Allanche (French pronunciation: [alɑ̃ʃ]; Occitan: Alancha) is a commune in the Cantal department in the Auvergne region of south-central France.

Allanche
View from Chavanon
View from Chavanon
Coat of arms of Allanche
Location of Allanche
Map
Allanche is located in France
Allanche
Allanche
Allanche is located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Allanche
Allanche
Coordinates: 45°13′48″N 2°56′07″E / 45.23°N 2.9353°E / 45.23; 2.9353
CountryFrance
RegionAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes
DepartmentCantal
ArrondissementSaint-Flour
CantonMurat
IntercommunalityHautes Terres Communauté
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Philippe Rosseel[1]
Area
1
49.89 km2 (19.26 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
794
 • Density16/km2 (41/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
15001 /15160
Elevation784–1,295 m (2,572–4,249 ft)
(avg. 968 m or 3,176 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

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Allanche is located some 70 km south of Clermont-Ferrand and 20 km east by southeast of Massiac. 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 hamlets. These are:

  • Chastre
  • Chavanon
  • Coudour
  • Feydit
  • Le Bac Bas
  • Le Bac Haut
  • Les Cites
  • Maillargues
  • Roche Haut
  • Romaniargues

The commune is largely farmland with patches of forest and the edge of a large forest in the east.[3]

The Allanche river flows from the northwest through the village and continues southeast to feed the Alagnon 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.[3]

Heraldry

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Arms of Allanche
Blazon:

Or, two keys saltirewise in sable.



Administration

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List of Successive Mayors[4]

Mayors from the French Revolution to 1941
From To Name
1792 1800 Antoine Gabriel Benoid
1800 1802 Jean Pierre Feydin
1802 1805 Guillaume Peuvergne
1805 1813 Jean Pierre Feydin
1813 1830 Antoine Gabriel Benoid
1830 1838 Jean Benoit Bertrand
1838 1855 Jean Pierre Catinaud
1855 1874 Louis Bonnet
1874 1880 Gabriel Charles Bonnet
1880 1890 Jules Magot
1890 1896 Auguste Dellac
1896 1903 Henri Bonnet
1903 1904 Jean Romain Faucillon
1904 1919 Justin Veisset
1919 1929 Léon Parlier
1929 1932 Albert Chastel
1932 1935 Roger Albeine
1935 1941 Jules Eugène Farradeche
Mayors from 1941
From To Name Party
1941 1944 Léon Parlier
1944 1948 Jules Eugène Farradeche
1948 1971 Maurice Peschaud
1971 1995 Pierre Jarry
1995 2001 Christian Léoty RPR
2001 2008 André Papon
2008 2016 Christian Léoty LR
2016 2026 Philippe Rosseel

Population

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The inhabitants of the commune are known as Allanchois or Allanchoises in French.[5]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 1,513—    
1975 1,398−1.12%
1982 1,286−1.19%
1990 1,220−0.66%
1999 1,101−1.13%
2007 925−2.15%
2012 820−2.38%
2017 790−0.74%
Source: INSEE[6]

Culture and heritage

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Civil heritage

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  • The former Château de Mercoeur (15th century)  is registered as an historical monument.[7]
  • 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

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The commune has two religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:

  • The Church of Saint-Julien-de-Chanet (12th century). [8] The church contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
    • The main Altar and Retable (17th century) [9]
    • A Statue: Virgin and child (15th century) [10]
    • A Group Sculpture: Virgin of Pity (16th century) [11]
    • A Painting: the Adoration of the Magi (16th century) [12]
    • Bas-reliefs (16th century) [13]
  • The Church of Saint John the Baptist (12th century). [14] The church contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
Other religious sites of interest
  • The Presbytery contains a Reliquary (15th century)  that is registered as an historical object.[21]
  • The Church of Chanet contains a Processional Cross (15th century)  which is registered as an historical object.[22]
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Notable people linked to the commune

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See also

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Bibliography

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  • Our Auvergne ancestors, the Auvergne migration to Brittany, Serge Duigou, Éditions Ressac, Quimper, 2004. [On the Cézallier migratory movement to Brittany in the 18th and 19th centuries which included Allanche together with Albaret, Chabrier, Laymet, Mainhes, etc..] (in French)

References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Google Maps
  4. ^ List of Mayors of France
  5. ^ Le nom des habitants du 15 - Cantal, habitants.fr
  6. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  7. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA00093428 Château de Mercoeur (in French)
  8. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA00093430 Church of Saint-Julien-de-Chanet (in French) 
  9. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM15000037 Main Altar and Retable (in French) 
  10. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM15000036 Statue: Virgin and child (in French) 
  11. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM15000035 Group Sculpture: Virgin of Pity (in French) 
  12. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM15000034 Painting: the Adoration of the Magi (in French) 
  13. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM15000033 Bas-reliefs (in French) 
  14. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA00093429 Church of Saint John the Baptist (in French) 
  15. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM15000730 Sculpture: Ecce homo (in French) 
  16. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM15000580 Eagle Lectern (in French) 
  17. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM15000040 Bronze Bell (in French) 
  18. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM15000032 Set of Pews (in French) 
  19. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM15001405 Reliquary-Monstrance (in French)
  20. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM15000001 Processional Cross (in French) 
  21. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM15000039 Reliquary (in French) 
  22. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM15000038 Processional Cross (in French) 
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