  We make a case for the unique relevance of Cartan geometry for gauge theories
of gravity and supergravity. We introduce our discussion by recapitulating
historical threads, providing motivations. In a first part we review the
geometry of classical gauge theory, as a background for understanding gauge
theories of gravity in terms of Cartan geometry. The second part introduces the
basics of the group manifold approach to supergravity, hinting at the deep
rooted connections to Cartan supergeometry. The contribution is intended, not
as an extensive review, but as a conceptual overview, and hopefully a bridge
between communities in physics and mathematics.
