Auvergne

The Auvergne covers an area of 26,000 sq.km in the heart of the Massif Central. The region contains two nature parks, two regional parks and a volcano theme park. The volcanic activity in the area has resulted in many hot springs, Chaudes-Aigues is Europe’s hottest spring at 82.3 C/180 F. Vichy, the spa town, most famous around the world for its bottled water.

It is important to note that 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. The Auvergne region is made up of the following old provinces: Auvergne: departments of Puy-de-Dome, Cantal, northwest of Haute-Loire, and extreme south of Allier. The province of Auvergne is entirely contained inside the Auvergne region. Bourbonnais: department of Allier. A small part of Bourbonnais is also contained inside the Centre region. Velay: centre and southeast of department of Haute-Loire. Velay is entirely contained inside the Auvergne region. A small part of Gevaudan, extreme southwest of Haute-Loire. Gevaudan is essentially inside the Languedon-Roussillon region. A small part of Vivarais, extreme southeast of Haute-Loire. Vivarais is essentially inside the Rhone-Alpes region. A small part of Forez, extreme northeast of Haute-Loire. Forez is essentially inside the Rhone-Alpes region.

Velay, Gevaudan and Vivarais are often considered to be sub-provinces part of the province of Languedoc. Forez is also often considered to be a sub-province part of Lyonnais. If so then the Auvergne region is made up of the provinces of Auvergne, Bourbonnais, and parts of Languedoc and Lyonnais.

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