Descartes, Indre-et-Loire


Descartes is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France. It is approximately 29 kilometers east of Richelieu and about 48 kilometers east of Loudun, on the banks of the Creuse River.

History

Initially called La Haye en Touraine, the town was the birthplace of the philosopher René Descartes, although his family home was in nearby Châtellerault. Descartes left La Haye in approximately 1606 to attend the College Henri IV at La Flèche. The town was renamed La Haye-Descartes in 1802 in his honour, and then renamed again to Descartes in 1967.

Population

See table at left.

Personalities

The town is notable in Acadian genealogy as the birthplace of the Heberts.