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Top 4 unmissable spots and starting points for walks in Auvergne
The Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes region is booming with tourism. With 168 million tourist overnight stays and an estimated 21 billion euros in tourism-related consumption in 2018, it has established itself as the second-largest tourism region in France (KPI 2018, marketing studies division, Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes tourisme).
Building on this success, the Domaine du Lac Chambon, located in the Puy-de-Dôme, is one of our most popular destinations, and will be equipped, from summer 2020, with new cottages and lodges du Sancy to welcome you!
Overflowing with sights, events, points of interest or pretty villages ..., right in the heart of the great and historic "Auvergne" region, the Puy-de-Dôme is a most welcoming department, and one of unrivalled natural wealth.
It's possible to experience many of the region's qualities, simply by taking a stroll. The hikes and the pace -at pace- they impose allow you to capture the essence of the environment; there's nothing like observing, smelling, inflating the lungs and escaping, for a moment, from all the superfluous that surrounds us, in a return to basics that will stimulate all the senses!
More than just loops or routes, today we invite you to set off together to discover four ideal spots for multiple unforgettable walks and hikes, to do in Auvergne!
The Chaîne des Puys, in ... Puy-de-Dôme
In the heart of the Parc naturel régional des Volcans d'Auvergne, the Chaîne des Puys is a group of 80 volcanoes stretching over some 45 km. Suffice it to say, it's sure to delight those who love the challenge of vertical ascent! Surrounded by the Combrailles, Monts Dore and Limagne mountains, it boasts one of the world's most famous peaks: the Puy-de-Dôme. The whole area has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2018. The chain's unusual landscape is characteristic of its international influence; of land and water, this vast terrain of exploration is an open-air encyclopedia.
Le Puy Mary and the Cantal mountains, in ... Cantal
Vestige of Europe's largest stratovolcano, the Cantalien massif boasts a number of emblematic peaks, including the plomb du Cantal - a rather rounded summit with a steep drop, but well equipped for hikers - the puy Griou - a volcanic rock discovered by climbing a scree slope - and, of course, the famous puy Mary. The latter is without doubt one of the most beautiful sites in the Cantal. Proudly bearing the "Grand Site de France" label, its environment, fauna and flora are of unprecedented diversity!
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Le Puy-en-Velay, in Haute-Loire
If it isn't already, Le Puy-en-Velay will soon have to take its place in your Auvergne vacation planning. A Unesco World Heritage site and the starting point for the world-famous Camino de Compostela pilgrimage route, the historic part of town is also rich in sumptuous architecture. A true crossroads of the region's most beautiful paths, Velay has something to excite every hiker, whether in a wandering mood or a seasoned trekker.
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Vichy, Allier
Elegant, refreshing and timeless. Three promises of the town of Vichy, which is, already, in itself, the object of numerous strolls and wanderings. Beyond the queen of water cities, it's possible to walk every day for three months, without stopping, or taking the same marked path twice! Indeed, the Allier abounds in great signposted itineraries, places of interest or drop-off points.
Whether discovering magnificent towns, such as Néris-les-Bains or Charroux, venturing into the lush nature of the Sioule valley or apprehending the stroll through the discovery of the river cruising on the Canal de Berry, no doubt your step counter will explode, if you're staying in this department!"
Some visuals may have been retouched.
Article illustration photo source @puydedome, on Unsplash.
