Cantal

The Cantal [ kɑtal ] is a French department of order number 15 It is in the center of the country in the Auvergne region and is named after the second highest mountain in the Massif Central, the Plomb du Cantal (1858 m ), named.

Geography

The department is bordered to the north by the Puy-de -Dôme, in the east by the department of Haute- Loire, on the southeast by the Lozere department of the Languedoc -Roussillon region, on the south by the department of Aveyron of the Midi -Pyrénées region in the southwest on the department of Lot, also Midi -Pyrenees, and in the west and northwest by the Correze region of Limousin.

The department is located in the interior of the Massif Central. In the Monts du Cantal, located in the center of the department, is the eponymous Plomb du Cantal. The Regional Natural Park of Auvergne Volcanoes covers the central part of the department and is in the north, in the Puy-de -Dôme. Are the granite plateau Artense and the hill country on the department Cézallier border. The Dordogne River is mostly on the northwest border of the Correze, Lot on a part of the southern boundary of the Aveyron. The Truyère, a right tributary of the Lot which runs through the south-east of the department in a series of canyons and reservoirs.

Coat of arms

Description: In gold a red church banner with green hem on a blue breastplate with golden beam is inclined right, accompanied by three silver shells on both sides.

History

The department was formed from part of the former province of Auvergne during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was subdivided into four districts (French: district ), the precursors of the arrondissements. The districts were Aurillac, Mauriac, Murat and Saint -Flour. The department and the districts subdivided into 20 cantons and had (1791 ) 239 972 inhabitants. Capital was first Saint -Flour, alternating with Aurillac. 1794 Saint -Flour was determined as the only capital, but in 1795 finally set to Aurillac.

The corresponding Destrikten the arrondissements Aurillac, Mauriac, Murat and Saint -Flour were established on 17 February in 1800. On September 10, 1926, the arrondissement Murat was dissolved and incorporated into the district of Saint-Flour.

Cities

The most populous communities of the Cantal area are:

Administrative divisions

The Cantal is divided into three arrondissements, 27 cantons and 260 communes: