| Châteauroux | |
| Commune Status: | Prefecture and commune |
| Arrondissement: | Châteauroux |
| Canton: | Châteauroux-1, 2 and 3 |
| Insee: | 36044 |
| Postal Code: | 36008 |
| Mayor: | Gil Avérous[1] |
| Term: | 2020 - 2026 |
| Intercommunality: | CA Châteauroux Métropole |
| Coordinates: | 46.8103°N 1.6911°W |
| Elevation M: | 154 |
| Elevation Min M: | 132 |
| Elevation Max M: | 164 |
| Area Km2: | 25.54 |
| Image Flag: | Flag of Chateauroux.svg |
| Image Coat Of Arms: | Blason de la ville de Châteauroux (36).svg |
Châteauroux (; in French pronounced as /ʃɑtoʁu/; Occitan (post 1500);: Chasteurós) is the capital city of the French department of Indre,[2] central France and the second-largest town in the province of Berry, after Bourges. Its residents are called Castelroussins (in French pronounced as /kastɛlʁusɛ̃/) in French.
Châteauroux temperatures range from an average January low of 0.8°C to an average August high of 25.1°C.
The old town, close to the river, forms a nucleus around which a newer and more extensive quarter, bordered by boulevards, has grown up. The suburbs of St. Christophe and Déols lie on the right bank of the Indre. The castle from which the city takes its name was built in the latter part of the 10th century by Raoul, prince of Déols.[2]
From 920 to 1008, the Norman raids forced the monks of the abbey of Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys, founded in Brittany by Saint Gildas, to bring his relics to the abbey of Saint-Gildas of Châteauroux that they founded under the protection of the prince Ebbes of Déols, father of Raoul. During the Middle Ages, it was the seat of a seigniory. It was passed to the Chauvigny from 1207 to 1473. It was raised to the rank of countship in 1497 for Jean V d'Aumont.[2]
In 1616, when it was held by Henry II, Prince of Condé, it was raised to the rank of duchy. In 1736, it returned to the crown. It was given to Marie Anne de Mailly-Nesle, duchess of Châteauroux, by Louis XV in 1744.[2] The present housing the préfecture offices dates from the 15th century.
Châteauroux is one of the communes awarded the grand prize by the Concours National des Villes et Villages Fleuris, a beautification initiative begun in 1959.
La Berrichonne de Châteauroux is the town's football club based in Châteauroux, founded in 1883. The team currently plays in National, the third division of French football, and played only one season in Ligue 1 in 1997–98. Châteauroux reached the final of the 2003–04 Coupe de France, where they were defeated 1–0 by Paris Saint-Germain, qualifying for the following season's UEFA Cup. The team plays its home fixtures at the 17,173-capacity Stade Gaston Petit.
As Chateauroux was an Air Force base from 1952 until 1967, American football was played in Chateauroux by a team called Sabres. "Sabres" was one of the best European military teams, playing against other French and German teams. Local French people created a football club in the French American football championship. The name chosen is "Sabres", to celebrate the pioneers, to pay homage to the Americans who were the first.
The National Shooting Centre at Châteauroux hosted the shooting events for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[3] [4]
Direct services from Châteauroux railway station connect Paris, Orléans, Limoges, Toulouse, and several other regional destinations. The A20 motorway connects Châteauroux with Vierzon, Brive-la-Gaillarde, and Toulouse.
The city offers free public transportation since 2001.[5] Total ridership is up 208% between 2001 and 2012.[6]
The city is served by Châteauroux-Centre "Marcel Dassault" Airport, which is in the commune of Déols to the North. The airport is used mainly for cargo, maintenance, training, and light aviation but also serves seasonal charter services.
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in France. Châteauroux is twinned with:[7]
Bittou, Burkina Faso, since 1985
Olsztyn, Poland, since 1991
Fresno, United States, since 2016
Jinhua, China, since 2019