On the Auvergne volcano route

Your adventure on the Auvergne volcano route begins in the mountain resort of Mont-Dore, where you’ll climb to the top of the Puy de Sancy, the highest volcano in mainland France. 

You’ll reach the “roof of Auvergne” after a 3½-hour walk or a ride on the cable car! The option on foot takes you along trails that even inexperienced hikers can do, with some amazing plant life to discover into the bargain. 

At lunchtime, enjoy a picnic at the Puy summit with an all-round view, or try truffade, a local speciality, at the Sommet restaurant. 

On the way back down, treat yourself to a relaxing experience at the Neo-Byzantine thermal baths, a listed Historic Monument.

Stay at the Castelet, at the foot of the Puy, and relax in the hotel gardens or the wellness centre. 

Take a break at the Grande Cascade. This 32-metre waterfall is the highest in Auvergne. Then head for the Banne d’Ordanche, the volcanic peak that towers above the village of Murat-le-Quaire. Here you’ll find footpaths and mountain bike trails leading to the summit, where you’ll be rewarded by a 360° view from the beautiful enamelled viewpoint indicator. 

Stop for lunch at the refuge de la Banne which serves comforting dishes in a heavenly setting. 

Next, you'll visit Murat, a lovely village with stone-slate roofs, a typical feature on the Auvergne volcano route. You can spend the night at L’Étoile, a beautiful chalet facing the Puy de Sancy. 

Head for the pretty Auvergne village of Rochefort Montagne. This is where your hike to the Puy d’Ebert begins. After gaining 500 metres in elevation, from the top of this volcano you'll enjoy an extremely beautiful view over the Chaîne des Puys. 

This 9.8 km loop itinerary is considered to be of average difficulty. If you have enough time, why not picnic on the way to make the most of the beautiful panoramic view?

Stop for the night at a country manor house, La Nichée.

This fourth day takes you to the village of Pontgibaud in the department of Puy de Dôme. Here you’ll visit the Château Dauphin, a medieval fortress of great beauty, and its kitchen garden. 

On the way to Orcines, stop at the Puy des Goules, 1,146 metres above sea level. This walk takes you to the crater, which is over 30 metres deep, and the Sarcoui cave. Also known as the “Cauldron” because of its flat top, this cave was once explored by the Merovingians, who used the lava boulders to make sarcophaguses. Other must-sees are the church of Saint Julien and its 4 golden bells.

Stay at Orcines, surrounded by the volcanoes of Auvergne. At the Dôme à Bulles, you can unwind in a fully-equipped cabin with patio, relax in the spa bath and treat yourself to a packed meal composed of the local products of your choice.

Start your day at the top of one of the most famous volcanoes in France, the Puy de Dôme. From a height of 1,465 metres, this volcanic dome towers above the landscape, offering an amazing panoramic view over the entire Puys mountain chain and the Limagne Fault, registered as UNESCO World Heritage since 2018. You can even see Clermont-Ferrand in the distance. 

Enjoy lunch and a rest at the summit at the Resto d’Épicure, a bistro-style gourmet restaurant with vegetarian options and an aligned view of the 80 volcanoes that’ll take your breath away.

Then walk back down to the beautiful village of Orcival, famous for its 12th-century Romanesque basilica, Notre Dame d’Orcival, and its turreted houses. 

Spend the night at Le Paradis, a comforting gîte with an immense heated swimming pool.

For your last morning in Orcival, walk to the Roche Branlante, a boulder poised in equilibrium which, as legend has it, vibrates when you give it a push. You’ll then continue to your departure point at Mont Dore, not forgetting to take a break at the Guéry pass. 

Here you can do one last walk, this time around Guéry Lake, the highest lake in the region. Gaze out at the views of the Banne d’Ordanche, the Aiguiller massif and the Tuilière and Sanadoire rocks, taking the time to enjoy a last deep breath of the pure mountain air of the Auvergne volcano route.