Auvergnat
(; ) or (endonym: ) is a northern dialect of Occitan spoken in central and southern France, in particular in the former administrative region of Auvergne.
Currently, research shows that there is not really a true Auvergnat dialect but rath ...
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
Auvergne (; ; or ) is a cultural region in central France.
As of 2016 Auvergne is no longer an administrative division of France. It is generally regarded as conterminous with the land area of the historical Province of Auvergne, which was dis ...
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 ...
.
Heritage
Château Rocher
The Château Rocher (or ''Château fort de Blot-le-Rocher'') is a French castle overlooking the Sioule river valley. It is located in the ''Communes of France, commune'' of Saint-Rémy-de-Blot in the Puy-de-Dôme ''département in France, départ ...
(originally called "Blot-le-Château") is situated on a 150-meter cliff overlooking the Sioule. Its objective was to monitor the Sioule valley and the Menat bridge, a crossroads between
Auvergne
Auvergne (; ; or ) is a cultural region in central France.
As of 2016 Auvergne is no longer an administrative division of France. It is generally regarded as conterminous with the land area of the historical Province of Auvergne, which was dis ...
and
Bourbonnais
The Bourbonnais (; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Borbonés'') was a Provinces of France, historic province in the centre of France that corresponds to the modern ''département in France, département'' of Allier, along with part of the ''dépar ...
. The fortress was built at the end of the 11th century at the initiative of Archambaud the Fort, lord of Bourbon. The edification and expansion of the castle continued until the 15th century, but it had lost its strategic importance from the 16th century onwards. It would have been abandoned in the course of the 18th century. Since 1964, the Château Rocher Association has undertaken consolidation. Today, the castle is in ruins. Access to the site is free for part of the year. In July and August, the Château-Rocher Association offers guided tours.