Vertaizon

History

The foire de Chignat ("fair of Chignat"), former "melons' fair", is one of the oldest fairs in France: its oldest occurrence in documents is from 1303. This event takes place every year at the beginning of September in the field near the Castle of Chignat. In 1195, the lordship of Vertaizon belonged to the troubadour Pons de Chapteuil, who was eventually attacked by bishop Robert de Clermont, at war with his brother the count Guy II d'Auvergne, a close friend of the lord of the city.

Geography

Vertaizon is built on a hill giving a view on the Limagne and Pont-du-Château from its summit, where is situated the ancienne église ("the Ancient church") and the wall from the former castle (destroyed on the orders of Cardinal de Richelieu during the 17th century). The commune stretches from the foot of the hill to the lieu-dit Chignat.

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  2,095
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  2,024
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,522
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,451
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,339
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,261
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,184
• Eurasian Collared-Dove

  Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) · Aves
  1,138

Most recent

• M 4.2 — 2022-05-09
  5 km SW of Villebret, France
• M 2.6 — 2008-11-16
  4 km N of Saint-Georges-de-Mons, France
• M 2.6 — 2008-09-12
  5 km E of Mont-Dore, France
• M 2.5 — 2008-09-12
  9 km SSW of Saint-Sauves-d'Auvergne, France
• M 2.5 — 2008-09-11
  7 km SW of Aydat, France
• M 3 — 2008-09-10
  4 km E of Mont-Dore, France