EURE, a department of north-western France, formed in 1790 from a portion of the old province of Normandy, together with the countship of Evreux and part of Perche. Pop. (1931) Area, 2,33o sq.m. It is bounded north by the department of Seine Inf erieure, west by Calvados, south-west by Orne, south by Eure et-Loir, and east by Seine-et-Oise and Oise. Eure is a dissected plateau sloping from a height of Boo ft. in the south-west to the Seine in the north. Forests cover about one-fifth of the depart ment. The rivers include a portion of the Seine in the north-east, receiving the Andelle and the Epte on the right, and the Eure with its feeders the Avre and the Iton, and the Risle with its tributary the Charentonne, on the left. The Eure and the Risle rise in Orne. The climate is mild, but moist and variable. The soil is for the most part clayey, resting on a bed of chalk, and is, in general, fertile and well tilled. Wheat, oats, colza, fla' and beet root are grown. There is much pasturage, supporting numbers of cattle and sheep, and especially of the celebrated Norman horses. Fruit is very abundant, especially apples and pears, from which much cider and perry are made. The mineral products of Eure include freestone, marl, lime and brick-clay. The chief industries are the spinning of cotton and wool, and the weaving, dyeing and printing of fabrics of different kinds. Turnery, cotton-bleaching, metallurgy, tanning, and the manufacture of glass, paper and wind instruments are also carried on. Coal and raw materials for its industries are the chief imports of Eure ; its exports include cattle and horses, poultry, eggs, butter, grain and manufactured goods. The department is served chiefly by the Ouest-Etat railway; the Seine, Eure and Risle provide 87 m. of navigable waterway. Eure is divided into the following arrondissements (containing 36 can tons, 70o communes) :—Evreux, Les Andelys and Bernay. The capital of the department is Evreux, which is the seat of a bish opric of the ecclesiastical province of Rouen. The department belongs to the III. Army Corps (Rouen) and to the academie (educational division) of Caen. Its court of appeal is at Rouen.
Evreux, Les Andelys, Bernay, Louviers, Pont-Audemer, Ver neuil, Vernon and Gisors are the principal towns of the depart ment. At Gaillon there are remains of a celebrated château of the archbishops of Rouen (see LouvIExs). Pont de l'Arche has a fine Gothic church, with stained-glass windows of the i6th and 17th centuries; the church of Tillieres-sur-Avre is a graceful specimen of the Renaissance style. The churches of Conches (15th or i6th century) and of Rugles (13th, 15th and i6th centuries), and the château of Beaumesnil (i6th century) are also of architectural interest.
an inland department of north-western France, formed in 1790 of portions of Orleanais and Normandy. Pop. Area, 2,293 sq.m. It is bounded N. by the department of Eure, W. by Orne and Sarthe, S. by Loir-et-Cher, S.E. by Loiret, and E. by Seine-et-Oise. The Perche in the south west and the Thimerais in the north-west are districts of hills and valleys, woods, lakes and streams. The level cornland of Beauce occupies the east and south. The department is drained northward by the Eure (tributaries Vegre, Blaise and Avre), and southward by the Loir (tributaries Conie and Ozanne). The air is pure, the climate mild, dry and not subject to sudden changes. The soil is either clay intermixed with sand or porous calcareous earth, and is on the whole fruitful. Wheat and oats are highly cul tivated on the Beauce. Barley, beetroot and other vegetables, in cluding good asparagus, are grown. Cider apples are produced abundantly in the Perche. A large number of cattle and sheep are raised and also draught horses in the Perche. Bee-farming is com monly carried on. The department produces building-stone, lime, grindstones and brick-clay. The manufactures are not extensive ; but there are flour- and sawmills, tanneries and leather-works, copper and iron foundries, starch-works, dye-works, distilleries, breweries and potteries ; and agricultural implements, cotton and woollen goods, and yarn, hosiery, boots and shoes, sugar, felt hats and paper are made. Eure-et-Loir exports the products of its soil and live-stock; its imports include coal, wine and wearing apparel. It is served by the railways of the Ouest-Etat, the Etat and the Orleans company, but it has no navigable waterways. The de partment has Chartres for its capital, and is divided into the arrondissements of Chartres, Chateaudun and Dreux. There are 24 cantons and 426 communes. Eure-et-Loir forms the diocese of Chartres (province of Paris), and belongs to the academie (educational division) of Paris and the region of the IV. Army Corps (Le Mans). Its court of appeal is at Paris.
Chartres, Dreux, Chateaudun, Nogent-le-Rotrou and Anet are the more noteworthy places in the department. At Bonneval the lunatic asylum occupies the i8th century buildings of a former Benedictine abbey. The abbey church belonged to the 13th century, but only a gateway flanked by two massive towers is left. The chateau of Maintenon, i6th and 17th centuries, was presented by Louis XIV. to Madame de Maintenon, by whom additions were made. St. Lubin-des-Joncherets has a handsome church of the 11th century, in which there are i6th century stained-glass windows.