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Vue sur les hauteurs du Puy-en-Velay de nuit sans le département del a Haute-Loire en Auvergne

Haute-Loire Department in Auvergne

The Haute-Loire department is situated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France and within the Massif Central. It is crossed by the River Loire and the riversAllier and Lignon, amongst others.

Haute-Loire

Comprising mainly the former province of Velay, the department was created in 1790 during the French Revolution by bringing together parts of the territories of Auvergne, Gévaudan, Vivarais and Forez.

The departmental capital is the town of Le Puy-en-Velay, with Brioude and Yssingeaux serving as sub-prefectures.

Since 2016, Haute-Loire has been part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, which was created through the merger of the two neighbouring entities; the department had previously been part of Rhône-Alpes.

The territory

With an area of4,977 km²anda populationof227,283 (2017 figures, the Altiligériens) and a population density of 159 inhabitants per km², the Haute-Loire lies to the west of theRhône valley and to the south-east of the Massif Central.

The department comprises 11 inter-municipal bodies (5 urban communities and 6 communities of municipalities), with the following as its main towns:

Le Puy-en-Velay ( prefecture), Monistrol-sur-Loire, Yssingeaux (sub-prefecture), Brioude (sub-prefecture), Aurec-sur-Loire, Sainte-Sigolène, Bas-en-Basset, Saint-Just-Malmont, Brives-Charensac and Langeac.

Inter-municipal bodies in Haute-Loire

Urban Community:

  • Puy-en-Velay (73 local authorities, 85,543 inhabitants)

Associations of local authorities:

  • Marches du Velay-Rochebaron (14 local authorities, 31,251 inhabitants)
  • Loire and Semène (7 municipalities, 20,851 inhabitants)
  • Les Sucs (9 local authorities, 18,495 inhabitants)
  • Brioude, Southern Auvergne (27 municipalities, 17,806 inhabitants)
  • The Banks of the Upper Allier (59 local authorities, 17,656 inhabitants)
  • Mézenc-Loire-Meygal (22 local authorities, 11,312 inhabitants)
  • Auzon Community (12 local authorities, 9,485 inhabitants)
  • Pays de Montfaucon (8 municipalities, 8,495 inhabitants)
  • Haut-Lignon (6 municipalities, 8,348 inhabitants)
  • The Cayres and Pradelles region (20 local authorities, 5,371 inhabitants)
The village of Polignac and the mountains of Auvergne

Transport in Haute-Loire

Buses and coaches, trains, the road network, cycle routes…

Transport solutionswithin the department.

Mapping

  • Map of the department:

IGN maps

Hiking maps, road maps or guidebooks about the department:

Where can you stay in the department?

Hotels and accommodation in the department, with comparisons and online booking:

By the way…

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