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About the region
Auvergne is one of the 26 administrative regions of France. The current administrative region of Auvergne is larger than the historical province of Auvergne, and includes provinces and areas that historically were not part of Auvergne.
Region areas
The region of Auvergne is organized into 4 departments, each with its own attractions and beauties. The best known however is Allier, which is the most productive agricultural department of Auvergne. Also Allier is famous for the city of Vichy, which was the seat of the government in World War II.
Attractions
Beside museums and religious architecture, Auvergne has only its natural beauty to offer. The travelers who aren’t very interested in the medieval history of Auvergne can bathe in the rural scenery of the region, which offers splendid picturesque views.
Transportation
Auvergne isn’t a very difficult place to reach, though there are some parts of the region which are a bit more secluded and will demand a greater effort from the traveler. The best way to see Auvergne is to travel by car, which offers a bigger flexibility than other means of transport.
Events
Auvergne is the annual stage to some of the best and exhilarating events in France. Such is the case of the car race at Mont Dore, which consists of racers driving down a mountain on a 5 km course with a drop in altitude of over 300 m.
Restaurants & Nightlife
Auvergne produces a few good but not so strong wines, which although taste splendid, aren’t very popular. The best thing though, about the region, are the many variety of cheeses that are produces here, making Auvergne a real competition for Savoie, which produces some of the best cheese in the world.
History & Civilization
Auvergne was the name of an historically independent county in the center of France, as well as later a province of France. It is the name of the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province. The traditional capital of the province of Auvergne was Riom.
Delicacies of Auvergne
Although the region is a bit disappointing in terms of wine, as the local grape crop only produces light blends, the cheese in Auvergne is something that makes all the people proud. There are five French types of cheese that come from Auvergne: Cantal, St.Nectaire, Bleu d’Auvergne, Fourme d’Ambert and Salers.