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The province of Auvergne is located in the south central region of France. Once under the feudal rule of the Counts of Auvergne, the region is today a lot bigger than it had once been. The current administrative region of Auvergne now comprises of more provinces than earlier. As a result, Auvergne has a total land area of 26,013 square kilometers with an estimated population of 1.3 million people.
One of the unique features of this place is the number of volcanoes you can find here. Together, these volcanoes make up the Chaîne des Puys, a chain of different cinder cones, lava domes, and explosion craters. In all, there are more than 60 different volcanoes that make up this chain, which spans to around 40 kilometers. The highest of these volcanoes is the Puy-de-Dôme which is located in the middle part of the volcanic chain.
Although there have not been any eruptions for centuries, the volcanoes in the region of Auvergne have made it a favored venue for much of the hydroelectric projects in the entire country. It is also famous for its mineral water production. It is one of the best regions to sample some of the finest cheeses in France.
Auvergne has also been the home of some of the prominent leaders of the country. It was here where the Gilbert du Motier, (Marquis de La Fayette), and a prominent figure during the French Revolution and the American Revolution, was born. It has also been the home of French composer Joseph Canteloube and international actress Audrey Tautou.
