europe's oldest universities was created in 1306 by Pope Clement V and re-founded in 1966 as

1900-563: The Merovingian era, the city was capital of the Kingdom of Orléans following Clovis I 's division of the kingdom, then under the Capetians it became the capital of a county then duchy held in appanage by the house of Valois-Orléans. The Valois-Orléans family later acceded to the throne of France via Louis XII , then Francis I . In 1108, Louis VI of France became one of the few French monarchs to be crowned outside of Reims when he

1976-469: The Renaissance , the city benefited from its becoming fashionable for rich châtelains to travel along the Loire valley (a fashion begun by the king himself, whose royal domains included the nearby châteaus at Chambord , Amboise , Blois , and Chenonceau ). The University of Orléans also contributed to the city's prestige. Specializing in law, it was highly regarded throughout Europe. John Calvin

2052-530: The Romanesque churches. In 1075 Robert de Molesme , a Benedictine monk from Cluny Abbey, had obtained the permission of Pope Gregory VII to found a monastery at Molesme in Burgundy . At Molesme , Robert tried to restore monastery practice to the simple and severe character of the original Rule of Saint Benedict, called "Strict Observance". Being only partly successful in this at Molesme, Robert in 1098 led

2128-543: The University of Orléans , hosting more than 20,000 students in 2019. The Île d'Orléans in Quebec, Canada, takes its name from Orléans, as do Orléans, Ontario , Orleans, Massachusetts and the city of New Orleans , Louisiana. Orléans is located in the northern bend of the Loire, which crosses from east to west. Orléans belongs to the vallée de la Loire sector between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes-sur-Loire , which

2204-524: The duke of Orléans , and was settled with French inhabitants against the threat from British troops to the north-east. The Dukes of Orléans hardly ever visited their city since, as brothers or cousins of the king, they took such a major role in court life that they could hardly ever leave. The duchy of Orléans was the largest of the French duchies, starting at Arpajon , continuing to Chartres , Vendôme , Blois , Vierzon , and Montargis . The duke's son bore

2280-534: The " châtelet des Tourelles" protected access to the bridge. This was the site of the battle on 8 May 1429 which allowed Joan of Arc to enter and lift the siege of the Plantagenets during the Hundred Years' War , with the help of the royal generals Dunois and Florent d'Illiers  [ fr ] . The city's inhabitants have continued to remain faithful and grateful to her to this day, calling her "la pucelle d'Orléans" (the maid of Orléans), offering her

2356-644: The Cluniac movement was one of the largest religious forces in Europe. At least as significantly as their political consequences, the reforms demanded greater religious devotion. The Cluniacs supported the Peace of God , and promoted pilgrimages to the Holy Lands. An increasingly rich liturgy stimulated demand for altar vessels of gold, fine tapestries and fabrics, stained glass , and polyphonic choral music to fill

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2432-546: The French capital to attract businesses interested in reducing transport costs. According to Victor Adolphe Malte-Brun in La France Illustrée , 1882, Orléans's arms are " gules , three caillous in cœurs de lys argent , and on a chief azure , three fleurs de lys Or ." Charle Grandmaison, in the Dictionnaire Héraldique of 1861, states that it is "Or, with three hearts in gules", without

2508-883: The Roman commander in Gaul, requested Goar , head of the Iranian tribe of Alans in the region to come to Orleans and control the rebellious natives and the Visigoths. Accompanying the Vandals , the Alans crossed the Loire in 408. One of their groups, under Goar , joined the Roman forces of Flavius Aetius to fight Attila when he invaded Gaul in 451, taking part in the Battle of Châlons under their king Sangiban . Goar established his capital in Orléans. His successors later took possession of

2584-399: The best sources: a handful of Benedict's disciples who lived with him and witnessed his various miracles. These followers, he says, are Constantinus, who succeeded Benedict as Abbot of Monte Cassino, Honoratus , who was abbot of Subiaco when St. Gregory wrote his Dialogues , Valentinianus , and Simplicius . In Gregory's day, history was not recognised as an independent field of study; it

