Aubrac in the south of the Auvergne is one of the most im-
pressing regions in France. The parsimony and its beauty 
is fascinating.

In the beginning of the 19 th century the people were living
from agriculture and livestock breeding. Sheeps were bree-
ded and also little wild cattle with enormous horns. The lat-
ter being very popular because of their excellent meat. But
also the cheese was much asked for, as e.g. the "Roquefort"
from Millau and the "Laguiole" a mountain cheese from
Laguiole. Thus trade developed as a new source of income
for the inhabitants. The people of the Auvergne traded among
other goods with wine and coal. This made them travel
through all of France and to Spain.

At the end of the 19th century the region experienced a rual exodus and Aveyron became a poor
region. In their search for work the people moved to the bigger cities and to foreign countries. The
people from this region who were driven away by poverty were called "Les Bougnats". Still today
the coal merchants in Paris are called by this name.. The production of kives disappeared from
its original village and was transferred to the industrial regions around Thiers.

The fugitives did not have much lugguage but one thing did they all take with them, their
LAGUIOLE, which was passed on from generation to generation. Although times were difficult
for the people, through them the LAGUIOLE became known all over France and beyond its 
borders and everywhere it was a great demand. In the course of time it became the
"Passeport Auvergnat", a sign and identification mark for all living abroad. Wherever people met
owning a LAGUIOLE they felt being among friends, bread and cheese were shared and people
helped each other and exchanged information. 

Because of the good wine and the excellent cuisine of the Auvergne many people from this region
started working in the catering trade when arriving in the big cities. They opened up restaurants
and bistros. When visiting back home they had their new LAGUIOLES fitted with cork-screws by
the blacksmiths. In the course of time this knife became more and more variable and for the
bourgeoisie it was often made out of precious material.

Until the seventies and eighties of the 20th century the
region Aubrac was deserted and poor. Due to system-
atic promoting measures taken by the department and
also because of the work of the manufactory 
FORGE DE LAGUIOLE, which gained international ap-
precation and design awards, it was possible to create
new jobs. For some visitors who still remember the
Aubrac from these times it is difficult to recognize
the flourishing region of today