Issoudun, be it said without offence to Paris, is one of the oldest cities in France.

In spite of the historical assumption which makes the emperor Probus the Noah of the Gauls, Caesar speaks of the excellent wine of Champ-Fort ("de Campo Forti") still one of the best vintages of Issoudun.

Rigord writes of this city in language which leaves no doubt as to its great population and its immense commerce.

But these testimonies both assign a much lesser age to the city than its ancient antiquity demands.

In fact, the excavations lately undertaken by a learned archaeologist of the place, Monsieur Armand Peremet, have brought to light, under the celebrated tower of Issoudun, a basilica of the fifth century, probably the only one in France.