"Beauce is a natural region in northern France, located between the Seine and Loire rivers. It now comprises the Eure-et-Loir d\u00E9partement and parts of Loiret, Essonne and Loir-et-Cher. The region shared the history of the province of Orl\u00E9anais 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 \u00C9mile Zola's novel, 'La Terre' (The Earth)."@en . . .