Clermont Auvergne Volcans

Nature and landscapes | With 2 Regional Nature Parks (Volcans d’Auvergne and Livradois-Forez), the Puy de Dôme (Grand site de France) and the Chaîne des Puys – Limagne fault listed as a Unesco World Heritage site, Clermont Auvergne Volcans offers an exceptional natural heritage and a wide variety of landscapes(…)

Nature and landscapes | With 2 Regional Nature Parks (Volcans d’Auvergne and Livradois-Forez), the Puy de Dôme (Grand site de France) and the Chaîne des Puys – Limagne fault listed as a Unesco World Heritage site, Clermont Auvergne Volcans offers an exceptional natural heritage and a wide variety of landscapes in the immediate vicinity of the metropolis. The Allier River runs through the region, and the area boasts 2 Pavillon Bleu sites: the Cournon-d’Auvergne lake and Lac d’Aydat, the largest natural lake in Auvergne. Numerous natural areas, such as the Forêt de la Comté – the largest oak forest in Auvergne – complete this well-preserved environment, which is an essential asset in the region’s appeal.

Sports and outdoor activities | Clermont Auvergne Volcans offers over 500 km of hiking trails, over 100 km of mountain biking trails from the Base VTT des Volcans in Aydat and 25 km of cycling trails on the Via Allier linking Pont-du Château to Vic-le-Comte. The destination also boasts a range of water sports at the École de Voile du lac d’Aydat and over 50 outdoor activities.

Thermalism and well-being | Clermont Auvergne Volcans is fortunate to include the Royat-Chamalières spa among its offerings, enabling it to showcase its thermal heritage as well as work to develop health and well-being tourism.

Urban and cultural tourism | With 6 museums (including the MARQ), many of the region’s leading tourist sites – the Panoramique des Dômes, Vulcania, the Volcan de Lemptégy – as well as a program of live shows (Comédie scène nationale, Opéra-Théâtre…) and events (Europavox, the International Short Film Festival…), the cultural offering is one of the new destination’s major attractions. The region’s historical and archaeological heritage is also a key component of the tourism offering, with the Musée Archéologique de la Bataille de Gergovie at the forefront. The region also boasts unique religious buildings (Notre-Dame de l’Assomption cathedral, the Unesco-listed Notre-Dame du Port basilica, Sainte-Chapelle de Vic-le-Comte, the Romanesque church of Saint-Saturnin), 3 Petites Cités de Caractère® (La Sauvetat, Saint-Saturnin and Vic-le-Comte), several castles and archaeological sites such as the Corent oppidum.

Coming soon: the metropolis’ project to be awarded the Pays d’Art et d’Histoire label by 2024-2025.

Gastronomic heritage and wine tourism | Clermont Auvergne Volcans brings together the “Côtes d’Auvergne, destination volcans”, a destination to be awarded the Vignobles et Découvertes label in March 2022 and including some 50 communes in the Puy-de-Dôme (the Côtes d’Auvergne have 17 wine cellars open to the public); and the Saint-Nectaire PDO, at the gateway to the territory (Aydat, Cournols and Olloix) … and several Michelin-starred restaurants!