For the pastry, see Pithivier.

Pithiviers (French pronunciation: [pitivje] ⓘ) is a commune in the Loiret department, north central France. It is one of the subprefectures of Loiret.[3] It is twinned with Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire, England and Burglengenfeld in Bavaria, Germany.

Its attractions include a cinema, a theatre and a preserved steam railway.[4]

During World War II, Pithiviers was the location of the infamous Pithiviers internment camp.

The pithivier, a kind of pie, is said to originate here in the middle ages. The traditional Pithivier was a small scalloped-edge sweet tartlet. Savoury versions can be filled with peacock, heron, swan or pork.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 8,715—    
1975 10,097+2.13%
1982 9,392−1.03%
1990 9,327−0.09%
1999 9,242−0.10%
2007 8,779−0.64%
2012 8,966+0.42%
2017 8,981+0.03%
Source: INSEE[5]

Personalities

  • Helvise of Pithiviers (965/970-1025), related to the Counts of Blois family, she built the castle of Pithivers.
  • Michel Odent - French obstetrician, surgeon & childbirth specialist. World renowned for his work at Pithiviers Hospital & Midwifery (1962–1985) as well as his many publications supporting natural birth. Birth Reborn-1984
  • Steve Marlet - footballer with CM Aubervilliers. He was born here in 1974.
  • Xavier Dectot - curator and art historian who was born here in 1973.
  • Marie Ndiaye - novelist and playwright who was born here in 1967.
  • Siméon Poisson - mathematician born here in 1781 and died in 1840.
  • Louis Lebègue Duportail - French military leader during the American Revolutionary War, born here in 1743.
  • Armenian monk Gregory of Nicopolis (also called Gregory Makar and Grégoire de Nicopolis) brought gingerbread to Europe from Pithiviers in the 10th century.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Commune de Pithiviers (45252), INSEE
  4. ^ "Pithiviers official website (French)". Town of Pithiviers [dead link].
  5. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  6. ^ Liana Aghajanian (23 December 2014). "How an Armenian Monk Brought Gingerbread to the West". Retrieved 30 March 2017.