Usson, Puy-de-Dôme

Usson
Commune
The village on its volcanic mound
Usson
Location within Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region
Usson
Coordinates: 45°31′42″N 3°20′24″E / 45.5283°N 3.34°E / 45.5283; 3.34Coordinates: 45°31′42″N 3°20′24″E / 45.5283°N 3.34°E / 45.5283; 3.34
Country France
Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department Puy-de-Dôme
Arrondissement Issoire
Canton Brassac-les-Mines
Intercommunality Communauté de communes des Coteaux de l'Allier
Government
 • Mayor ([depuis mars 2008]) Daniel GIRAUD
Area1 5.43 km2 (2.10 sq mi)
Population (2008)2 263
 • Density 48/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code 63439 /63490
Elevation 394–633 m (1,293–2,077 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Usson is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.

History

Usson's castle, demolished under the order of the cardinal of Richelieu, was before, from 1585 to 1605 the residence of Marguerite de Valois (1553-1615), called The Queen Margot, first spouse (1572-1599) of the French king Henri IV. According to Revel's drawing made in 15th century, the fortress must have been big (triple surrounding, 20 towers) as well as feared. We clearly understand the Richelieu might have seen a threat for its central authority. The castle's moto, was: Garde le traître et la dent (Beware the traitor and the tooth). In other words, such impregnable fortress only had one threat to deal with : traitors or starvation.

See also

References


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