Allier: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia


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{{short description|Department of France in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France}}

{{about|the French department}}

{{Distinguish|Allier, Hautes-Pyrénées}}

{{other uses}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox settlement

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| name = Allier

| native_name = {{native name|oc|Alèir}}

| native_name_lang = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->oc

| type = [[Departments of France|Department of France]]

| image_skyline = Moulins (Allier) Hôtel de préfecture 003.jpg

| image_alt =

| image_caption = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]] building in [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]]

| image_flag = Drapeau fr département Allier.svg

| flag_alt = Unofficial flag

| image_shield = Blason comte fr Clermont (Bourbon).svg

| shield_alt = Unofficial shield

| nickname =

| motto =

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| footnotes = {{note|area|1}} French Land Register data, which excludes [[estuary|estuaries]], and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>

}}

'''Allier''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|æ|l|i|eɪ}} {{respell|AL|ee|ay}},<ref>{{Cite Oxforddictionary Dictionaries|url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Allier |accessarchive-dateurl=21https://web.archive.org/web/20191229005004/https://www.lexico.com/definition/allier August|url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-12-29 |title=Allier |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|US|æ|l|ˈ|j|eɪ|,_|ɑː|l|ˈ|j|eɪ}} {{respell|a(h)l|YAY}},<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/allier|title=Allier|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Allier|access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref> {{IPA-|fr|alje|lang|Fr-Paris--Allier.ogg}}; {{lang-oc|Alèir}}) is a [[Departments of France|department]] in the [[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]] [[Regions of France|region]] that borders [[Cher (department)|Cher]] to the west, [[Nièvre]] to the north, [[Saône-et-Loire]] and [[Loire (department)|Loire]] to the east, [[Puy-de-Dôme]] to the south, and [[Creuse]] to the south-west. Named after the river [[Allier (river)|Allier]], it had a population of 335334,975872 in 20192021.<ref name=pop2019pop2021>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/60110607728806/dep03.pdf Populations légales 20192021: 03 Allier], INSEE (in French)</ref> [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]] is the [[Prefectures in France|prefecture]]; [[Montluçon]] and [[Vichy]] are the [[Subprefectures in France|subprefectures]]. Its [[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (France)|INSEE]] and [[Postal codes in France|post code]] is 03.

Before 2018, the inhabitants of the department did not have a demonym. The inhabitants of the department have officially been known in French as ''Bourbonnais'' since 2018, a reference to the historic province of [[Bourbonnais]]. Until then, the unofficial term ''Elavérins'' had been used.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cooke |first1=Virginie |title=Les habitants de l'Allier vont officiellement s'appeler les Bourbonnais |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/allier/habitants-allier-vont-officiellement-s-appeler-bourbonnais-1555084.html |publisher=France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |access-date=28 February 2019 |language=fr |date=9 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ména |first1=Stéphanie |title=Les habitants de l'Allier auront officiellement un nouveau nom ce jeudi : les Bourbonnais ! |url=https://www.lamontagne.fr/moulins/allier/2018/10/18/les-habitants-de-l-allier-auront-officiellement-un-nom-ce-jeudi-les-bourbonnais_13002333.html |website=La Montagne |access-date=28 February 2019 |language=fr |date=18 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ALLIER |url=https://www.habitants.fr/allier-03 |website=habitants.fr |publisher=SARL Patagos |access-date=28 February 2019 |language=fr}}</ref>

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[[File:Château de Billy.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Château de Billy]]]]

Allier department is composed of almost all of the former [[Duchy of Bourbonnais]]. It is part of the [[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]] and it was part of the historical, cultural and administrative region of [[Auvergne (administrative region)|Auvergne]] until 2016.

