Auvergne

views updated May 17 2018

AUVERGNE

AUVERGNE , former French province including the present departments of Cantal, Puy-de-Dôme, and part of Haute-Loire. The presence of Jews in Auvergne is known from the end of the fifth century. In the second half of the 13th century they were settled in the localities of Auzon, Clermont, Ennezat, Langeac, Monton, Oilac, Peissin, Pont-du-Château, Puy-Roger, Ris, Rochefort, Taleine, Veyre, and Vichy. Banished together with the other Jews of France in 1306, they returned after 1359 to settle in Ennezat, Lignat, and Montaigut-en-Combraille until the expulsion of the Jews from the kingdom in 1394.

bibliography:

A. Tardieu, in: Dépêche du Puy-de-Dôme (Sept. 15, 1891); P. Andigier, Histoire d'Auvergne, 1 (1899), 14; A. Molinier (ed.), Correspondance administrative d'Alfonse de Poitiers, 1 (1894), 402–4 and passim; P. Fournier and P. Guébin (eds.), Enquêtes administratives d'Alfonse de'Poitiers… (1959), passim.

[Bernhard Blumenkranz]

Auvergne

views updated May 23 2018

Auvergne Region and former province of s France, comprising the departments of Allier, Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal, and Haute-Loire. The capital is Clermont-Ferrand. Running ns are the Auvergne Mountains, a scenic chain of extinct volcanoes, whose highest peak is Puy de Sancy, 1886m (6188ft). Area: 26,013sq km (10,047sq mi). Pop. (1999) 1,308,878.