Giou-de-Mamou is a commune

Communes of France

The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...

 in the Cantal

Cantal

Cantal is a department in south-central France. It is named after the Cantal mountain range, a group of extinct, eroded volcanic peaks, which covers much of the department. Residents are known as Cantaliens or Cantalous....

 department in south-central France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

.

Geography

Giou-de-Mamou is a village in south-central France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

. Giou-de-Mamou is 564km away from Paris

Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

 and 6km away from Aurillac

Aurillac

Aurillac is a commune in the Auvergne region in south-central France, capital of the Cantal department.Aurillac's inhabitants are called Aurillacois, and are also Cantaliens or Cantalous in Occitan....

.


Giou-de-Mamou is located in the Cantal

Cantal

Cantal is a department in south-central France. It is named after the Cantal mountain range, a group of extinct, eroded volcanic peaks, which covers much of the department. Residents are known as Cantaliens or Cantalous....

 department, in south-west Auvergne

Auvergne (région)

Auvergne is one of the 27 administrative regions of France. It comprises the 4 departments of Allier, Puy de Dome, Cantal and Haute Loire.The current administrative region of Auvergne is larger than the historical province of Auvergne, and includes provinces and areas that historically were not...

. The Occitan language was historically dominant in Cantal

Cantal

Cantal is a department in south-central France. It is named after the Cantal mountain range, a group of extinct, eroded volcanic peaks, which covers much of the department. Residents are known as Cantaliens or Cantalous....

  and Giou de Mamou.


The village is built at an altitude of 740 metres and is only 20km away from the heart of the Auvergne Volcano Park.


Giou de Mamou's climate is quite cold in winter (it snows almost every year) but it can be very hot during the summer times.

History

Giou-de-Mamou's rock has probably been inhabited since the Celtic period (megalithic remains have been found in the village).

The name Giou-de-Mamou is of ancient origins and would indicate that Jupiter (Jovis) was worshiped there.

Prior to the French Revolution

French Revolution

The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...

 Giou de Mamou was part of a former province of Auvergne

Auvergne (province)

Auvergne was a historic province in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the Counts of Auvergne. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province....

 called Haute-Auvergne.

Giou de Mamou joined the Aurillac District (Communauté d'agglomération du bassin d'Aurillac) in 1990.

Population

Sights

• St-Bonnet Church (Fifteenth Century)
• Megalithic remains, esp. in L'Hôpital (3km from the centre of the village)
• Beliashe Theatre: Production and distribution of shows