Ally (; oc, Ali) 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 ''Allyçois'' or ''Allyçoises''

Geography

''Ally'' is located some 60 km south-west 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 some 65 km south-east of

Limoges Limoges (, , ; oc, Lemòtges, locally ) is a city and Communes of France, commune, and the prefecture of the Haute-Vienne Departments of France, department in west-central France. It was the administrative capital of the former Limousin region ...

in a straight line. It is at least 30 km from the nearest national highway and access is by district roads the most direct being the D680 which runs north-east from

Pleaux Pleaux (; Auvergnat: ''Pleus'') is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France. Geography The Maronne river forms the commune's southern border, with the Enchanet reservoir. Population Sights * Château de Branzac, 15th cen ...

and enters the western border of the commune. It goes directly to the town then turns to exit the commune south-east to join with the road D922. The D681 also comes south from Mauriac to the village and the D29 comes from Drugeac in the west by a circuitous route to the village. The commune is mostly farmland although with some mountain slopes and forests in the north.Google Maps
/ref> The river Auze flows north forming the eastern and then the northern border of the commune before flowing into the

Dordogne Dordogne ( , or ; ; oc, Dordonha ) is a large rural department in Southwestern France, with its prefecture in Périgueux. Located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region roughly half-way between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees, it is named af ...

south-west of Chalvignac. A number of streams feed this river from the commune including the Ruisseau de Peschaytou, Ruisseau de Terrieu, and Le Sione which forms part of the south-eastern border. There are quite a number of hamlets and villages in the commune. These are: *Champell *Chavergne *Crucholles *Drignac *Fraissy *Ginalhac *Labro *Langlade *Le Breuil *Les Martres *Le Peuch *Le Pouget *Le Puy Soutro *Maissac *Monteil *Nebouillieres *Pommier *Tarneu *Veze

Neighbouring communes and villages

Administration

List of Successive Mayors of Ally

Population

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments: *The Chateau de la Vigne (15th century). The Chateau contains two items that are registered as historical objects: **A Mural: Diane bathing (17th century) **A Mural: Atalante and Méléagre (17th century) *The Chateau de la Vigne Park *The Maison Blanche Windmill (1882) *The Pargeat Windmill (1817)

Religious heritage

The commune has several religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments: *The Church of Saint-Ferréol (12th century) was attended by

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolu ...

. The church contains a Container for relics: the Martyr Saint Vincent *The Church of Saint-Thibaud (11th century)Ministry of Culture, Mérimée

Notable People linked to the commune

References

External links

Ally on the old National Geographic Institute website

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