history of the haute loire
The Haute Loire, like the majority of French departments was formed after 1790 from lands that belonged to three of the old provinces : the Langedoc, the Auvergne and the Lyonnais. Even today, people from the old Languedoc do not consider themselves "Auvergnats" and they relate much more to the "Midi" than the "Massif Céntral" . Le Puy en Velay became the "chef-lieu" of the department in 1790 not only because of its history and size but because it is well situated in the centre of the department. However, people have lived here for eons and the administrative wrangling of bureaucrats does not hide the rich history and traditions of the region...
... before all that
The oldest fossils found in the department have been dated to be from between 1.5 and 2 million years ago - give or take a few wet Sundays. Amongst those found have been elephants, gazelles, horses and hyenas. Mastodons and tigers - far more exciting than a couple of cross billed finches and an otter. However, as times got colder most of the "tropical" beasties disappeared and the human race arrived. Human remains have been found around the "Lac de Soleilhac" dating from 800,000 years ago but more permanent settlements, such as the "grottoes" around Polignac date from 130,000 BC. Around 5000 BC the first pastoralists and farmers settled in the region of the Haute Loire along with their sheep and goats. The flux of early human settlements continued throughout the Bronze and Iron ages until the arrival of the Romans in the winter of the year 52. Roman life was then imposed upon the inhabitants and is today reflected in the remains of such Roman cities as St Paulien and the Roman villa of St Espaly. From the third century BC, Le Puy en Velay became more and more the administrative and cultural centre and with the rise of christianity religion was to dominate the region's history for many centuries...
The Middle Ages ...
The first monastery was founded at Monastier sur Gazeille around 680 and this was followed by the construction of abbeys, monasteries and priories throughout the Haute Loire. During this time the great pilgrimage routes were to become established and the most famous of which still attracts pilgrims, of all faiths and none, from around the world - The "Chemin de St Jaques". By the first millennium the Haute Loire was very much a feudal society and its path through the Middle Ages mirrored that of much of France - wars, rebellion and the English! However, much of the instability of the era was due to private armies and mercenaries eagerly swapping sides between the Bourguignons (on the side of the English) and the Armagnacs (supporters of the French King). By 1430 the Dukes of Bourbon had increasing control over the region although this was to bring them into conflict with the King and resulted in their demise. If wars amongst the aristocracy weren't enough, the 16th century saw the continuation of war under the guise of the wars of religion. The protestant reform began in 1530 although Le Puy was to remain catholic and managed to repulse a protestant attack in 1562. So much for brotherly love - maybe the revolution would change things?
... La Revolution
Not even La Fayette - that great hero of the American revolution - could hold back the tide of change that brought about the creation of the department of the Haute Loire. He was to flee France in 1792 and the industrial revolution came to the Haute Loire and was to have as great an impact as that of the French Revolution itself. The 19th century saw the creation of the first agricultural society in 1822 and the arrival of the railways in 1866. However, the predominately rural department (even today it employs twice the French average in the agricultural sector) was to see major depopulation from 1882 onwards. The railways were seen much more as an "escape" route than a means of bringing development to the region.
after all that ...
Industry has never been a major factor in the Haute Loire and even the small coal mines were all to eventually close in 1970. The famous "black madonna" of Le Puy was burnt during the revolution, but rather than a symbol of the effacing of its history its memory serves to indicate the rich history and traditions that can still be found today in the Haute Loire. Here there is nature in abundance, but eat a meal at one of the many good restaurants of Le Puy and promenade after through the old streets of the town and feel that history come alive...