2660-399: The chief of France. Faulty designs sometimes describe it as "gules, three fleurs de lys argent, and on a chief azure three fleurs de lys Or." The "cœurs de lys", or heart of a lily, is not a true lily, which would have 6 tepals , but a stylized or symbolic lily. Certain authors solve the problem by calling this symbol a " tiercefeuille ", defined as a stemless clover leaf, with one leaf at

2736-453: The commune tramway ), Pont René-Thinat and Pont de Vierzon (rail bridge). To the north of the Loire ( rive droite ) is to be found a small hill (102 m (335 ft) at the pont Georges-V, 110 m (360 ft) at the Place du Martroi) which gently rises to 125 m (410 ft) at la Croix Fleury, at the limits of Fleury-les-Aubrais . Conversely, the south (on the rive gauche ) has

2812-415: The cross. An investigation found a number of painted crosses on the walls of the abbey with the letters now found on St Benedict medals, but their meaning had been forgotten. A manuscript written in 1415 was eventually found that had a picture of Benedict holding a scroll in one hand and a staff which ended in a cross in the other. On the scroll and staff were written the full words of the initials contained on

2888-571: The cross. Either the inscription "PAX" (Peace) or the Christogram "IHS" may be found at the top of the cross in most cases. Around the medal's margin on this side are the Vade Retro Satana initials VRSNSMV which stand for "Vade Retro Satana, Nonquam Suade Mihi Vana" ("Begone Satan, do not suggest to me thy vanities") then a space followed by the initials SMQLIVB which signify "Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas" ("Evil are

2964-605: The crosses. Medals then began to be struck in Germany, which then spread throughout Europe. This medal was first approved by Pope Benedict XIV in his briefs of 23 December 1741 and 12 March 1742. Benedict has been also the motif of many collector's coins around the world. The Austria 50 euro 'The Christian Religious Orders' , issued on 13 March 2002 is one of them. The early Middle Ages have been called "the Benedictine centuries." In April 2008, Pope Benedict XVI discussed

3040-472: The driest month receiving 44.4 millimetres (1.75 in) of rain and the wettest receiving 64.4 millimetres (2.54 in) of precipitation on average. Precipitation days vary more, with less of them in the summer months than in the other seasons. Humidity is high year-round but decreases slightly in summer. July and August only have their humidity at 72% but December has 90% humidity on average. Orléans receives 1,767.3 hours of sunshine annually, with summer being

3116-589: The earlier Rule of the Master , but it also has a unique spirit of balance, moderation and reasonableness ( ἐπιείκεια , epieíkeia ), which persuaded most Christian religious communities founded throughout the Middle Ages to adopt it. As a result, Benedict's Rule became one of the most influential religious rules in Western Christendom . For this reason, Giuseppe Carletti regarded Benedict as

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3192-455: The estates in the region between Orléans and Paris. Installed in Orléans and along the Loire, they were unruly (killing the town's senators when they felt they had been paid too slowly or too little) and resented by the local inhabitants. Many inhabitants around the present city have names bearing witness to the Alan presence – Allaines. Also many places in the region bear names of Alan origin. In

3268-521: The foundational document for thousands of religious communities in the Middle Ages. To this day, The Rule of St. Benedict is the most common and influential Rule used by monasteries and monks, more than 1,400 years after its writing. A basilica was built upon the birthplace of Benedict and Scholastica in the 1400s. Ruins of their familial home were excavated from beneath the church and preserved. The earthquake of 30 October 2016 completely devastated

3344-411: The founder of Western Christian monasticism . Apart from a short poem attributed to Mark of Monte Cassino, the only ancient account of Benedict is found in the second volume of Pope Gregory I 's four-book Dialogues , thought to have been written in 593, although the authenticity of this work is disputed. Gregory's account of Benedict's life, however, is not a biography in the modern sense of

