Auvergne Things to Do

 
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

An unknown volcano in the south of Auvergne

by kokoryko

Mont Bard: an unknown volcano in the south of Auvergne.If you happen to drive between Clermont Ferrand and Le Puy en Velay, you will pass through the village of St Paulien, and from there it is easy to reach the village of Allègre where the Mt Bard is located nearby.It is not a very spectacular one, but it still has its original shape (Strombolian type, cinder cone and lava flows), despite being 800000 years old. (Picture 1) ; if you go up to the ruins of the castle of Allegre you may have a good overview of the cinder cone of Mont Bard (Picture2). Indicating signs bring the visitor to the track head leading up to the crater, the track is very easy to lead you up (Picture3) to the fringe of the crater. The crater is a flat area in the centre of the volcano now occupied by a peat bog (Picture4); the water lake which occupied the place has been filled with sediments with the time, it has...

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Learn ecology on Mont Bard

by kokoryko

Mont Bard also offers views and the opportunity to learn.A local association has laid out the tracks to the summit and on the trail there are signs with some explanation about the volcano itself or about what happened later. It is always a good thing to have a few explanations when we see something unusual, and the kids walk easier trying to find the next sign and preparing for the next questions.On the crater fringes, you may have some view over the Velay hills (Picture1).On picture 2 is an example of the signs which are to be found along the track around the crater. Again the peat bog (picture3) surrounded on the inner flanks of the crater by beech and fir woods; the little firs beginning to grow in the middle seem to indicate, the bog is in its way to dry up with the years. . . . And finally the way down (Picture4). The walk itself going up, and around twice (the outer trail, on top...

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Impressive Polignac

by kokoryko

I do not know if the Polignac family from here has a link with the famous Cognac Brandy. . . This big fortress has been built between 1385 and 1424 on a high volcanic cliff by one of the most famous families of French history. It appears huge when you look at it from the road and arriving at the little village at the foot of the cliff it just is very impressive, dominating all around. This military building could accommodate more than 800 soldiers, who fetched water from a 83 m deep well (dug in basaltic rock!) The Donjon has been built during the 16th century. There is a chapel, but most of the old buildings inside have disappeared (barracks, horse stables, )These last years archeological work finds back the old buildings and even more, reveals that the area has been settled by Roman troops and there is a remain of a temple dedicated to Apollon.You access to the castle by a long 141...

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Conques

by andrewwhite

The village, nestled in a wild gorge, with its narrow lanes and old, timber-frame houses, follows a hillside along the length of rue Charlemagne. This was the street travelled by the pilgrims on their way to the abbey at Conques. Built by monks from the tenth to the XIIth centuries, the church and cloisters stand among the most beautiful triumphs of Roman art. For twelve centuries, the village, in the heart of the Dourdou valley, has protecteda fabulous treasure of goldsmithery. Its principal masterpiece is the venerated reliquary statue of Saint Foy. Each year, Conques receives approximately 600,000 visitors.

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St Julien de Brioude

by kokoryko

Brioude , located in the south of Auvergne , on the high valley of the Allier river hosts the biggest roman basilica of Auvergne.This basilica, constructed in the 11 and 12th centuries contains some masterpieces of roman art of Auvergne. If you happen to pass by Brioude or the area , this basilica is worth a stop.Like many Auvergne religious buildings, it is a polychromic building, using rocks of different colours (volcanic rocks) to build walls, columns, arches.. . . Last time I visited, it was under renovation which should be finished by Summer 2007. It is located in the old city where a walk in the old street let you discover some old buildings like the Mandrin house.This door knocker (Main picture) in form of a lion head, which is a symbol of the Brioude city decorates the North side entrance door to the ship of the basilica.As it was under renovation, the south and west sides and...

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Early morning walks

by kokoryko

Where ever in Auvergne, if you are lucky enough to be above 800m elevation, try to go out at the same time as the sun rises. You just will see Nature awaking, getting out of its bed sheets!On the main picture, wake up not far from Viverols (see “tip” on Viverols chateau) .Picture 2: oblique sun in the “Forêt des Taillades”, not far from my “den” in the Massif Central.Fog coming from the Dore valley, another morning (Picture 3)Summer morning, spider webs will be visible for a few minutes before the dew evaporates.(Picture 4)Another morning in the woods with the mists (picture 5) ; ambiences I like a lot!

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Mid April hike on Col des Pradeaux

by kokoryko

Spring is almost there, a few snow flakes are left in the shadowy areas of the woods, but flowers are now beginning to bloom, the birds sing loudly , . . . . etc. . . etc. . . . . I am not exactly a poetic writer. I just show you a few pictures from a hike at Col des Pradeaux mid April this year. There are many trails in the area, mine was a “custom” one, as I know the area quite well, and will not give a detailed itinerary, which could take several pages; just few highlights.Meneyrolles, Puy de Loir, Col des Pradeaux, Rocher de Pierre Dure and return, with a hot chocolate at Col des Pradeaux where there is a café open all year; 6 hours walking at slow pace. (See IGN 1/25000 map St Martin des Olmes, or Google Earth : col des Pradeaux is at : 41° 35’ 34.00”” N, 3° 50’ 44.00” E.) .But it is possible to park at the Cold des Pradeaux and have shorter hikes around.In April you see the meadows...

