Cormery

Cormery
The abbey in Cormery
Coat of arms
Cormery
Location within Centre region Cormery
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Centre-Val de Loire
Department	Indre-et-Loire
Arrondissement	Tours
Canton	Chambray-lès-Tours
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Antoine Campagne
Area1	6.07 km2 (2.34 sq mi)
Population (2009)2	1,655
• Density	270/km2 (710/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	37083 / 37320
Elevation	57–94 m (187–308 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Cormery is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in the Centre Region. Its inhabitants are called Cormeriens, Cormeriennes.

It is located 21 kilometres from Tours and 18 kilometres from Joué-lès-Tours.

Geography

Cormery is located a few miles southeast of Tours.

The area of the town is watered by the Indre river.

History

Cormery Abbey

In 791, a religious institution was founded by Ithier of St. Martin, abbot of Basilica of St. Martin in Tours and prochancelier of Charlemagne. This edifice was to create a more friendly place for meditation and prayer, plus respect for the rule of Saint Benedict of Nursia. Ithier come here to retreat from the world and its agitations. The modest priory was first called Celle Saint-Paul.

Alcuin who succeeded Ithier Cormery led a tremendous spiritual growth and materially transformed the priory into an important abbey by donating important areas. This allows his successor, Fridugisus, to perform great works.

A protective shadow of the abbey caused many residents to gather and a town was formed which became an important commercial center: since 845 a market is held every Thursday.

During the ascent of the Loire river by Normans, the monks of Saint-Martin first put the holy relics in their safe in Cormery before forced to flee to the east.

The abbey was in ruins in the early eleventh century and was rededicated in 1054.

In 1268 to 1271, the abbot was Jean de Brosse, parent of Pierre de Brosse, and close to Philip II of France according to Le Hardi.

In 1562, Cormery was sacked by Huguenots during the wars of religion.

In 1662, the congregation of Saint Maur recreated a monastic community that would last until the Revolution.

There are now only impressive remains, objects of study by historians of the region and a cookie recipe "macaroons Abbey".

List of Mayors

List of Mayors

Start	End	Name
March 1971	March 1989	Jacques Dupuy
March 1989	June 1995	Bernard Boutet
June 1995	March 2001	Pierre Gargaud
March 2001	March 2008	Jean-Marie Doublé
March 2008		Antoine Campagne

Heraldry

Description of the emblazon
	Original French	Les armes de Cormery se blasonnent ainsi : Mi-parti : au premier d'or à l'aigle bicéphale de sable, au second d'azur aux trois fleurs de lys d'or ; à l'épée basse d'argent, garnie d'or, brochant sur la partition
	English blazon	The arms of 'Cormery is emblazoned as follows: Mi-party: the first gold double-headed eagle Sable, second azure three gold fleurs-de-lis; the low silver sword, overlaid with gold, surmounting the partition.
	Status	Cormery

Drinking Water Management

The town of Cormery is part of the SIPTEC (Syndicat Intercommunal de Truyes-Esvres-Cormery).

Demographics

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1793	938	—
1800	791	−15.7%
1806	861	+8.8%
1821	1,119	+30.0%
1831	1,045	−6.6%
1836	1,034	−1.1%
1841	985	−4.7%
1846	1,048	+6.4%
1851	1,043	−0.5%
1856	1,028	−1.4%
1861	1,039	+1.1%
1866	1,046	+0.7%
1872	986	−5.7%
1876	1,023	+3.8%
1881	934	−8.7%
1886	909	−2.7%
1891	851	−6.4%
1896	822	−3.4%
1901	826	+0.5%
1906	792	−4.1%
1911	803	+1.4%
1921	775	−3.5%
1926	729	−5.9%
1931	783	+7.4%
1936	832	+6.3%
1946	863	+3.7%
1954	829	−3.9%
1962	928	+11.9%
1968	1,032	+11.2%
1975	1,106	+7.2%
1982	1,169	+5.7%
1990	1,323	+13.2%
1999	1,542	+16.6%
2006	1,631	+5.8%
2009	1,655	+1.5%

Places and monuments

Ruins of the Abbey

• A lantern of the dead from the twelfth century. Declared an historical monument December 1, 1920 as a lantern of the dead. (It seems that this is actually a hosanna cross).
• Benedictine abbey: founded in 791 by Ithier, abbot of Saint Martin of Tours
• The Chapel of the Virgin: Built at the end of the 15th century.
• The rectory: Built in the 15th century.

Personalities linked to the town

• Ithier of Saint Martin
• Alcuin

See also

• Communes of the Indre-et-Loire department

References

• INSEE commune file