Auvergne
Auvergne is one of the oldest populated regions of Europe. It is also well known for its extinguished volcanoes. Its mountains offer wonderful ski slopes in the winter and superb hiking grounds in the summer. This region is also the place of birth of Marguerite de Valois, countess of Auvergne, better known as the Queen Margot. During the XVIIth century, Louis XIII obliged Clermont and Monferrand, to become a single town. Still today, it is probably the only town in France to have one (rien ici) Mayor for two Town Halls. When speaking of Auvergne , other emblematic personalities come to mind, such as Blaise Pascal or Gilbert de la Fayette, “the hero of the two worlds” who was born in the castle of Chavagniac, near Brioude. To quote a significant phrase by Raymond Cortat : "to have made on their premises the higher history still than the geography".
If one quotes Auvergne for its volcanos and its beautifull landscapes, the area is also known more for "terrestrial" pleasures and the visitors fans of cheeses will find there their happiness with of course the Cantal, but also the Saint-Nectaire, the Blue d'Auvergne or Fourme d'Ambert. Accompany a plate of these four cheeses by red glass of Saint-Pourçain and you will not regret it. For those which prefer the "cochonailles", do not miss some Dry Sausage sections unanimously recognized for its gustatory quality. Lastly, the table would not be complete, if we do not quote some other regional specialities like the aligot, the Potful auvergnate, the Tripoux or the lenses of Puy which you will taste hot, decorated of onions and some plugs or, in summer, cold out of salad... a delight...
