Cantal
Cantal (; oc, Cantal or ) is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, with its prefecture in Aurillac. Its other principal towns are Saint-Flour (the episcopal see) and Mauriac; its residents are known as Cantalians ( ...
Auvergne
Auvergne (; ; oc, label= Occitan, Auvèrnhe or ) is a former administrative region in central France, comprising the four departments of Allier, Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal and Haute-Loire. Since 1 January 2016, it has been part of the new region Auve ...
region of south-central
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...
.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Allanchois'' or ''Allanchoises''
Geography
Allanche is located some 70 km south of
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand (, ; ; oc, label= Auvergnat, Clarmont-Ferrand or Clharmou ; la, Augustonemetum) is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, with a population of 146,734 (2018). Its metropolitan area (''aire d'attra ...
and 20 km east by southeast of Massiac. It can be accessed by the D679 from Marcenat in the northwest to the village then south to Sainte-Anastasie. The D39 comes from
Pradiers
Pradiers (; oc, Pradèirs) is a commune in the Cantal department
Department may refer to:
* Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility
Government and military
*Department (administrative ...
in the north through the village then south to
Chalinargues
Chalinargues (; Auvergnat: ''Chinargues'') is a former commune in the Cantal department in south-central France. On 1 December 2016, it was merged into the new commune Neussargues en Pinatelle
Neussargues en Pinatelle (; Auvergnat dialect, A ...
. The D9 road branches off the D3 to the west of the commune and passes through the village continuing to the northeast. Apart from the village there are a number of
hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depi ...
s. These are:
*Chastre
*Chavanon
*Coudour
*Feydit
*Le Bac Bas
*Le Bac Haut
*Les Cites
*Maillargues
*Roche Haut
*Romaniargues
The commune is largely
farm
A farm (also called an agricultural holding) is an area of land that is devoted primarily to agricultural processes with the primary objective of producing food and other crops; it is the basic facility in food production. The name is used ...
land with patches of
forest
A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
and the edge of a large forest in the east.Google Maps /ref>
The ''Allanche'' river flows from the northwest through the village and continues southeast to feed the Alagnon river. Many tributaries feed the Allanche in the commune including the ''Ruisseau de Laneyrat'', the ''Ruisseau de Coudoun'', the ''Ruisseau de Chavanon'', the ''Ruisseau de Vernois'', and other unnamed streams.
Heraldry
Administration
List of Successive Mayors
;Mayors from 1941
Population
Culture and heritage
Civil heritage
*The former Château de Mercoeur (15th century) is registered as an historical monument.
*At Allanche station from May to September there is the Vélorail Cézallier for tourists.
*In the south-west of the commune are the Pinatelle Allanche mountains.
Religious heritage
The commune has two religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
*The Church of Saint-Julien-de-Chanet (12th century). The church contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
**The main
Altar
An altar is a Table (furniture), table or platform for the presentation of religion, religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, Church (building), churches, and other places of wo ...
and
Retable
A retable is a structure or element placed either on or immediately behind and above the altar or communion table of a church. At the minimum it may be a simple shelf for candles behind an altar, but it can also be a large and elaborate structur ...
(17th century)
**A Statue: Virgin and child (15th century)
**A Group Sculpture: Virgin of Pity (16th century)
**A Painting: the Adoration of the Magi (16th century)
**Bas-reliefs (16th century)
*The Church of Saint John the Baptist (12th century). The church contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
**A Sculpture: Ecce homo (15th century)
**An Eagle Lectern (17th century)
**A Bronze Bell (1671)
**A set of Pews (16th century)
**A Reliquary-
Monstrance
A monstrance, also known as an ostensorium (or an ostensory), is a vessel used in Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, High Church Lutheran and Anglican churches for the display on an altar of some object of piety, such as the consecrated Eucharistic ...
(15th century)
**A Processional Cross (15th century)
;Other religious sites of interest
*The Presbytery contains a Reliquary (15th century) that is registered as an historical object.
*The Church of Chanet contains a Processional Cross (15th century) which is registered as an historical object.Ministry of Culture, Palissy
Church of Saint John the Baptist Picture Gallery
File:Allanche-Eglise-St-Jean-Baptiste-dpt-Cantal-DSC 0594.jpg, The church
File:Allanche-Eglise-St-Jean-Baptiste-dpt-Cantal-DSC 0583.jpg, Entrance and Tower
File:Allanche-Eglise-St-Jean-Baptiste-dpt-Cantal-DSC 0587.jpg, The entrance
File:Pieta Eglise d'Allanche.JPG, The pieta in the church
Notable people linked to the commune
*
Charles Ganilh
Charles Ganilh (6 January 1758 – 1836) was a French economist and politician.
He was born at Allanche in Cantal. He was educated for a profession in law and practised as ''avocat''. During the troubled period which culminated in the taking of t ...