Volcanoes |
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The Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne
was created in 1977 and is France’s largest regional nature
park.
Volcanic eruptions beginning about 20 million years ago formed
the four massifs which make up the park
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The Chaîne des Puys
(Puy de Dôme, 1465m high) consists of over eighty volcanoes
stretching for 35km. Just west of Clermont-Ferrand, the Puy de Dôme
being the highest in the chain is the symbol of the region. A Roman
temple to Mercury was built here in the 1st century AD, while now
the strategic position is home to army, meteorological, television
and telecommunication stations.
The vantage point also offers an amazing view over other peaks.
The Puy de Dôme itself is a rounded dome with no crater, having
been formed by lava cooling in contact with the open air. |
Monts Dore (Puy de Sancy, 1886m
high) to the south have the highest summits of the Massif Central,
with the dark lava rocks of the Puy du Sancy reaching 1,886m, and
are home to the Auvergnes largest ski resorts. |
Monts du Cantal (Plomb du Cantal,
1855m high) lie at the southern edge of the park and form the largest
volcanic massif in Europe. From the central peaks around the Puy
Mary and the Plomb du Cantal, about a dozen glacial valleys spread
out in the distance, covered with beautiful beech forests and rich
pastureland. |
Monts du Cézalier (Signal
du Luguet, 1551m high) sit between the Dore and the Cantal mountains.In
the Cézallier region, a high bare plateau to the east is
covered in mountain pastures. Wild wooded gorgesare found on the
eastern slopes, and the Pinatelle forest is home to the park’s
largest deer population. The two glacial lakes either side of La
Godivelle village have been designated a nature reserve to protect
their natural peat bogs. |
Just outside Clermont Ferrand is an adventure park dedicated
all things volcanic |
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