Allanche (; oc, Alancha) is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

in the

Cantal Cantal (; oc, Cantal or ) is a Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region of France, with its Prefectures in France, prefecture in Aurillac. Its other principal towns are Saint-Flour, Cantal, Saint ...

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

in the

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 Auverg ...

region of south-central

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. 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 (dialect), Auvergnat, Clarmont-Ferrand or Clharmou ; la, Augustonemetum) is a city and Communes of France, commune of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions of France, region, with a population ...

and 20 km east by southeast of

Massiac Massiac (; oc, Maciac) is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas ...

. 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 in the north through the village then south to Chalinargues. 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 depicts ...

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 fo ...

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 The Alagnon (''Alanhon'' in Occitan), also spelled ''Allagnon'', is an river in south-central France. It is a left tributary of the river Allier. Its source is near the village of Laveissière, near the Plomb du Cantal in the Massif Central. T ...

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 or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, churches, and other places of worship. They are used particularly in paga ...

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 Sa ...

(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 ...

(1758-1836), economist, was born in Allanche.

References

External links

Allanche on the old National Geographic Institute website

Allanche on Géoportail
National Geographic Institute (IGN) website
''Allanche'' on the 1750 Cassini Map
{{authority control Communes of Cantal