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Allier (département)

Allier
Department
Prefecture building of the Allier department, in Moulins
Prefecture building of the Allier department, in Moulins
Flag of Allier
Flag
Coat of arms of Allier
Coat of arms
Location of Allier in France
Location of Allier in France
Coordinates: 46°20′N 3°10′E / 46.333°N 3.167°E / 46.333; 3.167Coordinates: 46°20′N 3°10′E / 46.333°N 3.167°E / 46.333; 3.167
Country France
Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Prefecture Moulins
Subprefectures Montluçon
Vichy
Government
 • President of the General Council Gérard Dériot (UMP)
Area
 • Total 7,340 km2 (2,830 sq mi)
Population (2013)
 • Total 343,431
 • Rank 68th
 • Density 47/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Department number 03
Arrondissements 3
Cantons 19
Communes 318
^1 French Land Register data, which excludes estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2

Allier (French pronunciation: ​[aˈlje]; is a French department located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France named after the river Allier. Moulins is the prefecture and the INSEE and Post Code is 03.

The inhabitants of the department are known as Elavérins or Elavérines

Allier department is composed of almost all of the former Duchy of Bourbonnais. It is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and borders the departments of Cher, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, Loire, Puy-de-Dome, and Creuse.

The department also includes three spa towns:

Neris-les-Bains is the only town in the department with more than 10% of second homes: 504 out of 1,800 homes in 1999.

Bourbonnais bocage covers most of the western and central parts of the department (including the Forest of Tronçais), followed by the Bourbonnais Sologne in the east north-east, the Bourbonnais Mountain (near Vichy) which is the highest point of Bourbonnais together with Montoncel (peaking at 1,287 metres), and finally in the south of the department, the Bourbonnais Limagne, which extends from Varennes to Gannat, and is the breadbasket of the department.

To the north and just over 500 metres above sea level, the Bourbonnais Bocage occupies one-third of the department, with two parts: the centre and the west (for the part between the Val de Cher and western boundaries of the territory). The bocage is especially remarkable for its rich forests and woodlands including the famous Forest of Tronçais but also the forests of Moladier Bagnolet, Civrais, Soulongis, Grosbois, Dreuille, Lespinasse and Suave.


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Wikipedia

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