Population: 1.3 million

Principal city: Clermont-Ferrand.

The Auvergne is an area of enormous natural beauty, particularly the area of the volcans in Puy-de-Dôme. The geography has also bestowed many thermal and mineral springs on the region; over the years, millions upon millions have come to the region to take the waters, and even more people around the world are now able to drink bottled Vichy and Volvic water.

However, life has always been hard in the Auvergne, which may account for its 1.3 million inhabitants having the reputation of being économes. Traditionally the Auvergnats have described France as "the Auvergne with a bit of land around it": they are proud of their Celtic roots; the region takes its name from the Arverni tribe that put up such a fierce defence against Julius Caesar during the conquest of Gaul. And the Auvergnat fondness for music and dancing is legendary: the hurdy-gurdy and the accordion are still an integral part of the culture, and the Auvergnat never tires of telling tales, both long and tall, about every facet of life in this natural fastness. The culinary specialities of the region are good, honest peasant fare: charcuterie and cheeses in particular.