Cantal
Encyclopedia
Cantal is part of the current region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
of Auvergne
Auvergne (région)
Auvergne is one of the 27 administrative regions of France. It comprises the 4 departments of Allier, Puy de Dome, Cantal and Haute Loire.The current administrative region of Auvergne is larger than the historical province of Auvergne, and includes provinces and areas that historically were not...
. It borders the departments of Puy-de-Dôme
Puy-de-Dôme
Puy-de-Dôme is a department in the centre of France named after the famous dormant volcano, the Puy-de-Dôme.Inhabitants were called Puydedomois until December 2005...
, :Haute-Loire, :Aveyron, Lot, :Lozère, and Corrèze
Corrèze
Corrèze is a department in south central France, named after the Corrèze River.The inhabitants of the department are called Corréziens or Corréziennes according to gender.-History:...
. Its principal towns are Aurillac
Aurillac
Aurillac is a commune in the Auvergne region in south-central France, capital of the Cantal department.Aurillac's inhabitants are called Aurillacois, and are also Cantaliens or Cantalous in Occitan....
, Saint-Flour
Saint-Flour, Cantal
Saint-Flour is a commune in the Cantal department in the Auvergne region in south-central France. Its inhabitants are called Sanflorains.-Geography:...
, and Mauriac
Mauriac, Cantal
Mauriac is a commune in the Cantal department in the Auvergne region in south-central France.It lies north-northwest of Aurillac by rail.Mauriac, built on the slope of a volcanic hill, has a medieval church, and the buildings of an old abbey now used as public offices and dwellings; the town owes...
. The highest point in Cantal is Le Plomb du Cantal at 1858 metres.
Cantal remains, with Lozère and Creuse
Creuse
Creuse is a department in central France named after the Creuse River.-History:Creuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from the former province of La Marche....
, one of the most sparsely populated and geographically isolated French departments. Aurillac is the farthest removed departmental capital from a major motorway.
History
Cantal is one of the original 83 departments created during the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
on 4 March 1790. It was created from a part of the former province
Provinces of France
The Kingdom of France was organised into provinces until March 4, 1790, when the establishment of the département system superseded provinces. The provinces of France were roughly equivalent to the historic counties of England...
of Auvergne
Auvergne (province)
Auvergne was a historic province in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the Counts of Auvergne. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province....
, called Haute-Auvergne.
The Occitan language was historically dominant in Cantal.
Climate
The department of the Cantal has different types of climates according to the geographical position.The west is well watered, thanks to abundant precipitations coming from the Atlantic. The temperatures are smooth generally, whereas the East is much drier and cooler.
As a matter of fact, there is abundant precipitation on the central area. To this fact, it is necessary to add the effect of the altitude: the climate is quite cold in winter (it snows almost every winter) but it can be very hot during the summer (especially in the southern part of the department with borders with Aveyron and Lot) .
In the central part of the department, that it is to say the highest ground, the altitude surpasses m easily: It can be very cold, The snow falls in abundance and can remains up to six months on the tops. The temperatures can fall, in the heart of the winter, to below -15 °C, whereas at the height of summer 25 °C (77 °F) is often reached.
The weather forecast of the television networks often indicates Aurillac as the coldest city of France in the morning. The temperatures observed by Météo France are explained by the following:
- The scientific weather station of Aurillac is at an altitude of 640 m.
- The temperature diminishes at 1 °C (34 °F) each 150 m.
- Météo France puts an index of only 30 cities on the map, and Aurillac is by far the one with the highest altitude.
These low morning temperatures could indicate an inhospitable place with a grey and low sky. The reality is totally different: fog is rare and, even then, disappears quickly. There is generous sun all year long and the wind is not usually strong. Cantal is well South (same latitude as Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
) and the annual sunshine hours show it: compare the annual number of hours of sunshine (average from 1991 to 2000):
Nîmes: 2590 h – Millau : 2120 h – Aurillac: 2080 h – Toulouse: 2010 h – Bordeaux: 1990 h – Lyon: 1930 h – Limoges: 1870 h – Tours: 1800 h – Nantes: 1690 h – Paris: 1630 h.
