Allanche

Allanche is located some 70 km south of Clermont-Ferrand and 20 km east by southeast of Massiac. It can be accessed by the D679 from Marcenat in the northwest to the village then south to Sainte-Anastasie. The D39 comes from Pradiers in the north through the village then south to Chalinargues. The D9 road branches off the D3 to the west of the commune and passes through the village continuing to the northeast. Apart from the village there are a number of hamlets. These are:

• Chastre
• Chavanon
• Coudour
• Feydit
• Le Bac Bas
• Le Bac Haut
• Les Cites
• Maillargues
• Roche Haut
• Romaniargues

The commune is largely farmland with patches of forest and the edge of a large forest in the east.^[3]

The Allanche river flows from the northwest through the village and continues southeast to feed the Alagnon river. Many tributaries feed the Allanche in the commune including the Ruisseau de Laneyrat, the Ruisseau de Coudoun, the Ruisseau de Chavanon, the Ruisseau de Vernois, and other unnamed streams.^[3]

Blazon: Or, two keys saltirewise in sable.

List of Successive Mayors^[4]

Mayors from 1941

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Allanchois or Allanchoises in French.^[5]

• The former Château de Mercoeur (15th century) is registered as an historical monument.^[7]
• At Allanche station from May to September there is the Vélorail Cézallier for tourists.
• In the south-west of the commune are the Pinatelle Allanche mountains.

The commune has two religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:

• The Church of Saint-Julien-de-Chanet (12th century).^[8] The church contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
  • The main Altar and Retable (17th century)^[9]
  • A Statue: Virgin and child (15th century)^[10]
  • A Group Sculpture: Virgin of Pity (16th century)^[11]
  • A Painting: the Adoration of the Magi (16th century)^[12]
  • Bas-reliefs (16th century)^[13]
• The Church of Saint John the Baptist (12th century).^[14] The church contains several items that are registered as historical objects:
  • A Sculpture: Ecce homo (15th century)^[15]
  • An Eagle Lectern (17th century)^[16]
  • A Bronze Bell (1671)^[17]
  • A set of Pews (16th century)^[18]
  • A Reliquary-Monstrance (15th century)^[19]
  • A Processional Cross (15th century)^[20]

Other religious sites of interest

• The Presbytery contains a Reliquary (15th century) that is registered as an historical object.^[21]
• The Church of Chanet contains a Processional Cross (15th century) which is registered as an historical object.^[22]

• 
  The church
• 
  Entrance and Tower
• 
  The entrance
• 
  The pieta in the church

• Charles Ganilh (1758–1836), economist, was born in Allanche.