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First attested in theMedieval Latin form ofSalmuri in 968 AD, the origin of the name is obscure.Albert Dauzat hypothesized apre-Celtic unattested element*sala 'marshy ground' (cf. Celticsalm 'which jumps and flows'), followed by another unattested element meaning "wall". Many places in Europe seem to contain*Sal(m)- elements, which may shareOld European roots.
TheDolmen de Bagneux on the south of the town, is 23 meters long and is built from 15 large slabs of the local stone, weighing over 500 tons. It is the largest in France.
TheChâteau de Saumur was constructed in the 10th century to protect the Loire River crossing fromNorman attacks after the settlement of Saumur was sacked in 845. The castle, destroyed in 1067 and inherited by theHouse of Plantagenet, was rebuilt byHenry II of England in the later 12th century. It changed hands several times betweenAnjou and France until 1589.
Houses in Saumur are constructed almost exclusively ofTuffeau stone. The caves dug to excavate the stone are now often used as commercial wine cellars.[3]
In 1944 it was the target of the firstTallboy and the fourthAzon bombing raids by Allied planes. On 8/9 June 1944,[5] 5,400 kg (12,000 lb)Tallboy "earthquake" bombs were first used, against a railway tunnel near Saumur. The hastily organized night raid was to stop a planned GermanPanzer Division, travelling to engage the newly landed allied forces in Normandy. The panzers were expected to use the railway to cross the Loire.No. 83 Squadron RAF illuminated the area with flares from fourAvro Lancasters and marked the target at low level by threede Havilland Mosquitos. 25 Lancasters ofNo. 617 Squadron RAF, the "Dambusters" then dropped their Tallboys from 5,500 m (18,000 ft) with great accuracy. They hit the approaches to the bridge, blocked the railway cutting and one pierced the roof of the tunnel, bringing down a huge quantity of rock and soil which blocked the tunnel, badly delaying the German reinforcements moving towards Normandy, especially2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich.[6][7] The damaged tunnel was quickly dug out to make a deeper cutting, resulting in the need for a second attack.
There is the national tank museum, theMusée des Blindés, with more than 850 armored vehicles, wheeled or tracked. Most of them are from France, though some come from other countries such asBrazil,Germany, and theSoviet Union, as well as axis and allied vehicles of World War Two.
The annual militaryCarrousel takes place in July each year, as it has done for over 160 years, with displays of horse cavalry skills, historic and modern military vehicles.[10]
Amongst the most important monuments of Saumur are the greatChâteau de Saumur itself which stands high above the town, and the nearby Château de Beaulieu which stands just 200 metres from the south bank of the Loire River and which was designed by the architect Jean Drapeau. Agiant sequoia tree (which is protected) stands in the grounds of Château de Beaulieu. TheDolmen de Bagneux is on the old road going south.
The architectural character of the town owes much to the fact that it is constructed almost exclusively ofTuffeau stone.[11]
Thewine industry surrounds Saumur, many utilising the tunnels as cellars with the hundreds of domaines producing white, red, rosé and sparkling wines. Visits to producers and the annualGrandes Tablées du Saumur-Champigny is an annual event held in early August with over 1 km of tables set up in Saumur so people can sample the local foods and wine.[12]
Saumur has a weekly market every Saturday morning with hundreds of stalls open for business in the streets and squares of the old town, from before 8am.
In 1973 Saumur absorbed four neighbouring communes.[14] The population data for 1968 and earlier in the table and graph below refer to the pre-1973 borders.
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