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

http://www.vulcania.com/en

Useful Links

Planete Puy de Dome

Puy de Dome summit

Parc Naturel regional des Volcans d'Auvergne

Vulcania