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 Jacques de Compostela through St Jacques 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.