Saint-Germain-l'Herm the country has a certain unity: both by its relatively high altitude, between 800 and 1200 meters, the climate winters long, very snowy landscapes of grass and dark wood dominate or softwood (fir or spruce ). Lying on a good third of Livradois, it leaves depressions Saint-Amant, Saint-Dier and Cunlhat north and the eastern edge of the massive falls quickly on the ditch Ambert and more gentle slopes leading down to the west to the basin of the Allier. The central part forms a vast plateau bumpy at an average altitude of 1000 meters, tilted in three directions: east, south, west, making it a center of dispersion of water: Dolore, Dore, Doulon, streams and Châteauneuf Lastroux. Many ponds remain, such as those of the Colombière the Fargette, pine, Marchaud (landscaped lake for recreation). The granitic soil (granite, granulite, sand, quartz and amethyst) is not favorable to crops, increasingly abandoned in favor of reforestation so extensive that around Saint-Germain the country seems to have become a huge forest.
Origin of name: Saint-Germain owes its name to a holy bishop of Auxerre in the 5th century, Herm means desert place. Revolution in Saint-Germain was known as Germain-la-Montagne. Residents are germinois saint.
The middle of the plateau Livradois Saint-Germain is the chief town of canton higher. His hamlet appears in a wide clearing between the forest and woods south of Pommerel and Saulzet the north it wood floor in front of Fraisse, east from the bridge to the neck that Doulon crosses the road from Issoire, 32 kilometers, 25 kilometers Ambert being.
In the area is reported to have traces of 19th century Celtic monuments.
In the 11th century, the Benedictines of La Chaise-Dieu founded a priory at Saint-Germain.
Prior to his called cures Saint-Germain, Saint-Martin-des-Ollières. He had areas of Pine and Marchaud (parish of Saint-Bonnet-le-Bourg) and a forest reserve estimated at 274 acres (about 140 hectares).
Middle Ages to the 17th century Saint-Germain was the crossroads of several ways: From the Chaise-Dieu in Issoire, Ambert to Nonette, Puy to Billom. Very soon the monks created a weekly market and a fair on October 19, the 16th century founder Louis 12th in two in June and September. There leyde perceived rights of "corretage" (law on sales) and "Taules" (right place). In 1683 these rights were leased for 210 pounds to three recipients; remettaient consuls in 100 the city was the religious Ambert and used the rest to maintain the clock and fountain. Merchants formed an association whose feast is celebrated on the day of Our Lady of February.
The village and the priory and church were fortified; these fortifications strengthened in the 14th century are only two towers, one at the northeast corner of the church, the other at the site of the old priory. Saint-Germain retains many old houses with overhanging floors with some sculptures at a street corner, a niche is a statue of the Virgin (MH 1961).
In the 16th century Protestantism had followers, we see some Gerfaud, St. Germain, one of the ten signatories of a letter to "gentlemen of Geneva" for sending a preacher. As everywhere in the late seventeenth, Saint-Germain-l'Herm enjoyed great misery.
The 18th century: In a country with low fertility was unknown wheat and rye itself gave only low yields, the lowest in Auvergne. An important resource was the export of forest, the finest trees were intended to serve as masts for the Royal Navy, the other used in the construction of "fir", flatboats down the Allier. The big problem remained that transport to the Allier Nonette or Parentignat.
Revolution: it knew no serious events. As in the canton no volunteers answered the call in July 1791 to form the first battalion of volunteers, this is what the mayor said, Father Roussel.
