Auvergne (/oʊˈvɛərn(jə), oʊˈvɜːrn/;[2][3][4][5] French: [ovɛʁɲ] ⓘ; Occitan: Auvèrnhe or Auvèrnha) is a cultural region in central France.

Based on reports in 2007 of excavations by archaeologists (radio programme of Yves Calvi with researchers in October 2007), the capital of the Arverni is believed to have been situated between Gergovie, Corent, Aulnat and several other significant areas within a 35 km (22 mi) range.

The Arverni were one of the most powerful and wealthy tribes in ancient Gaul: A shrine in Auvergne marks the Battle of Gergovia.

Based on scholars' interpretation of books by Caesar, it took place about 12 km (7.5 mi) from present-day Clermont-Ferrand; this has not been conclusively proved.

A recent find is a stone foot, measuring 60 cm (24 in), from a statue 4.5 metres (15 ft) high, probably representing a god or a Roman emperor.

In the 5th century, Sidonius Apollinaris, an Arvernian nobleman and first bishop of Clermont, made a statement[clarification needed] about the end of the Roman age of the Auvergne.

Under the reign of the Carolingians, Auvergne included five secondary counties with a particular administrative system (Clermont, Turluron, Brioude, Tallende, Carlat (comitatus Cartladensis)).

In 1226, King Louis VIII's will bequeathed Auvergne as an appanage to his younger son, Alphonse, Count of Poitiers.

Captain Merle in particular, firmly established in nearby Gévaudan, took a ransom from Issoire but failed in Saint Flour.

In the 16th century, Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France, inherited the last part of the county from her mother, which allowed the integration of the last feudal fiefdom, in the heart of Auvergne, into the royal territory.

During the 18th century, the economic situation of the farmers improved considerably, due to the policies of the Auvergne intendants, who developed farming, cheese manufacturing, agriculture, glasswork, ironwork and roads.

Both beef and dairy cattle are plentiful, and there are several well-known cheeses: Bleu d'Auvergne, Cantal, Fourme d'Ambert and Saint-Nectaire.

Despite its small local market, the Auvergne region has developed many national and international companies, such as Michelin, Limagrain (seed), the Centre France-La Montagne group (regional daily press), Volvic mineral water (Danone group) and numerous dynamic SMEs around the two universities and high schools (engineering, medical and business) of its capital, Clermont-Ferrand.

There is also a diverse range of small industries, particularly in the Puy-de-Dôme and the Haute-Loire: metallurgical (Aubert and Duval), mechanical, pharmaceutical (Merck-Chibret), food—cereals; meat (Salers, Limousin)—as well as cheese.

These include Thiers cutlery, metal Issoire, lace in Le Puy, and livestock as well as food in the Cantal.