The center of France has been populated since the dawn of human history. Prehistoric tribes gave way to Roman rule, the Romans fell to other invading tribes who themselves were displaced by the rise of the "Frankish" kingdom. Some of the events we explore here shook the history of the world at large, and some of the people you'll meet here came from obscure backgrounds in central France to play a leading role on the stage of world history. From the launch of the first Crusade to that day in World War II when Clermont-Ferrand was capital of France for one day...
Please scroll through the posts below to see the people and events that shaped history in the deep heart of France!