AUVERGNE REGIONAL GUIDE

With dramatic volcanic peaks, deep river gorges, and a lush countryside sprinkled with lakes and forests, Auvergne has more than its fair share of breathtaking landscapes. You can explore nature’s glory to the full, taking part in a wide variety of outdoor pursuits including skiing, rock climbing and fishing, or be pampered at one of Auvergne’s leading spas. Auvergne has something for all the senses.

 

Explore beautiful Romanesque churches, medieval castles and ancient towns such as Salers with its turreted houses, which has also given its name to a cheese, a breed of cow, and an aperitif made from the roots of mountain gentian.

 

Salers

Little changed since its importance as an administrative centre in the sixteenth century, this small Renaissance town is noted for its beautiful black basalt houses with their turrets (bartizans) and spiral staircases. Extravagant buildings around place Tyssandier-d’Ecous display superb mullioned windows and carved lintels. Enjoy wonderful views from Promenade de Barrouze. Visit the museum dedicated to the lyre-horned Salers cattle which produce milk for the famous Salers cheese. One of France’s oldest known cheeses, it is firm, with an aromatic flavour - made from cows’ milk in summer and best eaten between September and March. Also look out for Salers aperitif, made from mountain gentian, and even Salers biscuits.

 

Vulcania

Europe’s largest volcanic theme park near Clermont-Ferrand. Take underground tours through lava tunnels and cross burning rivers. Experience the power of nature watching giant screen 3D films of earthquakes, tornadoes and volcanic eruptions. Children over 6 will love the interactive earthquake simulator. Find plenty to educate and enjoy all day, plus outdoor picnic area for lunch.

 

Volvic

This international brand of mineral water, first tapped in 1922, has its source close to the little town of the same name north of Puy de Dome. Minererals filtered from the rock of nearby Puy de la Nugere, which last erupted in 5760 BC, give the spring water its unique flavour. The volcanic rock itself has been a local building material since the Middle Ages and was used on the black towers of Clermont Ferrand’s Cathedrale Notre Dame. Visit ‘Maison de la Pierre’ close to the spring for guided tours of the lava quarries and slide show. 

 

Chateau d’Anjony

Perfectly restored fifteenth century castle perched on a rocky escarpment overlooking the Doire Valley. This architectural gem has a turbulent history due to an old vendetta between the d’Anjonys and neighbouring Tournemire family. Still owned by the d’Anjony family, the chateau has a rich interior decorated with remarkable sixteenth century frescoes.

 

Viaduct Garabit

Park at the Garabit rest area on the A75 motorway from Paris for wonderful views of the Truyere Gorges traversed by the magnificent 500m Garabit Viaduct. Built in 1884 by Gustave Eiffel shortly before he was commissioned to build the world famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. Take a sightseeing trip on the River Truyere to get another perspective.

 

Aurillac

Cantal’s capital is on the same latitude as Bordeaux and, despite being France’s premier umbrella making centre, has similar sunshine hours. Once important for lace-making and tanning, the old town has been pedestrianised with good shops and large Wednesday and Saturday markets in place de l’Hotel-de-Ville. Performers travel from all over Europe to the city’s August Festival of Street Theatre and there’s plenty to interest visitors all year in the Museum of Art and Archaeology and ‘Maison des Volcans’.

 

 

Puy de Dome

Puy de Dome (1,464m) is the oldest and highest extinct volcano of the Monts Domes chain. The summit was once a place of worship for Celts and Romans, and for sorcerers’ rituals. Today it is still a popular place of enchantment - though now sporting a restaurant, museum and information centre. The ascent is a gruelling leg of the Tour de France but most travel part by car or shuttle bus and on foot to enjoy panoramic views. Best visit early or late to avoid the crowds.

 

Parc Naturel Regional des Volcans d’Auvergne

On the western edge of the Massif Central, this unique landscape has almost 80 extinct volcanoes or ‘puys’ some active as recently as at the end of the Ice Age. The park includes the Monts Domes chain, Monts Dore - rising to 1885m on Puy de Sancy - and Monts du Cantal along with high plateau pastures, creating an area rich in fauna and flora, in a landscape of crater lakes, rivers, waterfalls and spectacular views. Sparsely populated, the park has only recently become more accessible to the tourist - great for green outdoor activities and nature lovers. Various information centres ‘maisons du parc’ include museums devoted to aspects of the area such as shepherding. 

