Gallery 1 - Scenes from the Cantal
The Cantal is one of the most beautiful -- and least populated -- regions in central France. The Mont Dore is a popular ski station, and the area is dotted with medieval castles, volcanic peaks, dramatic villages, lakes, and Romanesque churches. All photos in this gallery © 2016-2017 Richard Alexander.
Gallery 2 - Castles of the Auvergne
It's easy to imagine how fragmented and contentious France was during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. At times, it seems almost every significant hill boasted its own fortress... All photos in this gallery © 2016-2017 Richard Alexander.
Gallery 3 - Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is the traditional capital of the Auvergne -- and the largest city in the region. We lived there during two different expat assignments and came to love the place. It's true that it's a mix of 21st-century industrialism and narrow medieval streets (the city itself goes back to the Arvernii tribes who lived here even before the Romans came to town). But with 35,000 college students, an international Short Film festival, and a vibrant central city, Clermont-Ferrand is one of France's best places to be. All photos in this gallery © 2016-2017 Richard Alexander.