SANCERRE  , a

town of central France, capital of an arrondissement in the department of Cher, 34 M . N.E. of Bourges by rail . Pop . (1906) 2232 . Sancerre; which gives its name to the small district of Sancerrois, is situated on an isolated vine-clad hill (l000 ft.) about 1 m. from the left bank of the Loire . It has a modern chateau, in the grounds of which there is a cylindrical keep of the 15th century, the only relic of an ancient stronghold . From 1037 to 1152 the title of count of Sancerre was held by the counts of Champagne; from the latter year till 164o it had its own counts, who were descended from Theobald IV. of Champagne, but in 1226 came under the suzerainty of the crown . In 164o it became the property of Henri de Conde, whose descendants possessed it till the Revolution . During the religious wars it was a stronghold of Protestantism, and in 1573 was besieged by the Catholics, who did not succeed in capturing it till after nearly eight months of siege . The town has a subprefecture, a tribunal of first instance and a communal college . Good wine is grown in the vicinity .