===Principal communes===

The most populous commune is [[Montluçon]]; the prefecture [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]] is the third-most populous. As of 20192021, there are 5 communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants:<ref name=pop2019pop2021/>

{| class=wikitable

! Commune

! Population (20192021)

|-

| [[Montluçon]]

| style="text-align: center;" | 3433,361342

|-

| [[Vichy]]

| style="text-align: center;" | 2425,980789

|-

| [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]]

| style="text-align: center;" | 19,246343

|-▼

| [[Yzeure]]▼

| style="text-align: center;" | 12,838▼

|-

| [[Cusset]]

| style="text-align: center;" | 12,474909

▲|-

▲| [[Yzeure]]

▲| style="text-align: center;" | 12,838598

|}

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A transition zone in the middle of the country, Allier is actually a free zone between north and south. The department is wide open to Atlantic influences and enjoys a mild and humid climate dominated by westerly winds which helps a little to differentiate it from other parts of Auvergne. The weather variances coincide with the diversity of Bourbonnais territory such as: flat regions, low altitude Bourbonnais Sologne and large floodplains, the hill country, the average altitude of 300 to 600 metres, the central part of the department, and the semi-mountainous southern townships bordering the Combraille and Forez between 700 and 1,200 metres.

There are two periods of maximum precipitation in June and October and a minimum in January and February with average of 694 millimetres in [[Montluçon]] (altitude 207 metres), 763&nbsp;mm in [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]] (245&nbsp;m), 778&nbsp;mm in [[Vichy]] (251&nbsp;m), 791&nbsp;mm in [[Lapalisse]] (285&nbsp;m). and nearly 1,200&nbsp;mm in Assisi (1,050&nbsp;m). As noted Atlantic winds are dominant from the west, northwest, or southwest. The influence of topography, especially in the valleys of Cher and Allier, also contributes to the south and north variance.

{{Meteo France

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Allier is one of the original 83 departments created during the [[French Revolution]] on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former [[Provinces of France|provinces]] of [[Auvergne (province)|Auvergne]] and [[Bourbonnais]].

In 1940, the [[Vichy France|government]] of Marshal [[Philippe Pétain]] chose the town of [[Vichy]] as its capital. Vichy also became the department's second [[Subprefectures in France|sub-prefecture]] in 1940, since the department now found itself split by the [[Demarcation_line_Demarcation line (France)|demarcation line]] between the [[Zone occupée|occupied]] and (relatively, at least initially) free zones of [[German occupation of France during World War II|France]].

=== Heraldry ===

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[[File:Allier.jpg|thumb|425px|Map of Allier]]

On 1 January 2017 the population of Allier was estimated at 337,988 inhabitants which represented an average density of 46 people/km²<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=pophist/> Many areas have a density less than 20 people/km²<sup>2</sup>. Because of its low population density, it is considered to fall within the [[empty diagonal]].

Since the early 1980s Allier has faced many demographic handicaps. The ratio of older people is important and with low fertility rates the natural growth is negative. Net migration was negative between 1968 and 1999, and slightly positive between 1999 and 2017.<ref name=pophist/>

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=== Prefecture ===

Valérie Hatsch is prefect of Allier since 28 March 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=La préfète - Valérie HATSCH |url=https://www.allier.gouv.fr/la-prefete-valerie-hatsch-a3623.html |website=allier.gouv.fr |publisher=Prefecture of Allier |access-date=29 November 2022 |language=French |date=31 March 2022}}</ref>

Jean-Luc Marx, the prefect of [[Lot (department)|Lot]], was named the prefect of Allier on 1 June 2011, replacing Pierre Monzani who was appointed Prefect of [[Seine-et-Marne]] on 25 May 2011.

