Riom-ès-Montagnes (;

Occitan Occitan may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the Occitania territory in parts of France, Italy, Monaco and Spain. * Something of, from, or related to the Occitania administrative region of France. * Occitan language, spoken in parts o ...

: ''Riòm de las Montanhas'') 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 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 (fren ...

department in 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 area ...

Geography

Location

Main town of the "Pays Gentiane", the city is located northwest of the department of Cantal, in the heart of the regional natural park of Auvergne Volcanoes. Located between the

Monts Dore The Monts Dore () are the remnant peaks of a volcanic massif situated near the center of the Massif Central, in the Auvergne region of France. They form a picturesque mountainous region, dotted with lakes, thermal springs and romanesque churches ...

and the

Mounts of Cantal The Mounts of Cantal (or Volcanoes of Cantal; french: Monts du Cantal ) are a mountainous massif in the mid-west of the Massif Central, France, made up of the remnants of the largest stratovolcano of Europe, which was formed from 13 million years ...

at an altitude of 840 meters, Riom-ès-Montagnes accounts 2 591 inhabitants.

Hydrography

The Véronne river crosses Riom-ès-Montagnes. It flows into Petite Rhue, which marks the boundary between Riom-ès-Montagnes and the neighboring towns of Marchastel and Saint-Amandin. The dam of Journiac is partly on the town, on the Petite Rhue at the limit with Saint-Amandin. Other rivers crisscross the town as the brook of Grolle, the brook of Cheylat, the Soulou...

Climate

The climate is a mountain climate where there is a frequent presence of frost and snow in winter and in the summer days can be hot and sunny followed by cooler nights. Spring and autumn are characterized by an abundance of rainy days and the frequent presence of fog.

Transports

Once very used, rail transport is still active thanks to the Gentian express, touristic train that circulates in Haute-Auvergne, stops in Riom-ès-Montagnes station and partially takes the old line of Bort-les-Orgues to Neussargues . This line was inaugurated on July 5, 1908. Louis Bonnet, creator of the "Auvergnat de Paris" was a forerunner in what is nowadays called "organized trips". In 1904, he created the trains that bear his name. Until 1939, they drove, at a reduced price, every spring and summer, compatriots in the country. A special atmosphere prevails in these wagons, as it should be between Auvergnats: Cabrette and snack,

Bourrée The bourrée ( oc, borrèia; also in England, borry or bore) is a dance of French origin and the words and music that accompany it. The bourrée resembles the gavotte in that it is in double time and often has a dactylic rhythm. However, it i ...

on the platform at each stop. These trips will pass to Riom-ès-Montagnes in 1923. Two axes intersect in the city, the axis Mauriac / Condat and the axis Bort-les-Orgues / Murat / Saint-Flour. The national road 678 which went from

Laguenne Laguenne (Limousin: ''Las Guenas'') is a village and a former commune in the Corrèze department in central France. Since 1 January 2019, it is part of the new commune of Laguenne-sur-Avalouze.La Sauvetat, through Mauriac, Riom-ès-Montagnes and Condat is downgraded to "departmental road 678" on the department of Cantal.

Toponymy

The name originates from Gallic “rigomagos” meaning the king's market. From the Gallic word Rix or rig, the local "king", the one who probably perceived the market rights, accompanied by the Gallic word magos. The Gallic word “magos” first designated a field, then a fairground, a market and finally the village or city that develops around this market.

History

Its creation dates back to the ancient Gallo-Roman era as evidenced by the very name of the city, the

Gaulish Gaulish was an ancient Celtic language spoken in parts of Continental Europe before and during the period of the Roman Empire. In the narrow sense, Gaulish was the language of the Celts of Gaul (now France, Luxembourg, Belgium, most of Switze ...

"rigomagos" meaning the king's market. * • February 1790: the Arbres and Châteauneuf are erected in common but are attached to Riom in 1836 * • 1836: the municipality of Riom changes its name to Riom-ès-Montagnes. * • June 7, 1908: electrification of the town by Mr. Gratacap, engineer at Maurs * • May 26, 1912: First tourist guide of the city * • February 1920: creation of an initiative syndicate * • 1924: revival of fairs thanks to the railway. The most famous is that of St. Michael. * • 1925: industrial production of Auvergne Gentiane by Émile Refouvelet, ancestor of the Avèze. * • 1938: the extension of the city causes problems of water supply and makes it necessary to give names to the streets. * • May 30, 1970: creation of the Haut Cantal clinic. Currently rest home and postoperative care. * • 1998: Creation of the Geneviève Champsaur center (reception of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis) * • 2006: creation of a home and care facility for Alzheimer's * • 2009: creation of a functional rehabilitation center for the rehabilitation of respiratory patients.

Population and Society

Demography

Cultural events and celebrations

In 2015, the municipality had 2,591 inhabitants, down 3.97% compared to 2010 (

: -1.31%,

excluding

Mayotte Mayotte (; french: Mayotte, ; Shimaore: ''Maore'', ; Kibushi: ''Maori'', ), officially the Department of Mayotte (french: Département de Mayotte), is an overseas department and region and single territorial collectivity of France. It is loca ...

: + 2.44%). Cultural Manifesations: • Rally Gentiane, May • Green Axis Festival, May • Patronal Feast, 3rd weekend of June • Festival Between Heaven and Earth, July • Feast of gentian, July • Book Fair, August • Fête de la Rosière, weekend of August 15 • Festival of Bleu d'Auvergne, penultimate weekend of August • Mycological days in Haute-Auvergne, October • Christmas market, December The Community of Communes of the Gentian Country, the Cultural Office of the Gentian Country, the Tourist Office of the Pays Gentiane, the municipal library and the community in general also organize several cultural events from September to June (concerts, theater, dance, exhibitions, sports competitions ...).

Economy

The service sector employed 1335 people in 2012. Healthcare is the biggest employment sector (around 450 people). The town accounts above 100 merchants and artisans and the central administration employs around 100 people as well (Post office, Public Finance...)

Agriculture

Riom has about fifty farmers. Cattle breeding of the local

Salers Salers (, ) is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France. It is famous for the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) cheeses Cantal and Salers. It is also famous for the Salers breed of cattle that originated in this com ...

breed plays an important role.

Agri-food Sector

The production of

and

Bleu d'Auvergne Bleu d'Auvergne () is a French blue cheese, named for its place of origin in the Auvergne (province), Auvergne region of south-central France. It is made from cow's milk, and is one of the cheeses granted the Appellation d'origine contrôlée fr ...

is the main activity of the agri-food sector. The Riom Cheese Company is the leading company in this field which employs 180 people. More than half of

's production comes from Riom. The first dairy was opened in 1900 by Charles Seroude and from 1949 to 1958,

The Laughing Cow The Laughing Cow (french: La vache qui rit) is a brand of processed cheese products made by Fromageries Bel since 1921, and in particular refers to the brand's most popular product, the spreadable wedge. Description The cheese is a blend of cr ...

will be manufactured there. The plant has about 1,000 farmers in the CFCU. A brand of

Gentiana ''Gentiana'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the gentian family (Gentianaceae), the tribe Gentianeae, and the monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. With about 400 species it is considered a large genus. They are notable for their most ...

Liquor, Avèze is produced locally and employs a few people. Chemviron, has one of the three diatomite processing sites in France in Riom. This one is extracted from a quarry located on the territory of the commune of Virargues. The company of diatomites was created in 1923. In 1949, new development of this plant with its purchase by the ECSC. The company employs around fifty people in Riom.