Pithiviers

Subprefecture and commune in Centre-Val de Loire, France

(2020–2026) Philippe Nolland^[1]Area6.94 km² (2.68 sq mi)Population9,094 • Density1,300/km² (3,400/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)INSEE/Postal codeElevation97–130 m (318–427 ft)
(avg. 120 m or 390 ft)¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

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

Year	Pop.	±% 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

• Communes of the Loiret department
• Tramway de Pithiviers à Toury

References