Beauce is a natural region in northern France, located between the Seine and Loire rivers. It now comprises the Eure-et-Loir département and parts of Loiret, Essonne and Loir-et-Cher. The region shared the history of the province of Orléanais and the county of Chartres, which is its only major city. Beauce is one of France's most productive agricultural areas.It is the setting of Émile Zola's novel, 'La Terre' (The Earth).