The parish church is of different epochs—the nave and the aisles belong to the 12th cent., and the chancel, which is four steps higher, to the 16th. It is supported on ten tall slender columns, from which the groining of the roof ramifies in all directions.
The town fairs are held in the promenade, called the Patis. In the adjoining forest, covering 21,030 acres, is the Dolmen of Paucourt. Montargis is a great railway junction on one of the main lines between Paris and the south of France.
10 m. S. by rail from Montargis is Nogent-sur-Vernisson, station for Châtillon-sur-Loing. Time, 75 minutes; fare, 1 fr. Admiral Coligny was born in 1516 in the old castle of this place, situated in the midst of the hereditary domain of the family.
PARIS
MARSEILLES 96 434 [GIEN], pop. 7600. Inns: Poste; Paris. An old town on the Loire, and an important railway junction. On the hill rising from the town is the church of St. Pierre, flanked by a square tower, 15th cent., commanding an admirable view. Adjoining is the château, a handsome edifice built in 1494 by Anne de Beaujeu, daughter of Louis XI. It is now occupied by the Préfecture. Below, in the town, is the church of St. Louis, 17th cent. 38 m. N.W. by branch line is Orleans (see pp. 148 and 151 in Black’s Normandy).
Briare. Cosne.
PARIS
MARSEILLES 102½ 427½ [BRIARE], pop. 5200. Inn: H. de la Poste. A pleasant town on the Loire, where large quantities of buttons are manufactured. 3 m. farther S. by rail is Châtillon-sur-Loire, pop. 3300. Inn: H. des Trois Rois; omnibus awaits passengers.
PARIS
MARSEILLES 121 409 [COSNE], pop. 7000. Inns: Grand Cerf; Belle Étoile. This little town, with ironworks of considerable importance, and still retaining parts of its old fortifications and castle, is situated on the Loire at its junction with the Nohain. The best of the churches is St. Aignan, of which the portal and apse are of the 11th cent.; the rest is modern. 6½ m. farther S. by rail is Sancerre on the Loire, pop. 3700. Inn: Pointe du Jour. With castle, 13th cent., on a hill 987 ft. above the sea. In the neighbourhood are important quarries.
PARIS
MARSEILLES 138 392 [POUILLY-SUR-LOIRE], pop. 3500. Inn: Écu. The surrounding vineyards produce a famous white wine, with a peculiar flavour. It is drinkable in the second year, and deteriorates after the 15th.
PARIS
MARSEILLES 141 389 [LA CHARITÉ], built on a hill sloping down from the railway to the Loire, crossed by both a stone and suspension bridge. Inns: Poste et G. Monarque; Dauphin; omnibuses await passengers. It has still part of its fortifications and towers of the 14th cent. Of the church St. Croix, consecrated in 1107 by Pope Pascal II., there remain a vast narthex, the choir, and a high and profusely ornamented tower. This church belonged to a Benedictine convent, whose deeds of charity gave to the town its name. The convent is now occupied by the order of the Visitandines (Visitation). In the treasury are the chasuble and mitre of St. François de Sales.
Pougues les Eaux. Fourchambault.