The Cantal is a mountainous department whose altitude varies between 250 m in the valley of the Lot River
Lot River
The Lot, , originally the Olt , is a river in France, right tributary of the Garonne. It rises in the Cévennes, flowing west through Quercy, where it flows into the Garonne near Aiguillon, a total distance of...
and 1855 m in the top of Plomb du Cantal. The temperature variations can be very high from one place to another. It is not colder in the Cantal than in other mountainous regions like the Vosges or Jura. The prevailing winds and the relief divide the Cantal into four climatic zones:
- The West is subject to oceanic winds which bring rains.
- The mounts of the Cantal and the Cézallier, which create a rain shadow, have a specific climate: it rains and snows quite often.
- The Planèze of Saint-Flour and the region of Massiac receive less precipitation, owing to winds coming from the North and the South.
- The plateaus of the Margeride and the Aubrac have harsh winters and pleasant summers.
Communes of Cantal are regularly submitted to violent summer storms. According to specialists, the lightning flashes in this department are among the most spectacular in France.
Economy
- Agriculture and animal husbandry (Aubrac and Salers (cattle)Salers (cattle)thumb|250px|right|Salers cattleThe Salers is a breed of cattle which originated in Cantal in the Massif Central of France.They are a large breed of cattle, with the female weighing in at between 700 and 750 kg and standing 1.40 metres tall. They have a thick mahogany red or black coat, and...
)
In Cantal, the farmers practice mountain pasture, with the herd passing summer at altitude in the mountains. The milk is traditionally used to produce Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) cheese such as Cantal, Salers cheese and Bleu d'Auvergne
Bleu d'Auvergne
Bleu d'Auvergne is a French blue cheese, named for its place of origin in the Auvergne region of south-central France. It is made from cow's milk, and is one of the cheeses granted the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée from the French government....
. Cantal is the only French Departement to be home to no less than 5 Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
cheese
- Craft industry is still very prevalent: Joinery, restoration of dwellings, small manufacturing and maintenance of private gardens ...
- Family, festival, rural and winter tourism.
Demographics
The population peaked at 262,117 in 1836. It has been below 200,000 for the last 90 years. The department has experienced a particularly drastic level of depopulation, although the phenomenon was a feature of many of the country's rural departments throughout the twentieth century, as agricultural wages failed to keep pace with those available in the industrialising regions outside the department.Tourism
Architecture
The department counts several remarkable buildings. Among them, the Romanesque religious buildings like the churches of Cheylade (eleventh century), Dieno or Massiac. Some churches are in the Gothic style like the Cathedral of St Pierre de Saint-Flour (fifteenth century).- Castle of Val in LanobreLanobreLanobre is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France.-Population:...
( visitors/year) - Castle of Anjony in TournemireTournemireTournemire may refer to the following places in France:* Tournemire, Aveyron, a commune in the department of Aveyron* Tournemire, Cantal, a commune in the department of CantalIt may also refer to the following people:...
( visitors/year) - Castle of Pesteils in PolminhacPolminhacPolminhac is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France.-Population:-References:*...
( visitors/year) - Castle of the Grapevine in Ally ( visitors/year)
- Castle of Clavières in AyrensAyrensAyrens is a commune in the Cantal department in the Auvergne region in south-central France.-Population:-Personalities:*Duke of la Salle of Rochemaure French félibrige writer...
- Castle of CarbonatCastle of CarbonatCastle of Carbonat is a French castle located in Arpajon-sur-Cère, in Cantal . It gradually fell to ruins, but was extensively restored in the early twentieth century.It has French terraced gardens and a landmark park....
in Arpajon-sur-CèreArpajon-sur-CèreArpajon-sur-Cère is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France.-Population:-References:*...
Festivals
- International Festival of Street Theatre, AurillacAurillacAurillac is a commune in the Auvergne region in south-central France, capital of the Cantal department.Aurillac's inhabitants are called Aurillacois, and are also Cantaliens or Cantalous in Occitan....
. - World Music Festival, Murat
- 36 hours : Various little scenes with dances
Art
The characteristic folk dance in Cantal is La Bourée. In the countryside it would be danced with accompaniment by accordion in folk costumes. The dance form was long ago adapted for use in courtly music and features prominently in the BaroqueBaroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
dance suite of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Prominent museums in Cantal include:
- Museum of Art and Arqueologia of AurillacAurillacAurillac is a commune in the Auvergne region in south-central France, capital of the Cantal department.Aurillac's inhabitants are called Aurillacois, and are also Cantaliens or Cantalous in Occitan....
