Aurillac, France

Welcome to Aurillac, a picturesque city located in the heart of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. With its stunning natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture, Aurillac is a must-visit destination for any traveler. Situated at 600m above sea level, the city is nestled at the foot of the Cantal mountains in a small sedimentary basin, and is built on the banks of the Jordanne, a tributary of the Cère. Aurillac is only 20 km away from the heart of the Auvergne Volcano Park, making it an ideal base for exploring the region’s natural wonders. Access to the commune is by numerous roads including the D922 from Naucelles in the north, the D17 from Saint-Simon in the north-east, Route nationale N122 from Polminhac in the east which continues to Sansac-de-Marmiesse in the south-west, the D920 to Arpajon-sur-Cère in the south-east, and the D18 to Ytrac in the west. Aurillac station, in the centre of town, lies on the Figeac-Arvant railway. It has rail connections to Clermont-Ferrand, Brive-la-Gaillarde and Toulouse. Aurillac – Tronquières Airport is located in the south of the commune with its runway extending beyond the commune boundary. It is connected to Paris by two daily flights by the Air France subsidiary HOP!. Aurillac has a rich history dating back to the Gallo-Roman era. The origin of the name Aurillac is from Aureliacum meaning Villa of Aurelius. The city was made in a Sauveté area which was located between four crosses and was founded in 898 by Count Gerald of Aurillac shortly after the abbey. The first urban area was circular and built close to the Abbey of Aurillac. The city was the capital of the Haute-Auvergne and carried the title before becoming the capital of Cantal. Today, Aurillac is a thriving city with a vibrant culture and a strong economy. The city is the seat of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cantal which manages commercial villages (including that of Tronquières in Aurillac). Aurillac has hundreds of boutiques, shops, and artisans. The city is best known for its Cheese centre based on the heights of Aurillac close to the Chateau Saint-Étienne. It was established in 1993, the structure consists of an association bringing together many organisations to develop scientific programs. It develops scientific programs relating to the cheese sector. Aurillac is also the historic French capital of umbrellas with half of French production – 250,000 units in 1999 – and provides 100 jobs. After declining for several decades at the end of the 20th century, Aurillac umbrella producers decided to join their forces and created the Economic Interest Group, or GIE in 1997. They then launched their products under a single label, Laurillac Parapluie (The Aurillac Umbrella). Aurillac is also home to several cultural facilities, including dance centres, theatres, and museums. The city hosts several festivals and events throughout the year, including the International festival of street theatre of Aurillac, which has been held every year since 1986 at the end of August for a period of four days. With its stunning natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture, Aurillac is a destination that should not be missed.