Must-see attractions in Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

  • Lac Pavin and forest.

    Lac Pavin

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    This midnight-blue crater lake, enclosed by a fuzz of pine trees, lies 6km southwest of Besse. Blasted out of the earth by a volcanic explosion nearly…

  • Volcan de Lemptégy

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    Feel the Auvergne's smouldering terrain beneath your feet at this mined volcanic site, across the main road from amusement park Vulcania. In summer, at…

  • Château de Murol

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    Roosting on a basalt knoll above Murol village, the 12th-century Château de Murol offers peerless views along with insights into a brutish medieval past…

  • Fontaines Pétrifiantes

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    The Papon family put St-Nectaire's hot springs to creative use at the 'Petrifying Fountains', channelling the mineral-rich waters to make art. Calcium…

  • Roches Tuilière et Sanadoire

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    One kilometre north of the turn-off to Lac de Guéry is a lookout that gazes towards two of the Sancy region's most noteworthy geological features. The…

  • Notre-Dame Basilica is a Romanesque Auvergnat church located in Orcival, France.

    Basilique Notre-Dame

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    The Romanesque basilica towering over Orcival is one of the most impressive churches in the Auvergne. With its octagonal tower and broad stone arches,…

  • The medieval castle of Tournoel.

    Château de Tournoël

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    This medieval fortress glowers over Volvic from its 600m-high hilltop perch. A watchtower is thought to have stood here since the 10th century, but the…

  • Vulcania

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    The Auvergne's long-extinct volcanoes are brought back to life in spectacular style at Vulcania theme park, 15km west of Clermont on the D941. Combining…

  • Thermes du Mont-Dore

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    Le Mont-Dore's graceful 19th-century buildings grew from its centuries-old spa heritage, which long pre-dates its reputation as a ski hub. See the source…

  • Espace d'Information

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    Learn about Volvic's world-famous mineral water at the company's Espace d'Information, a 10-minute walk west of Volvic's tourist office. Free hour-long…

  • La Ferme Bellonte

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    To buy cheese from the source (and get a little muddy), take the winding road 3km uphill from St-Nectaire to this multi-generational family dairy farm…

  • Lac Chambon

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    The relatively shallow (and thus warmish) waters of Lac Chambon, 1.5km west of Murol, make this crater lake a much-loved place for families to splash…

  • Temple de Mercure

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    An enigmatic imprint of the distant past stands atop the summit of Puy de Dôme: a 1st-century Gallo-Roman temple undergoing gradual restoration…

  • Église de St-Nectaire

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    This ornate Romanesque church on a hilltop is unmissable as you arrive in St-Nectaire, and it's worth the uphill walk to look inside. Within, you'll see a…

  • Musée du Ski

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    An essential stop for diehard snow-heads, this pocket-sized museum exhibits a collection of vintage ski gear, ice skates, snow shoes and wintry miscellany…

  • Grottes du Cornadore

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    Don a hard hat for a 45-minute tour of St-Nectaire's Roman baths, deep in a cave that glimmers with damp limestone. Two-thousand years ago, these man-made…

  • Maison du Fromage

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    Pick a round of St-Nectaire cheese, along with terrines, jams and other regional nibbles, from this dairy shop across the road from the Grottes du…

  • Maison de la Salers

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    The magnificence of local cattle is the focus of this very French museum, 5km north of Salers. Beef produced in Salers is renowned in France for its rich,…

  • Château de Cordès

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    Fans of French formal gardens will enjoy the 15th-century Château de Cordès, 2.5km north of Orcival off D27. Visitors can explore the manicured lawns and…

  • Rocher de Bonnevie

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    For great views, brave the lung-busting climb to the top of Rocher Bonnevie. From the town centre, this route is about 2.5km; follow the signposts with…

  • Maison de la Pierre

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    Gasp at the daredevil quarrying feats of Volvic's past in this kid-friendly museum. There are subterranean passages to explore (bring a jacket) and flash…

  • Maison de la Faune

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    Budding zoologists should make a beeline for this 16th-century town house opposite place de l'Hôtel de Ville, which houses over 10,000 insects, including…

  • Église St-Joseph

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    La Bourboule's pale lava-stone church, completed in 1888, cuts an elegant silhouette against its mountainous backdrop.

  • Le Beffroy

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    One monumental gateway remains of Besse's medieval fortifications, crowned by the octagonal 16th-century Beffroy, the town's most distinctive feature…

  • Église Collégiale Notre-Dame

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    Dating to the end of the 14th century, the church in Murat's medieval heart bears a few Gothic flourishes from additions made during the 19th century. It…

  • Église St-Priest

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    A fine example of a Romanesque church, 12th-century St-Priest has dark volcanic stone details and boasts three richly decorated chapels. Look up to see…

  • Musée de Salers

    Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

    Uncover Salers' history in one of the most enigmatic buildings in town. This former Knights Templar house exposes local history and traditions among its…

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