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An afternoon hike on two world famous volcanoes.

by kokoryko

Yes! World famous at least for few people: Puy de Lassolas and Puy de la Vache are two breached craters (in fact, not craters, but cinder cones, as are most of the cone shaped volcanoes), so breached cinder cones correctly, which are in most French earth sciences books.They are easily accessible and within 3-4 hours one can have walked on the fringes of the cones.These volcanoes are only 6500 years old and are among the youngest of the Chaine des Puys, and this explains their well preserved shape, not altered by weathering and erosion.The pictures have been taken with very bad light conditions (these are things you not always can control!!) and they look very flat, no relief..On the main picture taken from 2 km south Puy de la Vache on the right and Puy de Lassolas, left.Picture 2: at the bottom of Puy de la Vache: what the “cinder cone” is made of: the red lapilli, puzzolana, volcanic...

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Top of Puy de Dôme : look at all these volcanoes

by kokoryko

When you go up the Puy de Dôme, if the weather allows it you have a view over more than eighty volcanoes! The Puy de Dome is located few kilometres West of Clermont Ferrand and a small road goes up quite high, then from a parking there is half an hour walk to go to the summit (1460 m); in summer with fine weather you may see more tourists than volcanoes, but it is worth to have this spectacular overview on the “Chaîne des Puys”.The main picture is from the summit to the North ; in the forefront is the “Petit Puy de Dôme”, with the “nid de la poule (hen’s nest) hole just before the first little wood, then left of the meadow in the middle is the “Petit suchet”, and right is the famous “Puy Pariou”. The second picture is a view to the south; more woods on the hills, but there are some famous (among the French vulcanologists community) volcanoes: Puy de Laschamps on the background (the third...

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The treasures are inside !

by kokoryko

St Austremoine Basilic is very well known for the paintings of its walls and columns.Some of the paintings date back to the 13th century, other are more recent.So, a visit inside is well worth, for the paintings, the windows and the statues.Main picture: red and gold around the altar in the choir. Heavily decorated pillars with chapiters representing saints or biblical characters supporting the narrow roman arches. This looks a bit too much decorated; few is known about the middle age decoration as a whole in the basilica; here the paintings are recent ones.Picture2: a side walk along the ship; paintings from top to bottom; most of them are recent paintings (recent means here 19th century).Picture3: The corn represented here gives a maximum date at least; paintings date from after the introduction of corn to Europe. . . . (coming from the new world).Picture4: The Madonna with her child,...

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Fun things to do in Auvergne

Top 3 Hotels in Auvergne

All Seasons Le Puy en Velay Centre  Le Puy-en-Velay

 1 Review and 89 Opinions  While we were only here for one night, the room was quite comfortable. We had a great view from the... 

 Hotels in Le Puy-en-Velay

Citotel MG  Clermont-Ferrand

 1 Review and 9 Opinions  This hotel was very nice & very clean , the only thing you watch for is if you get a room on the... 

 Hotels in Clermont-Ferrand

Arverna Citotel Vichy  Vichy

 1 Review and 29 Opinions  A small 2* hotel in the very centre of Vichy. It's on a one-way street so it's very quiet at night.... 

 Hotels in Vichy

323 Hotels in Auvergne
 
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Reviews and photos of Auvergne attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Auvergne sightseeing.

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Things to Do: Cities in Auvergne
  1. Clermont-Ferrand Things to Do
  2. Le Puy-en-Velay Things to Do
  3. Le Mont-Dore Things to Do
  4. Rochefort Things to Do
  5. Ambert Things to Do
  6. Thiers Things to Do
  7. Moulins Things to Do
  8. Thiézac Things to Do
  9. Craponne-sur-Arzon Things to Do
  10. Chaudes-Aigues Things to Do
  11. Châtel-Montagne Things to Do
  12. Jullianges Things to Do
  13. Villeneuve-sur-Allier Things to Do
  14. Saint-Nectaire Things to Do
  15. Saint-Flour Things to Do
  16. Sainte-Agathe Things to Do

More Cities in Auvergne

 

Questions and Answers

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Q:  I am responsible for finding 11 rooms for 1 night (29 May) in the Auvergne. I cannot find a hotel, Auberge, chateau that will... 

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A: Well, what's wrong with next year? All I got to offer is English. I can't see that being a problem as there is a multitude of translation software on the web. I could... 

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