Auvergne

I

Introduction

Auvergne, administrative region (région) of central France, which includes the departments (départments) of Allier, Cantal, Haute-Loire, and Puy-de-Dôme. The region is bordered to the north by the regions of Centre and Burgundy, on the east by Rhône-Alpes, on the south by Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées, and on the west by Limousin. The region has a total land area of 26,013 sq km (10,044 sq mi).

II

Physical Geography

The region, at the heart of the Massif Central, is characterized by a unique volcanic landscape. Volcanic mountains rise spectacularly from the surrounding landscape, while a fascinating array of lava flows and lakes draws many tourists to the region. The Auvergne Mountains, in the south-west, contain three of the region’s highest peaks—Sancy Peak (1,886 m/6,188 ft), Plomb du Cantal (1,855 m/6,086 ft), and Mary Peak (1,787 m/5,863 ft). The Forez Mountains form part of the border with Rhône-Alpes; the range’s highest peak, Pierre-sur-Haute, rises to an altitude of 1,634 m (5,631 ft).

The River Allier, a tributary of the River Loire, flows through the region from south to north, passing through the cities of Vichy and Moulins. The Loire rises in the Cévennes mountain range, just across the Auvergne’s border with Rhône-Alpes, and flows for around 90 km (56 mi) through the south-east of the region. The Dordogne River rises in the Auvergne Mountains, near Mont-Dore, and flows eastwards into Limousin. The climate of the Auvergne varies, with a maritime influence in the west giving way to a more continental climate in the east.

III

Population

Around 1,334,000 people live in the Auvergne (2005) and the average population density of the region is 50 people per sq km (129 per sq mi). The administrative centre of the region, as well as the Puy-de-Dôme department, is Clermont-Ferrand, an industrial city with 140,700 (2005 estimate) inhabitants. Other important towns and cities in the Auvergne include Le Puy-en-Velay, capital of the Haute-Loire department (population, 2005 estimate, 19,300); Moulins, capital of the Allier department (2005 estimate, 20,300); Aurillac, capital of Cantal (2005 estimate, 29,700); Montluçon (2005 estimate, 39,800);.Vichy (1999, 26,528); and Thiers (1999, 13,338).

French is the official language of the Auvergne. Auvergnat, a regional language, is also spoken. Higher education institutions include the University of Auvergne and Blaise Pascal University, both in Clermont-Ferrand. The city was the birthplace of the philosopher Blaise Pascal and the historian Gregory of Tours.

IV

Economy

The Auvergne is a mainly agricultural region specializing in animal husbandry and cereal crops. Dairy farming is concentrated in the uplands, the so-called “Cow Mountains”, and on the rich alluvial soils that cover a series of basins through which the Allier river flows. Cheese-making has long been traditional in the Auvergne; famous regional varieties include Cantal, Salers, and St Nectaire.

Auvergne’s large towns and cities are fairly well-developed industrial centres; the leading industries in the region include food processing, and the manufacture of electrical equipment, chemicals, machinery, tobacco, plastics, and footwear. The Michelin plant in Clermont-Ferrand is the largest producer of tyres in France. The town is not only famous for its industry, but possesses a rich heritage of Renaissance architecture and Romanesque churches that is one of the region's major attractions. Thiers is considered the “cutlery capital” of France, and the town of Moulin Richard-de-Bas specializes in traditional papermaking. The Auvergne is also well known for its springs and the spas that have developed around them. The towns of Vichy and Volvic, for instance, are now famous across Europe for the bottled waters that bear their name.