Parc des Volcans

Visit Parc des Volcans, Auvergne

The Parc des Volcans d'Auvergne is situated in the Cantal and Puy-de-Dome departments of the Auvergne region (southern-central France). It is the largest regional natural park in France and includes the familar crest of extinct volcanic domes that runs across the park.

Although many visitors pass through with a quick visit to the summits of Puy-de-Dome of Puy-Mary we suggest you allow a little longer to discover the special beauty of this relatively undiscovered part of France.

Regions of the Parc des Volcans

The distinct regions within the park, which extends more than 100 kilometres from north to south, include:

Chaine des Puys

Towards the north of the natural park and running through the heart of the Massif central (west of Clermont-Ferrand), this extensive range of volcanoes called the Chaine-des-Puys includes almost 100 peaks or domes, among which the Puy-de-Dome is the highest,  and most visited because of the ease of access and the views from the summit.

It was just 20,000 - 10,000 years ago that volcanoes formed these extraordinary mountains. Around six of the mountains are dome shaped, and there are also numerous craters. To a large extent these domes are now covered in forests, and you will likely have seen them already  - typically on adverts for Volvic Water.

Monts du Cantal

This range towards the south of the park (west of Saint-Flour) includes the popular Puy Mary - an impressive and popular viewpoint at an altitude of 1783 metres and a listed grand site of France that attracts 600,000 visitors each year. The 'Plomb du Cantal' (highest of the Cantal mountains at 1855 metres altitude) is also here, as is Puy Griou.

Monts Dore

The Monts Dore region also centres around a mountain, the Puy de Sancy (behind the town and ski resort of Mont-Dore), and is a region best known for its dramatic valleys and scenic lakes.

Cezallier and Artense

These regions, although within the boundaries of the Parc des Volcans, are essentially rocky and rugged plateau rather than a region of extinct volcanoes. The Cezallier, central in the park, is a landscape of open grassland and has an unspoiled beauty, the Artense region (near the Puy de Dome) is rather more mixed with forests and lakes dominating the scenery.

Note: it is useful to remember that the last volcanic eruption here took place just 7000 years ago, when prehistoric man had already long been established in France...

Why visit?

Scenery

Of course it is for the scenery and outdoor activities that most visitors come here, whether for a quick visit to the peak of Puy-de-Dome or an extended hike across the mountain crests and through the valleys between the soaring peaks.

The setting of the Parc des Volcans has a great deal to offer visitors all year around, with hiking and cycling, horseriding and canoeing, paragliding and fishing all being popular outdoor sports here - and of course skiing during the winter.

Towns and villages

While the volcano region is less well known for its towns and villages, there are several of interest - we suggest Salers, listed as a 'most beautiful village of France'; and Saint-Flour and Saint-Nectaire as very typical Auvergne towns, or pehaps the thermal spa and ski town of Mont-Dore.

You will also come across various castles as you explore the Parc des Volcans, for example at Murol, Pesteils and Anjony.

Vulcania

One very popular attraction is the Vulcania Theme Parc, where education about volcanoes is combined with plenty of action and entertainments.

At just 15 kilometres from Clermont-Ferrand the park is in a magnificent setting, and offers everything from gentle discovery walks to action packed videos, from a dragon ride to a re-enactment of a volcanic experience. See Vulcania for details, opening times and prices.

Photos: these show the view from the summit of Puy-de-Dome, the entrance to the Chaudefour Valley, and a snow topped peak in spring.

Suggested places to visit near Parc des Volcans, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Saint-Nectaire 27km; Blesle 29km; Saint-Floret 30km; Villeneuve-Lembron Chateau 31km; Orcival 34km; Salers 36km; Saint-Saturnin 38km; Issoire 39km; Montpeyroux 41km; Mauriac 41km; Saint-Flour 44km; Tournemire 44km; Usson 44km; Brioude 45km; Puy-de-Dome 46km; Saint-Angel 48km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Parc des Volcans

Parc des Volcans tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Lac Pavin - site of natural beauty (14km) : Puy de Sancy - site of natural beauty (17km) : Banne d'Ordanche - site of natural beauty (26km) : Lac du Guery - site of natural beauty (27km) : Abbaye Saint Pierre (Blesle) - religious monument (28km) : Eglise de Notre Dame (Saint-Nectaire) - religious monument (28km) : Puy Mary - grand site of france (32km) : Jardins de Cordès - remarkable garden (34km) :

French version: see Parc des Volcans (Francais)