( visitors/year) - The House of Fauna in MuratMurat, CantalMurat is a commune in the Cantal department in the Auvergne region in south-central France.-Geography:Murat is situated in the valley of the Alagnon, a tributary of the Allier.-Population:-Administration:This is a list of mayors of Murat....
( visitors/year) - Museum of the Géothermia in Calores-Agudo ( visitors/year)
- Museum of the Volcanos in AurillacAurillacAurillac is a commune in the Auvergne region in south-central France, capital of the Cantal department.Aurillac's inhabitants are called Aurillacois, and are also Cantaliens or Cantalous in Occitan....
( visitors/year) - Museum of the ray in MarcenatMarcenatMarcenat may refer to the following places in France:* Marcenat, Allier, a commune in the department of Allier* Marcenat, Cantal, a commune in the department of Cantal...
( visitors/year) - Museum of the "Haute Auvergne" in Saint-FlourSaint-Flour, CantalSaint-Flour is a commune in the Cantal department in the Auvergne region in south-central France. Its inhabitants are called Sanflorains.-Geography:...
( visitors/year) - The House of the Chestnut in MourjouMourjouMourjou is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France. A chestnut fair is held annually during the third weekend of October.The village is home to the Maison de la Chataigne, a museum dedicated to the chestnut: its history, its cultivation and harvesting, and its consumption...
(/year) - Museum of Georges Pompidou in Montboudif (/year)
- Museum of the Accordion in SiranSiran, CantalSiran is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France.-Population:...
- Museum of the Agriculture in Auvernia in ColtinesColtinesColtines is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France.-Population:...
Cuisine
Dishes of Cantal are made of basic recipes. In origin, they were designed to satisfiy hill farmers. They had very physical work: Looking after cows, the manufacture of cheese, etc.Thus, ham, cheese, vegetables are at the basis of the dishes in this department, such as:
- The Aligot (also in AveyronAveyronAveyron is a département in southern France named after the Aveyron River.- History :Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790....
): Cheese (Fresh Tome) with creamed potatoes - The Truffade: Crushed potatoes with cheese (Fresh Tome) garlic and lardons.
- The Pounti: A dish made with herbs, lard, prunes and Swiss chard.
- The typical cheese Cantal, which can be chosen young, old or "entre-deux".
Outdoor Activities
Located in the Parc Regional des Volcans d’Auvergne, the Cantal is a department of little urbanization. The main industry is tourism, especially rural tourism.The most visited places are Puy Mary (1787 m) considered to be one of the prettiest panoramas in Europe, the Plomb du Cantal (1855 m), the village of Salers
Salers
Salers is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France.It is famous for the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée cheeses Cantal and Salers...
, the Gorges of the Truyère
Truyère
The Truyère is a 167 km long river in south-western France, right tributary of the Lot River. Its source is in the south-western Massif Central, north of Mende. It flows generally west through the following départements and towns:...
(with the Garabit viaduct
Garabit viaduct
The Garabit Viaduct is a railway arch bridge spanning the Truyère river near Ruynes-en-Margeride , Cantal, France, in the mountainous Massif Central region. The bridge was constructed between 1880 and 1884 by Gustave Eiffel, with structural engineering by Maurice Koechlin, and was opened in 1885...
, the castle of Alleuze
Alleuze
Alleuze is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France.-Population:-Sights:Alleuze is the site of two historical monuments listed by the French Ministry of Culture:...
), the town of Boisset
Boisset, Cantal
Boisset is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France.-Population:...
, Pierrefort
Pierrefort
Pierrefort is a commune in the Cantal department in the Auvergne region in south=central France.It is approximately from Clermont Ferrand and from Saint-Flour-Geography:...
...). The Parc naturel des Volcans d’Auvergne features several inactive volcanoes. Cantal also has numerous castles. Puy Mary can be accessed by car easily. And for those who prefer to hike up, it is a very doable hike that doesn't require any special hiking skills. It is also possible to hike to the near-by Puy de Peyre-Arse(1806m). Le Lioran
Le Lioran
Le Lioran is a small mountain resort in the heart of continental France. It consists of the original settlement of Le Lioran in the valley bottom as well as the settlements of Prairie de Sagnes, Font d'Alagon, Font de Cère, and Prat du Bouc, all of which are geared towards the mountain tourism market...
or Super Lioran are the best places to start the hike. Le Lioran
Le Lioran
Le Lioran is a small mountain resort in the heart of continental France. It consists of the original settlement of Le Lioran in the valley bottom as well as the settlements of Prairie de Sagnes, Font d'Alagon, Font de Cère, and Prat du Bouc, all of which are geared towards the mountain tourism market...
is accessible by rail or bus and Super-Lioran is just a km away from Le Lioran
Le Lioran
Le Lioran is a small mountain resort in the heart of continental France. It consists of the original settlement of Le Lioran in the valley bottom as well as the settlements of Prairie de Sagnes, Font d'Alagon, Font de Cère, and Prat du Bouc, all of which are geared towards the mountain tourism market...