3420-635: The group and went back to his cave at Subiaco. There lived in the neighborhood a priest called Florentius who, moved by envy, tried to ruin him. He tried to poison him with poisoned bread. When he prayed a blessing over the bread, a raven swept in and took the loaf away. From this time his miracles seem to have become frequent, and many people, attracted by his sanctity and character, came to Subiaco to be under his guidance. Having failed by sending him poisonous bread, Florentius tried to seduce his monks with some prostitutes. To avoid further temptations, in about 530 Benedict left Subiaco. He founded 12 monasteries in

3496-502: The influence St Benedict had on Western Europe. The pope said that "with his life and work St Benedict exercised a fundamental influence on the development of European civilization and culture" and helped Europe to emerge from the "dark night of history" that followed the fall of the Roman empire . Benedict contributed more than anyone else to the rise of monasticism in the West. His Rule was

3572-546: The medal has a cross with the initials CSSML on the vertical bar which signify "Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux" ("May the Holy Cross be my light") and on the horizontal bar are the initials NDSMD which stand for "Non-Draco Sit Mihi Dux" ("Let not the dragon be my guide"). The initials CSPB stand for "Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti" ("The Cross of the Holy Father Benedict") and are located on the interior angles of

3648-547: The modern Norcia , in Umbria . If 480 is accepted as the year of his birth, the year of his abandonment of his studies and leaving home would be about 500. Gregory's narrative makes it impossible to suppose him younger than 20 at the time. Benedict was sent to Rome to study, but was disappointed by the academic studies he encountered there. Seeking to flee the great city, he left with his nurse and settled in Enfide . Enfide, which

3724-494: The mountain now rises almost perpendicularly; while on the right, it strikes in a rapid descent down to where, in Benedict's day, 500 feet (150 m) below, lay the blue waters of a lake. The cave has a large triangular-shaped opening and is about ten feet deep. On his way from Enfide, Benedict met a monk, Romanus of Subiaco , whose monastery was on the mountain above the cliff overhanging the cave. Romanus discussed with Benedict

3800-456: The mountains of central Italy . The present-day Order of Saint Benedict emerged later and, moreover, is not an "order" as the term is commonly understood, but a confederation of autonomous congregations . Benedict's main achievement, his Rule of Saint Benedict , contains a set of rules for his monks to follow. Heavily influenced by the writings of John Cassian ( c.  360 – c.   435 ), it shows strong affinity with

3876-542: The observance of Lent , the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar moved his memorial to 11 July, the date that appears in some Gallic liturgical books of the end of the 8th century as the feast commemorating his birth ( Natalis S. Benedicti ). There is some uncertainty about the origin of this feast. Accordingly, on 21 March the Roman Martyrology mentions in a line and a half that it

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3952-421: The outer world and by the visits of Romanus, Benedict matured both in mind and character, in knowledge of himself and of his fellow-man, and at the same time he became not merely known to, but secured the respect of, those about him; so much so that on the death of the abbot of a monastery in the neighbourhood (identified by some with Vicovaro ), the community came to him and begged him to become its abbot. Benedict

4028-519: The primitive strictness of the monastic observance wherever it had been relaxed. The rule focused on prayer, silence, and solitude. Among the most notable supporters of the Cluniac reforms were Pope Urban II , Lambert of Hersfeld , and Richard of Verdun . The reforms encouraged the Church in the West to be more attentive to business and led the papacy to attempt to assert control over the Eastern Church . During its height ( c. 950–c.1130),

4104-545: The purpose which had brought him to Subiaco, and gave him the monk's habit. By his advice Benedict became a hermit and for three years lived in this cave above the lake. Gregory tells little of Benedict's later life. He now speaks of Benedict no longer as a youth ( puer ), but as a man ( vir ) of God. Romanus , Gregory states, served Benedict in every way he could. The monk apparently visited him frequently, and on fixed days brought him food. During these three years of solitude, broken only by occasional communications with

4180-459: The reforms lay in abuses thought to be a result of secular interference in the monasteries and of the Church's tight integration with the feudal and manorial systems. Since a Benedictine monastery required land, it needed the patronage of a local lord . However, the lord would often demand rights and assert prerogatives that interfered with the operation of the monastery. Patrons normally retained

