Sologne

The Sologne [sɔ.ˈlɔɲ] is a region of north-central France extending over portions of the departements of Loiret, Loir-et-Cher and Cher. Its area is about 5,000 square kilometres (1,900 sq mi), and its boundaries are on the north the river Loire, on the south the River Cher and on the east the districts of Sancerre and Berry.

The name is thought to derive either from the Latin sœcalonia ("rye country") or sabulonia ("sandy country").

The Sologne is watered by the Cosson and the Beuvron, tributaries of the Loire, and the Sauldre, an affluent of the Cher, all three having a west-south-westerly direction. The pools and marshes which are characteristic of the region are due to the impermeability of its soil, which is a mixture of sand and clay.

The main towns of Sologne are:

In the middle of the 19th century Napoleon III led the way in the reclamation of swamps, the planting of pines and other trees and other improvements. Arable farming and stock-raising are fairly flourishing in the Sologne, but there is little manufacturing activity, the cloth manufacture of Romorantin being the chief industry. Game is abundant, and the region owes much of its revived prosperity to the creation of large sporting estates.

In the early 18th century, Jean-Philippe Rameau composed a famous harpsichord piece, Les Niais de Sologne, whose name translates as "the simpletons of Sologne". The form is a rondo with two episodes that are variations on the main section. Despite the title (which may allude to the meandering melody throughout), its use of ornamentation denotes a work of great subtlety and sophistication.

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