Gien is a town in Loiret, in the Center-Val de Loire region. Its vast territory of 67 km² belongs to the natural region of Puisaye, on the borders of Orléanais, Nivernais and Burgundy, presenting landscapes of forests, ponds and humid and green valleys.
The town has developed on the edge of the Loire which constitutes most of its boundary, to the south, the north and the east having remained very "rural": agricultural land (46%) and forests (35%) in fact cover a large part of Gien and Arrabloy (12 km²), its municipality associated with the east since 1972.
Although archaeological remains attest to an occupation from the Gallo-Roman era, it was in the 8th century that Charlemagne authorized the construction of a fortified motte which gave birth to the future city.
In the 13th century, the construction of a first bridge over the Loire followed, the construction of enclosures and around 1500, with the construction of its Renaissance-style castle, Gien fully entered history, becoming a city royal. François Ier, Catherine de Médicis, Charles IX or even Louis XIV and his court stayed there.
Nowadays, renowned for its heritage, its industry (earthenware) but also its offer of cultural and "nature" leisure activities, the city has about 15,000 inhabitants and is a stage of choice before discovering other major sites in the Loire Valley.
Famous for its earthenware tradition, Gien has an earthenware factory museum, located in a former cellar, with magnificent china collections on display. This place also hosts temporary exhibitions.
Majestically overlooking the Loire River, the Château de Gien, made of brick and stone, is home to the International Hunting museum. This museum groups together collections dedicated to hunting and to animal art: paintings, ceramics, tapestries, trophies and hunting buttons are displayed there.