Monzani had been prefect of Allier since 14 January 2009. Born on 12 May 1958 in [[Villerupt]] ([[Meurthe-et-Moselle]]), he holds a civil service ''agrégation'' in history and a ''DEA'' in history and civilization. A former student of the [[École Normale SuperieureSupérieure]] ([[Saint-Cloud]]) and of [[École nationale d'administration]] (ENA), since August 2006 he has been director of INHES (National Institute of Advanced Security Studies).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hcfdc.org/trophees/docs/cv/monzani.pdf|title=HCFDC Pierre Monzani}}</ref>

=== Two senators ===

After 2020 Senate elections, the two senators of Allier are Bruno Rojouan and [[Claude Malhuret]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Résultats des élections sénatoriales 2020 |url=https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Archives/Archives-elections/Elections-senatoriales-2020/elecresult__senatoriales-2020/(path)/senatoriales-2020/003/index.html |website=interieur.gouv.fr |access-date=29 November 2022 |language=French}}</ref>

In the Senate elections in 2008 the left took one of the two Senate seats in Allier formerly held by the right. Mireille Schurch, [[French Communist Party|PCF]] Mayor of [[Lignerolles, Allier|Lignerolles]], was elected:

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|style="background-color: {{party color|French Communist Party}}" |

| [[Allier's 1st constituency]]

| [[Jean-PaulYannick DufrègneMonnet]]

| [[French Communist Party]]

|-

|style="background-color: {{party color|EnNational Marche!Rally}}" |

| [[Allier's 2nd constituency]]

| [[Jorys Bovet]]

| [[Laurence Vanceunebrock-Mialon]]

| [[National Rally]]

| [[La République En Marche!]]

|-

|style="background-color: {{party color|EnThe Marche!Republicans (France)}}" |

| [[Allier's 3rd constituency]]

| [[BénédicteNicolas PeyrolRay]]

| [[The Republicans (France)|The Republicans]]

| [[La République En Marche!]]

|}

=== Departmental Council ===

{{main|Departmental Council of Allier}}

{{update section}}

In the local elections of March 2008, Allier department was won by a majority of the left. The URB (Republican Union for Bourbonnais, right) had headed the department between 2001 and 2008, with the last year with only one vote majority. From 2008 the left coalition was in control also with a majority of one vote (10 PC, 6 PS, 2 PRG, 18 seats in total), facing 17 councilors from the URB. Allier Council is chaired by a Communist, Jean-Paul Dufregne as for [[Val-de-Marne]] department in [[Île-de-France]]. The General Council of Allier has also been led – after decentralization – by a communist: Jean-Claude Mairal (1998–2001). The loss of his mandate was included in a national dynamic of victory of the right.▼

The current President of the Departmental Council is Claude Riboulet, elected in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Delacou|first1=Antoine|title=Claude Riboulet succède à Gérard Dériot à la présidence du conseil départemental de l'Allier|url=http://www.lamontagne.fr/moulins/politique/allier/2017/09/25/claude-riboulet-succede-a-gerard-deriot-a-la-presidence-du-conseil-departemental-de-l-allier_12564770.html|website=Lamontagne.fr|language=fr|date=25 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/allier/moulins/claude-riboulet-succede-gerard-deriot-tete-du-conseil-departemental-allier-1334537.html|title=Claude Riboulet succède à Gérard Dériot à la tête du Conseil départemental de l’Allierl'Allier|website=France 3|language=fr|date=25 September 2017}}</ref> In the [[2021 French departmental elections|2021 departmental election]], the Departmental Council of Allier was elected as follows:<ref>[https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Departementales/elecresult__departementales-2021/(path)/departementales-2021/003/index.html Résultats des élections départementales 2021: Allier (03)], Ministère de l'intérieur</ref>

{| class=wikitable

{| border="1" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"

!colspan=2| Party || seatsSeats▼

|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9; border-bottom: 2px solid gray;"

