Aurillac: the French capital of the umbrella

In the volcanic heart of the Auvergne, Aurillac has produced the majority of umbrellas manufactured in France for centuries.

The center, France's umbrella-making capital, is visited comfortably on foot.

The umbrella manufactures of Aurillac, active since the seventeenth century, still produce the majority of artisanally-crafted umbrellas manufactured in France.

Just steps away, the Castle of Saint-Étienne, a medieval fortress atop a volcanic hill, dominates the historic center with a panoramic view across the surrounding mountains of Auvergne.

Heading inland, you reach the Monts du Cantal, an extinct volcanic massif among Europe's most extensive, popular for hiking and traditional cheeses.

As evening falls, each August the International Street Theatre Festival enlivens the entire city with outdoor performances.

Aurillac has produced umbrellas since the seventeenth century thanks to the local availability of chestnut wood for handles and a craft tradition passed down from generation to generation until today.

The International Street Theater Festival of Aurillac, founded in 1986, remains one of the world's major street theater events, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators annually to a city of just a few tens of thousands.