town hall of Veilleins

The town hall of Veilleins (French: mairie de Veilleins) serves as the seat of local government for Veilleins, a small commune in the Loir-et-Cher department, in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. With only 145 residents recorded in 2023, Veilleins ranks among the least populated communes in the department.

Where is Veilleins located?

The commune lies within the Romorantin-Lanthenay arrondissement, in the heart of the Sologne - a region known for its ponds, forests and hunting estates. Veilleins covers 43.26 square kilometres, giving it a population density of just 3.4 inhabitants per square kilometre, one of the lowest in the department. Elevation across the commune ranges from 93 to 127 metres. Veilleins belongs to the Communauté de communes de la Sologne des Étangs, and its postal code is 41230.

What is the history behind Veilleins?

The earliest recorded facts about the area date to 1403, when Jehan Hardy and a group of monks cleared the land and created the Saint-Martin and Vaux ponds, features typical of the Sologne landscape. In 1407, the "Héreau" estate at Montgiron, protected by moats and ramparts, passed from Jean Delameule to Adnet Chauveau. By the end of the 16th century, the Montgiron estate had grown to 3,000 hectares under the ownership of Jean Gitton, and in 1704 his son expanded it further by purchasing the lands of Tréfontaine. The estate changed hands again in 1806, when Madame de Beaucorps bought it, before selling it thirty years later to Amédée d'Espinay Saint Luc - an ancestor of the family that still owns Montgiron and produced the current mayor, François d'Espinay Saint Luc.

Veilleins was established as a commune in its modern administrative form in 1793, during the French Revolution. Before that, the settlement fell under the parish of Saint-Cosme-lès-Tours, part of the diocese of Orléans.

What can visitors see near the town hall?

The commune's principal landmark is the Church of Saint-Martin, whose oldest parts date to the 12th century; later additions include a 15th-century cross base and a 16th-century porch. A short distance from the village centre stands the Château de Montgiron, a brick-and-stone residence built in the 17th-18th centuries and surrounded by moats, with outbuildings, two pavilions and a hunting lodge. The château complex was listed as a historic monument in 1968 and again in 2003. Also worth a look is "La Forge" on rue de Romorantin, a timber-framed 16th-18th century building that once housed a forge and an inn.

What did daily life in the village look like?

Surviving council records give a glimpse of the small community's everyday concerns. In 1867, Veilleins still had no schoolhouse; a mixed school opened in August 1872, and a girls' school followed only in 1903. Phylloxera, the vine-destroying pest, reached the area in 1895, prompting residents to protest against the introduction of foreign grape varieties. Electrification works were carried out in 1930, and the village school was enlarged two years later. Local folklore also recalls the "fontaine des Miqualons," a spring said to have been a meeting place for witches and sorcerers.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the town hall of Veilleins located? In the Loir-et-Cher department, Centre-Val de Loire region, within the Romorantin-Lanthenay arrondissement (postal code 41230).

How many people live in Veilleins? According to 2023 figures, 145 residents - one of the smallest populations of any commune in the department.

Who is the mayor of Veilleins? François d'Espinay Saint Luc serves as mayor.

What is the oldest landmark in the commune? The Church of Saint-Martin, whose earliest parts date from the 12th century.

Is there a château in Veilleins? Yes, the Château de Montgiron, built in the 17th-18th centuries and listed as a historic monument in 1968 and 2003.