Zll 



PUY-DE-D6ME. 



PUY-DE-D6ME. 



213 



which favours the opinion that this elevated mass once had near it a 

 still more elevated crater, whence the materials that form it were 

 thrown out. Indeed but few of the peaks of the Monts-Dores have 

 craters, yet they are all of unquestionably volcanic origin. This 

 mountain mass is visible from Montauban, in the department of Tarn, 

 a distance of 127 miles; and the view from the accessible summits is 

 said to be of a most extensive range, reaching even to the Alps. On 

 the north-western flank of the Monts-Dores rise the two streams that 

 give origin to the Dordogne, which river drains the south-western 

 angle of the department : the slopes of the Monts-Dores are rich in 

 pasture and medicinal plants. The Monta-Dfimes group lies more to 

 the northward, a few miles west of the city of Clermont-Ferrand. _ It 

 is famous for its picturesque beauty, and presents above 40 conical 

 peaks with extinct craters, locally called ' Puys,' lava-streams that 

 geem but just arrested in their course, basaltic columns in every 

 variety of position, and frightful ravines, the sides of which give 

 evidence of the agency that reared these stupendous masses. Far 

 above all the other peaks rises the majestic cone of the Puy-de-D6me, 

 which gives name to the department, and forms an object of grand 

 and striking beauty, being covered with brilliant verdure in all its 

 vast dimension*, from base to summit, except in a few places where 

 some rude protuberances and hideous chasms display the volcanic 

 origin of the mountain. Although its summit is 4805 feet above the 

 sea-level it is easily accessible, and presents in clear weather a view 

 perhaps unequalled for extent and variety. Standing on its lofty 

 summit the spectator beholds countless numbers of cattle and sheep 

 feeding all round the grassy slope* of the Puy ; a little further a vast 

 number of conical peaks yawning with craters, some of which contain 

 water ; further south and west, the Auvergne ranges, extending into 

 the departments of Correze and Cantal, and inclosing between them 

 the valley of the upper Dordogne ; away to eastward and northward 

 the whole basin of the Limagna with its towns, villages, and hills, its 

 fields of every hue, its vineyards, isolated homesteads, rivers, and 

 highways, all spread out before him as in a map or picture. The 

 Puy-de-D6me is connected with the history of the barometer, Pascal's 

 test of the Torricellian theory having been satisfied by carrying the 

 instrument to the top of this mountain. The basement and lower 

 slopes of all these mountains abound in excellent pasture, and in 

 medicinal and aromatic plants. Hot and cold mineral springs exist 

 at several points, the most famous being the hot springs of ^lont- 

 Dore-les-Baina, near the source of the Dordogne. The mountains 

 above described present the finest ancient volcanic mountain scenery 

 in Europe. 



The climate of the department is not uniform. In the Limagne 

 the summer is very hot. and the winter of short duration; the 

 thermometer reaches 86 Fahr. in the shade in summer, and some- 

 times as low as 6 in winter. On the mountain slopes, above the 

 region of vines, where only oats and hardy grains are grown, the 

 winter and spring an cold ; the high mountains, which are adapted 

 solely for summer pasture, have a long winter, the intense cold lasting 

 from December to the end of February. The western range of 

 mountains is subject to terrible hurricanes. The prevailing winds arc 

 the south-west and the north-west. 



The principal riven are the ALLIER and its feeders, the Dore and 

 the Simile, which drain the eastern and north-western districts 

 respectively ; the DORDOOXE; and the A nee, a small feeder of the Loire 

 which flows south, draining a small strip on the extreme south-east 

 of the department. Highway accommodation is afforded by seven 

 national and departmental roads. In the west of the department there 

 are several small lakes, and also many beautiful waterfalls. 



The corn products of the department exceed the consumption ; 

 chestnuts, hemp, apples, pears, apricots, and other fruits, are grown 

 in great abundance. About 12,882,000 gallons of wine are made 

 annually, of which a third part goes to the home consumption. The 

 principal forests are in the arrondissements of Thiers and Ambert ; 

 they contain pine, oak, and beech, and afford a considerable quantity 

 of timber and firewood, which are floated to the Allier, and thence 

 conveyed northward along the latter river. Horses are small. Cows 

 are very numerous, a good deal of cheese and butter is made ; and 

 many cattle are fatted. There are immense numbers of sheep, but of 

 inferior breed. Among the wild animals are boars, roebucks, wolves, 

 foxes, hares, eagles, vultures, Ac. 



A lead-mine near Pont-Oibaud and one of antimony near Rochefort 

 are worked. The country is rich in minerals. Iron, zinc, copper, 

 alum, and manganese, are found. Coal-mines are worked in the north- 

 west of the department near Montaigut; and also at several points 

 on the left bank of the Allier, by which river the coals are forwarded 

 to Paris and Orleans. Almost all the towns of the department are 

 built of volcanic substances; and for building purposes there are 

 numerous quarries of lava, trachytic rock, basalt, pumice, besides 

 granite, limestone, and bitumen. The lava quarries of Volvic, near 

 Kiom, are especially to be noted. 



The manufactures of the department, which are unimportant, are 

 noticed under the several towns. The commerce is composed of the 

 various agricultural products before named, confectionary, hides, 

 paper, hempseed, nut-oil, deal planks, cattle, wool, coal, &c. Above 460 

 fairs and markets are held chiefly for the sale of stock and farm produce. 