▲!colspan=2| Party || seats

|-

! style="background-color: {{party color|Miscellaneous Right}}" |

|[[Miscellaneous Rightright]] ||align="right"| 1320

|-

! style="background-color: {{party color|FrenchSocialist CommunistParty Party(France)}}" |<span style="color:white; font-size:190%;">•</span>

|[[French Communist Party]] ||align="right"| 9▼

|-▼

! style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Party (France)}}" |<span style="color:white; font-size:190%;">•</span>▼

|[[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]] ||align="right"| 6

|-

! style="background-color: {{party color|Union for a Popular Movement}}#82A2C6" |

|[[Union for a Popular Movement]]Centre-right ||align="right"| 4

|-

! style="background-color: {{party color|LeftFrench RadicalCommunist Party}}" |<span style="color:white; font-size:190%;">•</span>

|[[LeftFrench RadicalCommunist Party]] ||align="right"| 2

|-

! style="background-color: {{party color|Miscellaneous Left}}#b9daff" |<span style="color:white; font-size:190%;">•</span>

|[[Miscellaneous Left]]Right ||align="right"| 12

▲|-

▲! style="background-color: {{party color|SocialistThe PartyRepublicans (France)}}" |<span style="color:white; font-size:190%;">•</span>

|[[The Republicans (France)|The Republicans]] ||align="right"| 2

|-

! style="background-color: {{party color|Left Radical Party}}" |

▲|[[FrenchLeft CommunistRadical Party]] ||align="right"| 92

|-

|}

▲In the local elections of March 2008, Allier department was won by a majority of the left. The URB (Republican Union for Bourbonnais, right) had headed the department between 2001 and 2008, with the last year with only one vote majority. From 2008 the left coalition was in control also with a majority of one vote (10 PC, 6 PS, 2 PRG, 18 seats in total), facing 17 councilors from the URB. Allier Council is chaired by a Communist, Jean-Paul Dufregne as for [[Val-de-Marne]] department in [[Île-de-France]]. The General Council of Allier has also been led – after decentralization – by a communist: Jean-Claude Mairal (1998–2001). The loss of his mandate was included in a national dynamic of victory of the right.

=== Three major cities ===

The three major cities of Allier are run by mayors of the right who were re-elected in the 2008 municipal elections in the first round by Daniel Dugléry in Montluçon and in the second round for [[Pierre-André Périssol]] in Moulins, and [[Claude Malhuret]] in Vichy.

=== History of the left in Allier ===

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== Gastronomy and viticulture ==

{{Main|French cuisine|French wine}}

The [[pâté aux pommes de terre]] is one of the specialities of the Allier, as well as of the neighboring Limousin region. The river [[Allier (river)|Allier]] is one of the rare places in Southern Europe where the freshwater [[Thymallus thymallus|grayling]] (''Thymallus thymallus''), known in French as ''ombre des rivières'', occurs in a natural habitat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecrr.org/pdf/3rd_confrence_abstracts/33_redeker_weyand_nusch.pdf|title=The grayling zones of rivers and their tributaries|access-date=14 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207210350/http://www.ecrr.org/pdf/3rd_confrence_abstracts/33_redeker_weyand_nusch.pdf|archive-date=7 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> This fish is much valued in French gastronomy for its fine and delicate texture and is best eaten along with a light wine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cuisine.tv/cid17768/les-accords-vin-poisson.html|title=Les accords vin-poisson – Célébration d'un mariage réussi!|access-date=14 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127151025/http://www.cuisine-plus.tv/cid17768/les-accords-vin-poisson.html|archive-date=27 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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=== Second homes ===

In 20192020 the quantity of dwellings in the department which were second homes was 7.32%.<ref>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/20111017632072?geo=DEP-03#chiffre-cle-3 DossierLogement complet,en 2020: Catégories et types de logements], [[INSEE]] {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The table below shows the main communes of Allier with second homes and which exceed 10% of total housing.

The department has attracted many foreigners, English, Belgian, Swiss, and Dutch, and they have acquired many second homes. Therefore many communes have become "European", such as [[Pouzy-Mésangy]], which today has many English and Swiss residents.

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* [[Cantons of the Allier department]]

* [[Communes of the Allier department]]

* [[List of intercommunalities of the Allier department]]

== References ==