The Auvergne is in the lower middle bit of France, where in 52 BC, the advancing Romans ran into Vercingetorix, leader of the Gauls at the Battle of Gergovia. The Romans were soundly thrashed and were sent to bed without any tea. Retreating to the river Allier, they noticed the water's beneficial effect on tired, aching legionnaire limbs. They immediately downed spears and built Vichy as a spa town and health resort, thereby adding the leisure industry to their already impressive portfolio of ruthless colonialism and military innovation. Vichy is now home to the laboratories of beauty behemoth and skincare juggernaut L’Oréal. L’Oréal's famous slogan "Because I’m worth it" was changed recently to "Because you're worth it". L’Oréal's net annual revenue is about £12 billion, so they probably are worth it.
The Puy-de-Dôme department is named after the enormous and hopefully extinct volcano that dominates the landscape. In about 5760 BC, just after tea-time, the top of the volcano exploded, spewing a torrent of noxious waste over the surrounding area. Now a TV transmitter stands on the summit, broadcasting a mixed schedule of lifestyle programmes, chat shows and reality tv. The Tour de France frequently takes in the Puy-de-Dôme. If you yourself should wish to pedal up a very steep volcano in extreme heat, you can do so, but only on Sundays and Wednesdays 7-9am between 1st May and 30th September.
La Résidence - THE French Property People
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