The Auvergne is a region in the center of France. It is made up of the departments of Puy-de-Dome, Cantal, Haute-Loire and Allier.
It is one of the country’s historical provinces. the Auvergne derives its name from the Arverni people. This was a Gallic tribe at the time of the Roman conquests and lived in what is now the Auvergne area at that time.
The story of Auvergne
Eurich, a Visigoth, conquered the Auvergne region in 470. Later, at the beginning of the 6th century, the Franks took over the regiment. In the Middle Ages, the region gained power and the area was finally divided into four domains. The county of Auvergne initially comprised the entire territory of the province. However, in the 12th century, the Bishop of Clermont won in Clermont-Farrand in power and formed an independent rule.
In 1155, the then Delfinat split off from Auvergne. In 1213 royal troops came to the province and occupied Auvergne. The then count was only awarded a very small share of his former property. Most of the province of Auvergne was awarded to the royal crown, or this part simply kept that part.
In 1360 King John II formed the Duchy of Auvergne for his sons from the province. The departments of the Auvergne region that exist today date back to 1790. At that time, the historical province was divided into the present-day parts.
The current boundaries of the area, which demarcate the region from the other regions, emerged in the course of the reorganization of the regions in 1960. The departments remained unaffected.
The linguistic evolution Auvergne
Linguists found that the language of the province of Auvergne is a dialect derived from the Occitan language. This is still spoken today in the three departments of Cantal, Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dome. The famous writer Jean Boudon-Lashermen once lived in the Haute-Loire department. Two large collections come from him (Hours of War, the First World War), which he wrote in Arverni and Provençal. The remarkable thing about this work is that he wrote the long Canto to Auvergne in Provençal.
The famous Auvergne
cheese, mineral water and the tire industry are not exactly three components that you would bring together straight away, but in Auvergne these are the three important industries for which the province is particularly famous. The export of cheese and mineral water is the name given to two of the most important economic sectors in the region. There is also a dynasty of knife makers in Laguiole. Those of the same name and popular all over the world Pocket knives come from here. They are still lovingly and laboriously handcrafted today. A large number of hydropower plants are located in the province, which provide the energy supply.
Also tourist is popular the province Auvergne. The beautiful landscapes offer an ideal holiday destination for everyone who would like to enjoy the wonderful surroundings. The springs of volcanic origin and the many health resorts in Auvergne are also great attractions for tourists and those seeking peace and quiet from all over the world.
The famous composer Joseph Canteloube wrote the songs of Auvergne in this region in 1930. Clark Ashton Smith, a well-known writer, wrote a whole series of short stories here, which go back to the mystical region of Auvergne. These were his source of inspiration. Also Asterix and Obelix have been to Auvergne. In the 11th volume of the popular comic series, in “Asterix and the Arvernerschild” from 1969, the region with its peculiarities and typical and historical characteristics is dealt with in detail.
