Top 5 of the most beautiful villages in Puy-de-Dôme

The Puy-de-Dôme, a multi-faceted department, welcomes many visitors every year, eager for wide open spaces, authenticity and unspoilt environments. Whether it's climbing mountains, treading footpaths, chilling out around lakes or getting to know France's only volcanic territory... everything is possible and accessible to a wide range of visitors. The charming villages are no exception. Medieval and/or simply enchanting, they attract history and heritage enthusiasts and lovers alike, all year round.

It was hard to choose, as there are so many, but we've selected five (albeit ...) pretty villages from our escapades, for you to discover. And because there's still no TGV between Paris and the Auvergne*, let's not waste a second and get down to business, right now!

*Yes! But ... you can come by plane!

To get started, let's hit the road from the Lac Chambon estate, for 40 minutes in the direction of this Auvergne landmark village.

By chance, your path will cross Champeix, a small rustic and refined village, organized in tiers, which is worth the drive, with its Aubary quay, running alongside the Couze Chambon.

From its side, perched on its hillock, the small medieval village of Montpeyroux and its castle, formerly fortified, are peacefully dominated by a keep, which offers a magnificent panorama of the surrounding landscapes.

It's a pleasure to wander through its shady alleyways, yet bright at the same time, by the stone (arkose) that dresses the bourgeois residences, giving them a timeless aura.

Classed as one of France's most beautiful villages (with its 14th-century gate as a vestige), this privileged setting with over a thousand years of history is also a unique starting point for discovering the whole region.

This small town of character is known for its chateau with its circular keep, which houses 14th-century frescoes telling the story of Tristan and Yseult.

The chastel, the 15th-century stone bridge and the small footbridges over the Couze Pavin blend perfectly with this former winegrowing village, which is full of flowers and picturesque, but still bears the scars of the Second World War, such as the "Vierge trouée" (Virgin with a hole in it)... find out for yourself!

Saint-Saturnin is a typical village. Nestled between the Monne gorges and the Veyre valley, this little corner of Auvergne is full of charm: the old volcanic stones of the Place de l'Ormeau and its fountain, the Romanesque church, the Porte des Boucheries and the Château Royal (an ancient medieval fortress with formal gardens) stand side by side with the greenery of the valley's trees. Come and discover the nuances of shadows and colors as you wander through the picturesque, winding lanes, which intermingle with the village's washhouses, fountains and winegrowers' residences!

At the heart of the Parc naturel régional des volcans d'Auvergne, the village of Besse is unique in having been built on a lava flow. A former commercial crossroads between the Limagne plain and the mountains of the Sancy massif, Besse has preserved its heritage as a fortified territory.

The typical stonework and steep streets give this timeless town a protective character, in an environment where the winters are sometimes harsh and the summers hot. Besse's many little inns are the perfect place to sit by a roaring fire and enjoy a truffade, and get back in shape after a long day in the snow!

From its 850-metre altitude, Murol is proudly protected by the Tartaret volcano on one side, and its 12th-century medieval castle on the other. Situated at the heart of a prosperous and fertile region, the latter, listed as a Monument Historique in 1889, had the vocation of guarding three important regional roads, then protecting the local population from various crises and wars.

At Murol, the stone of feudal Auvergne is at one with the elements: water is omnipresent (the Couze Chambon, Lake Chambon ...), for the enjoyment of all!

By revealing themselves to you as you wander, they'll reveal historical and heritage facets of the region, sometimes unusual, or folkloric. The locals and enthusiasts will never be far away to complete your escapade with an unpublished anecdote about their favorite place to live or vacation!