Châteldon (; ) is a commune in the

Puy-de-Dôme Puy-de-Dôme (; or ''lo Puèi Domat'') is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in the centre of France. In 2021, it had a population of 662,285.department in

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (; AURA) or ; or ; . is a Regions of France, region in southeast-central France created by the 2014 territorial reform of French regions; it resulted from the merger of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes. The new region came into e ...

in central

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

.INSEE commune file
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About the town

Châteldon is a medieval village in the northern part of Auvergne. It dates from the early Middle Ages, with many of its buildings dating back to the 14th century. The town's fortifications are still in evidence. The village lies on the western edge of the

Montagne Bourbonnaise Montagne or Montagné may refer to: People * Camille Montagne (1784–1866), French military physician and botanist. The standard author abbreviation Mont. (of Montagne) is used to indicate this individual as the author when citing a botanical na ...

and the northern edge of the

Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park (, ) is a regional natural park located on three French department : Puy-de-Dôme, Haute-Loire and Loire (department), Loire. The two biggest urban areas are Thiers, Puy-de-Dôme, Thiers (19,000 inhabitants) ...

, the largest nature park in Europe. To the west lies the

Limagne The Limagne (; ) is a large plain in the Auvergne, Auvergne region of France in the valley of the Allier (river), Allier river, on the edge of the Massif Central. It mainly lies within the ''departments of France, départements'' of Puy-de-Dôme, ...

, where the

Allier Allier ( , , ; ) is a Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region that borders Cher (department), Cher to the west, Nièvre to the north, Saône-et-Loire and Loire (department), Loire to the east, Pu ...

and

Dore Dore or Doré may refer to: Geography Places *Dore, South Yorkshire, England ** Dore and Totley, electoral ward that includes this village * Abbey Dore, village in Herefordshire, England *Dore, in the district of Gweedore, Ireland * Dore Lake, ...

rivers converge. Nineteen kilometres to the north is the City of

Vichy Vichy (, ; ) is a city in the central French department of Allier. Located on the Allier river, it is a major spa and resort town and during World War II was the capital of Vichy France. As of 2021, Vichy has a population of 25,789. Known f ...

. Château de Châteldon was purchased by

Pierre Laval Pierre Jean Marie Laval (; 28 June 1883 – 15 October 1945) was a French politician. He served as Prime Minister of France three times: 1931–1932 and 1935–1936 during the Third Republic (France), Third Republic, and 1942–1944 during Vich ...

, who went on to serve as the French Prime Minister from 1942 to 1944, in September 1931. Laval purchased it from Léon Sénèque. As of 2014, the castle belonged to the Josée and René de Chambrun Foundation.

Nearby towns

Lachaux Lachaux () is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France. See also *Communes of the Puy-de-Dôme department The following is a list of the 463 communes of the Puy-de-Dôme department of France France, offic ...

Puy-Guillaume Puy-Guillaume (; ) is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France. Population See also *Communes of the Puy-de-Dôme department The following is a list of the 463 communes of the Puy-de-Dôme department of Franc ...

and

Ris RIS may refer to: * Radio Information Service, a reading service for the blind in Pennsylvania, US * Radiological information system, for the electronic management of information related to medical imaging * Radiologically isolated syndrome, sugg ...

Administration

Demographics

Mineral water

Châteldon is known for its naturally carbonated

mineral water Mineral water is water from a mineral spring that contains various minerals, such as salts and sulfur compounds. It is usually still, but may be sparkling ( carbonated/ effervescent). Traditionally, mineral waters were used or consumed at t ...

. It was the first mineral water exploited in France and transported by bottles to the Court of

Louis XIV LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...

Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of Île-de-France, Île-de-France region in Franc ...

. This water is used for its diuretic and digestive properties. It is also rich in potassium, sodium and fluorine. In France, one finds the water of Châteldon in the large hotels and restaurants, and in delicatessens. In 1650, the first doctor of the king,

Guy-Crescent Fagon Guy-Crescent Fagon (11 May 1638 – 11 March 1718) was a French physician and botanist. He came from nobility and his uncle, Guy de La Brosse, had founded the Royal Gardens. Fagon was director of the gardens too. His substitute professors were Gi ...

, praised the virtues of Châteldon to Louis XIV.

Notable people

Châteldon was the birthplace of

(1883–1945), French politician and his wife Marguerite Laval (1888–1959), born Claussat, the daughter of the mayor of Chateldon

Joseph Claussat Pierre Clovis François Joseph Claussat (October 12, 1874 – November 9, 1925) was a French politician. He served as the mayor of Châteldon from 1908 until his death in 1925. He also served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1911 to 1 ...

References

External links

Official site of Châteldon
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chateldon Communes of Puy-de-Dôme