4256-467: The river were traditionally flat-bottomed boats, with large but foldable masts so the sails could gather wind from above the river banks, but the masts could be lowered in order to allow the boats to pass under bridges. These vessels are known as "gabarre", "futreau" , and so on, and may be viewed by tourists near pont Royal. The river's irregular flow strongly limits traffic on it, in particular at its ascent, though this can be overcome by boats being given

4332-403: The start of 1945. This reconstruction in part identically reproduced what had been lost, such as Royale and its arcades, but also used innovative prefabrication techniques, such as îlot 4 under the direction of the architect Pol Abraham . The big city of former times is today an average-sized city of 250,000 inhabitants. It is still using its strategically central position less than an hour from

4408-423: The structure of the basilica, leaving only the front facade and altar standing. Orl%C3%A9ans Orléans ( UK : / ɔːr ˈ l iː ə n z , ˈ ɔːr l i ə n z / ; US : / ˌ ɔːr l eɪ ˈ ɒ̃ , ˌ ɔːr l i ˈ ɑː n , ɔːr ˈ l eɪ ə n z / , French: [ɔʁleɑ̃] ) is a city in north-central France, about 120 kilometres (74 miles) southwest of Paris . It

4484-536: The sunniest season and winter being the least sunny season. August, receiving 224.6 hours of sunshine on average, is the sunniest month, and December, receiving 56.6 hours of sunshine on average, has the least amount of sunshine. In Orléans, the Loire is separated by a submerged dike known as the dhuis into the Grande Loire to the north, no longer navigable, and the Petite Loire to the south. This dike

4560-529: The things thou profferest, drink thou thine own poison"). This medal was first struck in 1880 to commemorate the fourteenth centenary of Benedict's birth and is also called the Jubilee Medal; its exact origin, however, is unknown. In 1647, during a witchcraft trial at Natternberg near Metten Abbey in Bavaria, the accused women testified they had no power over Metten, which was under the protection of

4636-604: The title duke of Chartres . Inheritances from great families and marriage alliances allowed them to accumulate huge wealth, and one of them, Philippe Égalité , is sometimes said to have been the richest man in the world at the time. His son, King Louis-Philippe I , inherited the Penthièvre and Condé family fortunes. 1852 saw the creation of the Compagnies ferroviaires Paris-Orléans and its famous gare d'Orsay in Paris. In

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4712-417: The top and two below, thus making this coat of arms "gules, with three reversed tiercefeuilles in argent, etc". "Hoc vernant lilia corde" (granted by Louis XII , then duke of Orléans ), meaning "It is by this heart that lilies flourish" or "This heart makes lilies flourish", referring to the fleur de lys , symbol of the French royal family. TAO manages buses and tram lines in Orléans . The first tram line

4788-473: The tradition of Subiaco identifies with the modern Affile , is in the Simbruini mountains, about forty miles from Rome and two miles from Subiaco. A short distance from Enfide is the entrance to a narrow, gloomy valley, penetrating the mountains and leading directly to Subiaco. The path continues to ascend, and the side of the ravine on which it runs becomes steeper until a cave is reached, above this point

4864-525: The vicinity of Subiaco, and, eventually, in 530 he founded the great Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino , which lies on a hilltop between Rome and Naples. Benedict died of a fever at Monte Cassino not long after his sister, Scholastica , and was buried in the same tomb. According to tradition, this occurred on 21 March 547. He was named patron protector of Europe by Pope Paul VI in 1964. In 1980, Pope John Paul II declared him co- patron of Europe, together with Cyril and Methodius . Furthermore, he

4940-555: The word. It provides instead a spiritual portrait of the gentle, disciplined abbot. In a letter to Bishop Maximilian of Syracuse, Gregory states his intention for his Dialogues , saying they are a kind of floretum (an anthology , literally, 'flower garden') of the most striking miracles of Italian holy men. Gregory did not set out to write a chronological, historically anchored story of Benedict, but he did base his anecdotes on direct testimony. To establish his authority, Gregory explains that his information came from what he considered

