Gouttières, Puy-de-Dôme
Encyclopedia
Gouttières is a commune
in the Puy-de-Dôme
department in Auvergne
in central France
.
It is located in the Combrailles
part of the Auvergne
région, in the canton of Saint-Gervais-d'Auvergne.
Its name finds its roots in the five small water streams that unite here to later join the Sioule
River. Gouttières is around 100 km² (38.6 sq mi) big and situated between 600–700 meters above sea level
The area is rural with a high conservation of wildlife and biodiversity. There is a coverage of about 30% woods and some cereal cultivation and the breeding of Charolais cattle
.
Also tourism develops. French, English and many Dutch, have bought small houses or old barns to turn them into their holiday homes.
The village is known in all the département of Puy-de-Dôme for the pottery of 'la Batisse' that creates utilitarian and creative ceramic works. You can take classes in pottery or be trained on a professional artisan level.
The Dutch artist Wouter Verrips also contributes to the cultural life teaching art classes and summer courses as well exploiting a painting sculpture and printmaking studio.
The village high time is the last weekend of April when all work together to organise the pottery market of Gouttières.
A nationwide selection of pottery makers and ceramists present their work and the event brings over 10.000 visitors to the village.
and 40 km (24.9 mi) northwest of Clermont-Ferrand
.
The Bouble
has its source in the northern part of the 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 Puy-de-Dôme
Puy-de-Dôme
Puy-de-Dôme is a department in the centre of France named after the famous dormant volcano, the Puy-de-Dôme.Inhabitants were called Puydedomois until December 2005...
department in 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...
in 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...
.
It is located in the Combrailles
Combrailles
Combrailles is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-References:*...
part of the 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...
région, in the canton of Saint-Gervais-d'Auvergne.
Its name finds its roots in the five small water streams that unite here to later join the Sioule
Sioule
The Sioule is a long river in central France, left tributary of the river Allier. Its source is near the village Orcival, north of Mont-Dore, in the Massif Central. The Sioule has cut a deep gorge, especially in its upper course...
River. Gouttières is around 100 km² (38.6 sq mi) big and situated between 600–700 meters above sea level
The area is rural with a high conservation of wildlife and biodiversity. There is a coverage of about 30% woods and some cereal cultivation and the breeding of Charolais cattle
Charolais cattle
Charolais cattle are a beef breed of cattle which originated in Charolais, around Charolles, in France. They are raised for their meat and are known for their composite qualities when crossed with other breeds, most notably Angus and Hereford cattle...
.
Economy
Most inhabitants grow their own vegetables, they have often chicken and raise rabbits and some raise their own pigs. Old fashioned farmer life slowly makes place for bigger exploitations and little by little young inhabitants are leaving or involved in other activities. Rockwool, Michelin or a Steel factory are the options to find jobs in the industry although this type of work seems to be diminishing. Some work in the service economy or even some culture activities arise, such as pottery making or art.Also tourism develops. French, English and many Dutch, have bought small houses or old barns to turn them into their holiday homes.
Tourism and culture
The French and European funding helped to bring more gites and other tourist attractions to the area.The village is known in all the département of Puy-de-Dôme for the pottery of 'la Batisse' that creates utilitarian and creative ceramic works. You can take classes in pottery or be trained on a professional artisan level.
The Dutch artist Wouter Verrips also contributes to the cultural life teaching art classes and summer courses as well exploiting a painting sculpture and printmaking studio.
The village high time is the last weekend of April when all work together to organise the pottery market of Gouttières.
A nationwide selection of pottery makers and ceramists present their work and the event brings over 10.000 visitors to the village.
Geography
The commune is located 35 km (21.7 mi) southeast of MontluçonMontluçon
Montluçon is a commune in central France. It is the largest commune in the Allier department, although the department's préfecture is located in the smaller town of Moulins. Its inhabitants are known as Montluçonnais...
and 40 km (24.9 mi) northwest of Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department...
.
The Bouble
Bouble
The Bouble is a long river in the Allier and Puy-de-Dôme départements, south central France. Its source is at Gouttières. It flows generally northeast...
has its source in the northern part of the commune.