The department contains 1,060,624 ncres. Of this area 905,276 



osoo. orr. YOU iv. 



acres are under plough culture ; 222,726 acres are meadow and grass 

 land ; 72,038 acres are under vines ; 208,486 acres are covered with 

 woods and forests; 474,756 acres consist of heath and mountain 

 pasture; 14,646 acres are laid out in orchards, nurseries, and gardens; 

 15,756 acres are occupied with rivers, waters, irrigating rills, &c. ; and 

 54,246 acres with roads, streets, and buildings. 



The department is divided into 5 arrondissements, which, with 

 their subdivisions and population, are as follows : 



1. The first arrondissement takes its name from its chief town 

 CLERMONT-FERKAND already described, which is also the capital of 

 the whole department. Billom, formerly the capital of the Limagne, 

 is situated on a high hill, 13 miles E.S.E. from Clermont, and has a 

 tribunal of commerce, a college, a clerical seminary, and 3993 inhabit- 

 ants, who manufacture linen, pottery, bricks, tiles, and lime ; and 

 trade largely in hemp, wool, corn, cattle, timber, &c. Pont-du-Chdteau, 



9 miles E. from Clermont, and on the left bank of the Allier, which is 

 here crossed by a basaltic bridge of 8 arches, is built on the slope and 

 crown of a hill, and has 3562 inhabitants. It takes its name from the 

 bridge and a castle near the river. A large portion of the articles 

 exported from the department are sent down the Allier from this 

 place, consisting of wine, hemp, ivory-black, coal, apples, wood, corn, 

 hay, mill-stones, asphalte, &c. Vic-iur-Allitr, the birthplace of Le Sage, 

 12 miles S.E. from Clermont, has 3185 inhabitants, and is celebrated 

 for the mineral springs near it. 



2. The second arrondissement takes its name from Ambert, which 

 is situated at the foot of a ridge of hills in the fertile valley of the 

 Dore, a feeder of the Allier, 35 miles S.E. from Clermont, in 45 33' 4" 

 N. lat, 3 44' 35" E. long., 1742 feet above the level of the sea, and 

 has tribunals of first instance and of commerce, a college, and 8044 

 inhabitants in the communr. The houses of the town are in general 

 well built ; but the streets are narrow and crooked. The granite 

 church of St. -Jean, surmounted by its lofty spire, is the most remark- 

 able structure. Woollen cloth, blankets, laces, garters, serge, linen, pins, 

 tape, woollen yarn, and a large quantity of printing and engraving 

 paper are manufactured. St.-Amand-Rocltc-Sai'ine, 6 miles from 

 Ambert, has silver-lead mines, and 2294 inhabitants. St.-Anthfmc, a 

 large village 8 miles E. from Ambert, has a population of 3425. A rlanc, 



10 miles S. from Ambert, prettily situated on the slope of a hill abovo 

 the Dore, has a mineral spring, and a population of 4390, who manu- 

 facture blond lace, linen, and small wares. 



3. In the third arrondisaement the chief town, laoire (the ancient 

 luiodurtim), is situated near the confluence of the Couzo and the 

 Allier, in 45 32' 37" N. 1st, 3 15' 13" E. long., 1309 feet above the 

 sea, 20 miles S.S.E. from Clermont, and has tribunals of first instance 

 and of commerce, a college, and 5735 inhabitants in the commune. It is 

 in general a well-built, clean, and regularly laid out town, all the prin- 

 cipal streets abutting on a great central square in which markets are 

 held. The parish church, which has a curiously-decorated exterior, 

 and has been numbered among the historical monuments of France, 

 is the principal structure. Copper ware and nut-oil are the chief 

 industrial products. The mineral springs of Liens, and the numerous 

 volcanic rocks in the neighbourhood of the town, deserve mention. 

 Ardet, 12 miles S.W. from Issoire, in a country bristling with volcanic 

 rocks, stands on the Qrande-Couze, and has about 2000 inhabitants. 

 Seat, 16 miles W. from Issoire, built on an enormous mass of black 

 basalt, of which substance the houses are constructed, stands on the 

 Couze, and has 2096 inhabitants. In this town is a curious circular 

 structure, which some think to be a temple of the sun, others an 

 ancient baptistery. Two miles N.W. from Hesse is the Lake Pavin, 

 which occupies the crater of an extinct volcano, on a high mountain- 

 peak of the Mont-Dores. St.-Gcrmain-Lembron, 6 miles S. from Issoire, 

 has a population of 2135. Saux-Manget, 5 miles E. from Issoire, is a 

 small place of 2049 inhabitants, who manufacture camlet, scythes, 

 saw-blades, reaping-hooks, and leather. 



4. Of the fourth arrondissement, the chief town, Kiom, is built on 

 a hill above the Ambone, a feeder of the Allier, in 45 63' 39" N. lat., 

 S 6' 64" E. long., 1173 feet above the level of the sea, 9 miles N. 

 from Clermont, and has 10,269 inhabitants in the commune. The 

 town is the scat of a High Court for the departments of Allier, Cantal, 

 Baute-Loire, and Puy-de-Ddme ; it has tribunals of first instance and 

 of commerce, and a college. The streets are wide ; the houses arc 

 constructed with lava, and have an ancient look ; the courts of justice, 

 the hospitals, and the residence of the prefect, are built in a good 

 style. The whole town is surrounded by shady walks, one of which 

 is adorned with a column in honour of Desaix, the hero of Marengo. 

 The chapel built by Jean de Berry, first duke of Auvergne, in 1382, 

 for the service of the ducal palace (now the court-house), still remains 



