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 13^th 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 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 n–s 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.