 

Auvergne may not have the same high-profile gastronomy as some other regions of France, but you are as likely to find ‘potee auvergnate’ (pork, potato and cabbage hot pot) on the menu of small Paris restaurants, traditionally run by migrant Auvergnats to the capital, as in any regional auberge.

 

Auvergne’s rugged landscape, wonderfully picturesque as a holiday destination, can be hard on those obtaining quality produce from the land. But the traditional cuisine of the Auvergnats with their reputation for good health and longevity is testament to what can be achieved. The Limage plain produces fruits and walnuts, there are forest chestnuts, and trout and salmon from the River Allier. And Auvergne is an important garlic production area

 

Delicious salted pork dries in the clean mountain air where springs passing through volcanic rocks supply the world famous mineral waters of Vichy and Volvic. Wild bilberries from Cantal’s mountains are cooked in a batter made with crème fraiche for ‘tarte aux myrtilles’ and Salers cows grazed on mountain pastures produce wonderful beef.

 

Most famous are Auvergne’s cheeses; Saint-Nectaire, Bleu d’Auvergne - a sharp tasting, melt in the mouth, blue vein cheese - Salers and Cantal (already known in Roman times). Sample local wines such as Cotes d’Auvergne and 2 popular liqueurs, ‘Verveine du Velay’ and ‘Gentiane’.

 

Skiing

Well known to the French, the uncrowded slopes of the Massif Central provide fantastic downhill skiing at 3 classified resorts with several hundred cross-country ski tracks. Le Lorian on the ‘Volcan de Cantal’ has over 43km of pistes and also offers snow-boarding and ice skating. The highest point in the Massif Central at 1885m is Puy Sancy. The dynamic resort here of Super-Besse has 22 ski lifts linking to the pistes of Le Mont Dore and even a ‘run’ into the crater of an extinct volcano. Spa resorts of Le Mont-Dore and La Bourboule double as cross-country ski centres in winter with the added bonus of relaxing thermal therapies.

 

Spa Therapies

The natural waters of this volcanic region have reputedly always had healing powers. Spas since the nineteenth century have offered a variety of massages and treatments to pamper and relax. Romans used the sulphurous springs of Le Mont-Dore, now popular with Parisians. The ‘Etablissement Thermal’ in the centre of town, specialises in asthma treatment and also gives guided tours. Unwind in the Belle Epoque buildings of ‘Grande Therme’ baths in La Bourboule. Chaude-Aigues has water so hot it’s used to heat local houses as well as hydrotherapy treatments.

 

Green Tourism/Rambling

This relatively unknown area of mountains, plateaux and rivers is a green tourist’s paradise. Almost every kind of outdoor sport and leisure activity is possible from winter skiing, white water sports, fishing and mountain biking, to rock climbing and hang-gliding. ‘Parapentre Puy-Mary’ in Claux offers professional paragliding courses. Discover great mountain ridge and valley hiking and rambling. Follow part of the route of St Jaques de Compostelle through St Jaques des Blats and enjoy spectacular views from the summit of nearby Puy Griou. Ski lifts are used in summer to reach some higher slopes.

 

Climbing Puy Mary

Auvergne’s most visited natural attraction in the heart of Auvergne’s Parc Naturel Regional des Vulcans. Views from the summit are considered some of the prettiest panoramas in Europe. The 1787m pyramid-shaped peak has 350km of designated walking tracks. Mountain biking and paragliding are also popular. Canyoning and rock-climbing can be organised through local companies.

 

Besse - Festivals of Montee and Devalade

Annual transhumance processions and festivals to mark the ascent of herds to high pastures in July and their return in autumn, held in this pretty old village of lava-built houses. Besse is a principle market centre and main producer of St Nectaire cheese

 

Auvergne Regional Tourist Board

Parc Technologique Clermont-Ferrand La Pardieu

7 allée Pierre de Fermat – Cs 50502

63178 AUBIÈRE CEDEX

 

Tél: (00. 33) 473 29 49 99

 

Please check precise details and dates with event organisers before making your holiday and travel arrangements.

 

Copyright: Holiday France Direct 2008