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STAY AT 'au CENT NEUF'
... because the historical
story of the Auvergne is a saga that you should not miss.
The providence of the Auvergne is a rich catalogue of Stone Age
settlements, celtic tribes, Roman invasion, religious wars, epidemics,
battles for power and land, crusades and the scenes of one of the oldest
visions of the Virgin Mary. No
wonder that the Auvergnats are described as tough and thrifty. The
chronicles show that the Auvergne has had a turbulent history. The
fierce battles fought by the famous chieftain Vercingetorix against
Julius Caesar are commemorated by a statue situated in the very heart of
Clermont-Ferrand, a city ranked amongst the oldest of metropolis in
France and the starting point of the very first Crusade to the Holy
Lands.
Le Puy-en-Velay, a major
Bishopric in medieval France, is on one of the most important pilgrimage
routes to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The old castle
in Arlanc was a frequent stopping point for pilgrims on that
journey.
And to more
modern times, Mont Mouchet will never be forgotten as this was the
stronghold of the French resistance during World War II and the scene of
a brutal battle in June 1944 between the Resistance and the Germans.
Politicians such as Giscard
d'Estaing and Georges Pompidou are amongst those who hale from the region.
The influences of the
tribes, conquerors, kings, dukes, popes and modern Auverngats are all on
display throughout the land and are evident for all to see in the
churches, cities and countryside.
Stay
at 'au Cent Neuf' because it is a land steeped in history. |
