A few words on Cantal Department

Geography

The department of Cantal draws its name from the Cantal Massif, which etymologically would originate from the Pre-Celtic root "cant", a word designating a summit. In fact, the Cantal Massif is in the center, and with the territory all around, it can be regarded as a coherent geographic unit. This massif corresponds to a volcanic complex which had active periods alternating with inactive periods. Accumulation of lava and ejecta produced by an explosive volcano constitutes a type of volcano called stratovolcano, which fits the cone-shaped image people have in mind. In the current state of the scientific knowledge, it is assessed the Cantal stratovolcan activity began 13 million years ago, the erection of the cone in the most intense phase would have occurred between 8.5 and 7 million years. When this phase reached its climax, the volcano got a gigantic size: diameter at the base more than 60 km and a height which could have peaked over 4000 m. At the end, several explosive eruptions during a short period of time entailed a partial destruction of the cone (Pelean type volcano). From the former crater, it remains a circular mountain area with several summits connected between them by a ridge line which dominates peripheral glacial cirques. After the explosive episode, effusions dating from 7 - 2 million years ago would be at the origin of the amount of basalt deposited upon triangular plateaus (called "planèzes") arranged around the former crater, each of them being delimited by two divergent valleys. Quaternary glaciations gave the valleys their current shape. In the northeast of the department, the Cézallier Massif extends the Cantal Massif. Such a feature can be interpreted as a northward migration of the eruptive zone (between 5.4 and 3 million years ago). This is not the case for the Aubrac plateau, situated in the South, and which has a more ancient origin (circa 7.5 million years ago). Though most of the mountains of Cantal Department are constituted by volcanic rocks, some plutonic massifs are also present: Margeride in the East (but with the main part in Lozère and in Haute-Loire), an area around Chaudes-Aigues between Truyère and Aubrac. In the country of Châtaigneraie (which means "chestnut grove"), in the South of the department, the igneous basement was metamorphosed and twisted (schists are abundant). The Cantal Massif presents a wet mountain climate with an extension of the influence zone all around. At night, valleys can be cold, because cold air streams down-slope. As the eastern half of the department is west-wind sheltered, it is dryer than the western half. Sunshine duration is rather high, and fog is not frequent. Beech is very common in mountain zone, whereas spruce grows on north-facing slopes, particularly in the heart of the Cantal Massif. On the other hand, in the East, Scotch Pine is frequent, as it likes a drier climate. Acid soils over granitic sand in Margeride favor conifer species. Low-lands in the West have a subatlantic vegetation with English Oak as the dominating tree, in a landscape divided in a patchwork of groves and small agricultural plots. Pasture and hay meadow are the main farming land use. Rye culture has been partly replaced by breeding. It was the same process for the potato which used to be cultivated between Aubrac and Margeride. The mountain climate and acid soils such as grey-brown podzolic soils do not allow intensive agriculture: a situation that makes this country to be appreciate by nature lovers.

History

There are few artifacts from Prehistory, e.g. some samples of megaliths, but very much less than in the southern area, i.e., Aveyron, Lot, and Lozère. Auvergne was populated by Celtic tribes mentioned in Greek and Latin texts. These people were known as Arverni, and were dreaded as fierce warriors who struggled against the power of Rome. When Caesar arrived in Gaul, the Arverne society was divided: on one side, the supporters of monarchy which had been the political system for a long time, and on the other side, an oligarchy of aristocrats who had taken the power in the last few decades. For instance, when Vercingetorix's father tried to take the royal title against aristocrats, and probably with the support of people, he was murdered. The popular support for monarchy can be explained by the social role played by the king who distributed wealth and protected poor free-holding peasants. Vercingetorix could federate tribes hostile to Rome. The guerrilla warfare and the scorched earth strategy allowed Gauls to win some victories. On the contrary, the frontal confrontation, which took place in Alesia, gave the final victory to Romans. At the Fall of the Roman Empire, Cantal was briefly invaded by Visigoths. Francs settled down there from the VIth century on. The territory covered by the department of Cantal was included in the crown of France in early time of Capetian dynasty, as it was under Philippe Auguste (1213). During the One Hundred Years War, English were drove back several times. There were also some fights during the conflict between Armagnacs and Burgundians and during the Wars of Religion. The Revolution created the department of Cantal nearly on the same territory as those of the Old Regime province of Haute Auvergne. Young people of Cantal have used to emigrate in big cities in order to find a work and with the hope to get rich. This emigration is an old phenomenon and it can be explained by the rude conditions of live on a land with poor soils and cold climate. This emigration accelerated in the XIXth century, and it was still being intense after the Second World War. In popular imagery, men from Cantal living in Paris were "bougnats", who worked hard and had begun as coal peddler or waiter. The current problem lies in demography, and rather than the inhabitants decrease, it concerns above all the population ageing.

Hiking characteristics

The Cantal Massif is the most well-known area for hiking, and it is there where walkers are the most common. Snowshoeing and skiing can be practiced in winter. The central mountain zone presents very beautiful landscapes and a protected nature, but the peripheral regions deserve to be better known. The low population density of Cantal makes horse trekking easy. The Regional nature reserve of Auvergne Volcanoes spreads over a wide part of Cantal and continues northward on Puy-de-Dôme. Via Arvena, a badly-known branch of Saint James' road, passes through Cantal. Its starting point is Clermont-Ferrand, and it joins the Via Podiensis in Cahors. The most remarkable built heritage concerns Romanesque art. Romanesque churches and chapels show a mere style. As a matter of example, it can be noted that tympana are devoid of ornamentation. Such a church or chapel, isolated in the countryside, endows the place with a mystic atmosphere.