Auvergne (province)

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}} {{about|the historical county and province of Auvergne|the modern-day administrative région of Auvergne|Auvergne (region)}} '''Auvergne''' ({{IPA-fr|ovɛʁɲ}}; [[Occitan]]: ''Auvèrnhe/Auvèrnha'') was a historic [[province of France|province]] in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the [[List of rulers of Auvergne|Counts of Auvergne]]. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province. Today, the whole of the province of Auvergne is contained inside the administrative ''[[région]]'' of [[Auvergne (region)|Auvergne]], a ''région'' which also includes provinces and territories that were not part of Auvergne historically. The capital of the ''région'' of Auvergne is [[Clermont-Ferrand]]. ==History== [[File:Inauguration statue vercingétorix 3.JPG|thumb|250px|Statue of Vercingetorix in [[Clermont-Ferrand]]]] Auvergne was a [[provinces of France|province of France]] deriving its name from the ''[[Arverni]]'', a [[Gaul|Gallic]] tribe who once occupied the area, well known for its fierce resistance, led by [[Vercingetorix]], to conquest by the [[Roman Empire]]. Christianized by [[Saint Austremoine]], Auvergne was quite prosperous during the Roman ages. After a short time under the [[Visigoths]], it was conquered by the [[Franks]], in 507. The medieval times were for Auvergne a period of great development, especially between the 10th and 13th centuries, with the building of famous abbeys and churches in a Romanesque style. In the year 1095, the historic Council of Clermont was held there, to rally support for the [[First Crusade]]. Its wide autonomy was ended by [[King Philippe-Auguste]] of France, who linked it to the royal possessions. Hardly impacted by the Hundred Years war, the religion wars and epidemics, integrated to the kingdom of France, it turned itself more and more into an agricultural province, although reputed for its products. In 1790, the historical province was divided into the modern-day ''[[départements]]'' of [[Puy-de-Dôme]], [[Cantal]], [[Haute-Loire]], and [[Allier]], although Haute-Loire and Allier also include some land from the historical provinces of [[Bourbonnais]], [[Lyonnais]], and [[Velay]]. ==Economy== The region is famed for its ''[[charcuterie]]'', which is celebrated in "''La Mangona''" festivals in many ''Auvergnat'' villages, for its [[cheese]]s (Saint Nectaire, Bleu d'Auvergne, Cantal, Salers, Fourme d'Ambert), and for its [[mineral water]]s ([[Volvic]] among others). [[Michelin]] tires are produced there. Auvergne is also the site of several major [[hydropower|hydroelectric]] projects, mainly located on the [[Dordogne River|Dordogne]], [[Cère River|Cère]], and [[Truyère River|Truyère]] rivers. The region is also quite touristic, thanks to its landscapes. ==Culture== [[Auvergnat]], a variety of the [[Occitan language]], was historically spoken in the Auvergne. It is still spoken there. Aubrac oxen, a rare breed, are raised in the [[Aubrac]] hills. The Auvergne emigrants, together with other Aveyron and Italian emigrants, deeply influenced the Parisian [[Bal-musette]] music. Composer [[Joseph Canteloube]] based ''Songs of the Auvergne'' (''[[Chants d'Auvergne]]'') (1923–55), his well-known piece for voice and orchestra, on [[folk music]] and songs from the Auvergne. Singer-songwriter [[Georges Brassens]] composed ''Chanson pour l'Auvergnat''. == Notable residents == * [[Vercingetorix]], King of the Arverni, leader of the Gallic resistance against [[Julius Caesar]]. * [[Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette]], (1757–1834), born in Auvergne, was a national hero in both France and the United States for his roles in the [[American Revolutionary War]] and the [[French Revolution]]. * Pierre-Andre Coffinhal, [[Jacobin]] leader and vice-president of the [[Revolutionary Tribunal]], was born in Auvergne. A close friend of [[Robespierre]], he was executed following the events of the [[9 Thermidor]]. * [[Jean-Baptiste Carrier]] was a French Revolutionary born in [[Yolet]] of Auvergne. He was famous for his brutality towards his enemies. In 1794, he was guillotined upon the conviction of the [[National Convention]]. * The '''Dalfi d'Alvernha''' or [[Dauphin d'Auvergne]], troubadour and patron of troubadours, Count of [[Clermont-Ferrand|Clermont]] and [[Montferrand (district of Clermont-Ferrand)|Montferrand]] * [[Joseph Canteloube]], (1879–1957), French composer. * [[Guy Debord]], writer and leader of the Situationist International, acquired a country house in the region in 1975, where he frequently lived until committing suicide there in 1994. * [[Audrey Tautou]], internationally successful French actress, was born and raised in Auvergne: her surname is typically Occitan. == Notable fictional residents == *[[Lestat de Lioncourt]] *[[Gabrielle de Lioncourt]] *[[Nicolas de Lenfent]] *Philippe Charboneau, later Philip Kent; protagonist of the early novels of [[The Kent Family Chronicles]] and the eponymous family's progenitor == External links == {{Wikisource1911Enc|Auvergne}} {{Historic Provinces of France}} {{coord missing|France}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Auvergne (Province)}}