5016-531: Was a Gaul stronghold, one of the principal towns of the tribe of the Carnutes where the Druids held their annual assembly. The Carnutes were massacred and the city was destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC. In the late 3rd century AD, Roman Emperor Aurelian rebuilt the city and renamed it civitas Aurelianorum ("city of Aurelian") after himself. The name later evolved into Orléans. In 442 Flavius Aetius,

5092-455: Was a branch of grammar or rhetoric, and historia was an account that summed up the findings of the learned when they wrote what was, at that time, considered history. Gregory's Dialogues , Book Two, then, an authentic medieval hagiography cast as a conversation between the Pope and his deacon Peter, is designed to teach spiritual lessons. Benedict was the son of a Roman noble of Nursia ,

5168-417: Was acquainted with the life and discipline of the monastery, and knew that "their manners were diverse from his and therefore that they would never agree together: yet, at length, overcome with their entreaty, he gave his consent". The experiment failed; the monks tried to poison him. The legend goes that they first tried to poison his drink. He prayed a blessing over the cup and the cup shattered. Thus he left

5244-728: Was an Italian Catholic monk. He is famed in the Catholic Church , the Eastern Orthodox Church , the Lutheran Churches , the Anglican Communion , and Old Catholic Churches . In 1964 Pope Paul VI declared Benedict a patron saint of Europe . Benedict founded twelve communities for monks at Subiaco in present-day Lazio, Italy (about 65 kilometres (40 mi) to the east of Rome), before moving further south-east to Monte Cassino in

5320-462: Was crowned in Orléans cathedral by Daimbert, Archbishop of Sens . The city was always a strategic point on the Loire, for it was sited at the river's most northerly point, and thus its closest point to Paris. There were few bridges over the dangerous river Loire , but Orléans had one of them, and so became – with Rouen and Paris – one of medieval France's three richest cities. On the south bank

5396-446: Was imported from the Caribbean via Nantes , and whose commerce boosted other aspects of the local economy, such as sweets, chocolate manufacturing, and paper for wrapping. In the 18th century, Orleans also acquired a reputation for producing vinegar, from local vineyards as well as wine traveling up the Loire. With the increase in size of ocean-going ships, large ships can now navigate the estuary only up to about Nantes . Boats on

5472-706: Was in 2000 inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site . The capital of Orléanais , 120 kilometres southwest of Paris, is bordered to the north by the Beauce region, more specifically the Orléans Forest (French: forêt d'Orléans ) and Orléans-la-Source neighbourhood, and the Sologne region to the south. Five bridges in the city cross the Loire: Pont de l'Europe, Pont du Maréchal Joffre (also called Pont Neuf), Pont George-V (also called Pont Royal, carrying

5548-540: Was inaugurated November 20, 2000 and the second line on June 30, 2012. The network contains 29.3 km of rail. The annual ridership was 18.46 million in 2022. Orléans is an autoroute intersection: the A10 (linking Paris to Bordeaux ) links to the commune outskirts, and A71 (whose bridge over the Loire is outside the commune limits) begins here, heading for the Mediterranean via Clermont-Ferrand (where it becomes

5624-481: Was modified to schedule matins at a time when it would not interrupt sleep and to expand the vegetarian diet. Monks in these houses wore richer, warmer clothing and were free to disregard the rules pertaining to fasting. The Cluny reform was an attempt to remedy these practices in the hope that a more independent abbot would better enforce the Rule of Saint Benedict. William I, Duke of Aquitaine (875-918) had acquired

5700-483: Was received and accommodated there (and wrote part of his reforming theses during his stay), and in return Henry VIII of England (who had drawn on Calvin's work in his separation from Rome) offered to fund a scholarship at the university. Many other Protestants were sheltered by the city. Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, better known by his pseudonym Molière , also studied law at the University, but was expelled for attending

5776-475: Was renamed "pont des Tourelles". A transit camp for deportees was built at Beaune-la-Rolande . During the war, the American Air Force heavily bombed the city and the train station, causing much damage. The city was one of the first to be rebuilt after the war: the reconstruction plan and city improvement initiated by Jean Kérisel and Jean Royer was adopted as early as 1943, and work began as early as

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