The Puy-de-Dôme is well known en beloved for its intense beauty and wonderful green landscapes. There are plenty of natural areas, rivers, valleys, volcanoues and nature parks such as the Parc des Volcans and the Parc de Livradois. The Puy-de-Dôme and the southern Cantal epartment are perfect holiday destination for nature lovers and for the "green" tourism.
An ideal location for walking and cycling, there are more than 5000 km of paths leading you through the department. There are even special routes for families to make the ride more fun for children. In addition, water sports enthusiasts can enjoy their stay and go canoeing, kayaking, rafting, fishing and swimming in the Sioule going direction the Allier. For athletes who prefer not to get their feet wet, they can go horse riding, paragliding, ballooning and skiing during the winter. A holiday in Puy-de-Dôme offers something for everyone!
The Puy-de-Dôme is inextricably linked to volcanism but for many years, the volcanoes of the Auvergne are dormant but not extinct. The most famous volcano is the Puy-de-Dôme, its over 1465 m high. From the top, you have a beautiful view of all the vacanoes of Auvergne. On a clear day, you can even see the peak of Mont Blanc, wich is 320 km away!
If you want to climb the Puy-de-Dôme, you must leave your car down: access to vehicles is forbidden. To reach the top, take the electric train that brings you to the top within 20 minutes. During the ride, you can admire the volcanoes of the "Chaîne des Puys". Access is also prohibited for bicycles but courageous hikers can walk it. The descent will take one and a half hour.
There are plenty activities for children in this versatile department. In the theme park Vulcania, children can learn about the Earth sciences through an interactive environment. They can see the 38 m deep crater, the tower of gold, 5D movies, mobile platforms, various films and exhibitions. In addition to Vulcania, the L'Aventure Michelin, Europavox and the Parc Animalier d'Auvergne are nice things to do.
Clermont-Ferrand is the capital of the department. The city is the economic heart of the Auvergne and the city of Michelin. The first car and bicycle tyres were made here. There are many museums in Clermont-Ferrand but there is also the basilica of Notre-Dame du Port and Montferrand district worth visiting. If you like shopping then you will love Clermont-Ferrand; you will find many shops and you can not escape the Jaude Square grocery store located. You will also find many restaurants with terraces.
Thiers is the French capital of cutlery and here also lies the large nature park Livradois. This is a historic jewel in the French countryside with protected natural landscapes and a very rich fauna and flora. You can walk there with passionate guides. A few kilometers south of Thiers, you will find Courpière. Here you can take the train that takes you through the Sembadel Park.
Also on terms of gastronomy, you can enjoy the cheeses Saint-Nectaire, Bleu d'Auvergne, delicious charcuterie, pink garlic from Billom and "Potée Auvergnate". The latter is like a cabbage stew with potatoes, bacon and sausages. You'll love it!