. From Super-Lioran it is also possible to hike to Plomb du Cantal. There is also an option of taking the cable car to Plomb du Cantal from Super-Lioran. Super-Lioran tourist office has various hike routes in the region. There are also various adventure courses, dirt bikes, summer luges etc. that run in Super-Lioran (see Le Lioran Tourism).
Spring and Summer
Among the various activities offered in this department, the "Massif Cantalien" can be discovered through walking, horseback riding or mountain bikingMountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
excursions (tracks are especially designed for this). Aquatic sports are also popular, thanks to numerous lakes.
The department also proposes more classical activities like mountaineering, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
or fishing. The landscape also allows the practice of free flight : Base jump fans frequent the sector around the Puy Mary or the Valley of Brezon.
Winter
Thanks to its landscape, Cantal can count on a good snow level, which allows winter sports.The station of Le Lioran
Le Lioran
Le Lioran is a small mountain resort in the heart of continental France. It consists of the original settlement of Le Lioran in the valley bottom as well as the settlements of Prairie de Sagnes, Font d'Alagon, Font de Cère, and Prat du Bouc, all of which are geared towards the mountain tourism market...
(greatest ski-resort of the Massif Central) allows alpine skiing (with specific adaptations for snowboard) or ice-skating. Excursions in snow shoes are also possible. The department has several hundred kilometers of cross-country skiing tracks.
Politics
The very clerical and Catholic Cantal is an old stronghold of the right, and was the electoral base of late President Georges PompidouGeorges Pompidou
Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou was a French politician. He was Prime Minister of France from 1962 to 1968, holding the longest tenure in this position, and later President of the French Republic from 1969 until his death in 1974.-Biography:...
. Only the area around Aurillac
Aurillac
Aurillac is a commune in the Auvergne region in south-central France, capital of the Cantal department.Aurillac's inhabitants are called Aurillacois, and are also Cantaliens or Cantalous in Occitan....
, historically anti-clerical and Radical, has some left-wing support.
The President of the General Council is Vincent Descoeur
Vincent Descoeur
Vincent Descoeur is a member of the National Assembly of France. He represents the Cantal department, and is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement.-References:...
of the Union for a Popular Movement
Union for a Popular Movement
The Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party...
.
| Party | seats | |
|---|---|---|
| • | Union for a Popular Movement Union for a Popular Movement The Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party... |
13 |
| Socialist Party Socialist Party (France) The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement... |
5 | |
| • | Miscellaneous Right Miscellaneous Right Miscellaneous Right in France refers to right-wing candidates that are not member of any large party. They either include small right-wing parties, dissidents expelled from their parties for running against their party's candidate, as well as candidates who were never formal members of a party... |
5 |
| Miscellaneous Left Miscellaneous Left Miscellaneous Left in France refers to left-wing candidates that are not member of any large party. They either include small left-wing parties or dissidents expelled from their parties for running against their party's candidate. Numerous DVG candidates are elected at a local level, and a smaller... |
3 | |
| • | MoDem Democratic Movement (France) The Democratic Movement , MoDem) is a centrist, social liberal and pro-European French political party that was founded by centrist politician François Bayrou to succeed his Union for French Democracy and to contest the 2007 legislative election, after his strong showing in the 2007 presidential... |
1 |
Paul Doumer
Paul Doumer
Joseph Athanase Paul Doumer, commonly known as Paul Doumer was the President of France from 13 June 1931 until his assassination.-Biography:...
, French President from May 1931 to May 1932, was born in Aurillac
Aurillac
Aurillac is a commune in the Auvergne region in south-central France, capital of the Cantal department.Aurillac's inhabitants are called Aurillacois, and are also Cantaliens or Cantalous in Occitan....
, Cantal.
See also
- Cantons of the Cantal department
- Communes of the Cantal department
- Arrondissements of the Cantal department
External links
Prefecture website General Council websiteCantal Tourism website