What to visit in Auvergne? If you are looking for a varied and fun tourist circuit, here is my itinerary to visit the volcanoes of Auvergne in 4 days.
In fact, I share with you the detailed stages of this 4-day road trip with the Google Maps map of the itinerary.
This tourist circuit allows you to cross the most beautiful volcanoes of Auvergne but also beautiful forests, lakes, spectacular gorges, castles and small villages of character.
In short, it's a scenic route to do in 4 days but which can be adapted to a 2 or 3 day road trip or even broken down into several day trips.
Where is Auvergne located in France?
When we speak of Auvergne, we necessarily think of Volcanoes but among the 4 departments of central France that make it up there are much more than volcanoes! Indeed, the departments around the Massif Central (Allier, Cantal, Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme) are rich in tourism and culture.
This is why it is better to visit them in road-trip mode to discover Auvergne through its volcanoes but also its heritage and its tourist attractions.
If you come by train you can go directly to Clermont Ferrand. Otherwise, know that there are train stations in the cities of Vichy, Moulins, Montluçon, Thiers, Saint-Flour, Murat, Aurillac or Le Puy-en-Velay and that some are well served from Clermont-Ferrand.
Train journey times:
- 3h30 journey from Paris,
- 2h20 journey from Lyon,
- 4h30 journey from Marseille,
If you come by plane from Paris for example, you will arrive by Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne airport (daily back and forth).
How to visit the Auvergne Volcanoes
In order to plan my itinerary, I looked for the most beautiful volcanic sites to visit in Auvergne.
So, I was able to create an itinerary that passes through all the most interesting tourist sites to visit: Puy de Sancy, Puy-de-Dôme, Puy Mary, Puy de Pariou, Puy de Montchal, Puy de La Vache and Lassolas, Lemptegy Volcano, Tartaret Volcano, Banne d'Ordanche.
I therefore selected only the most beautiful volcanoes, the most interesting villages and the largest natural and cultural sites in Auvergne.
Itinerary to visit the volcanoes of Auvergne
Here is the itinerary of my 4-day road trip in the Auvergne Volcanoes Park:
Day 1: Clermont-Ferrand to Vulcania and Puy de Dôme
- Departure from Clermont-Ferrand: Start your adventure in the capital of Puy-de-Dôme, rich in history and culture.
- Vulcania: Visit this educational theme park dedicated to volcanoes. It is an excellent starting point to understand the unique geology of the region and discover the natural phenomena that surround it13.
- Puy de Dôme: End your day with a hike to the top of Puy de Dôme, offering panoramic views of the Puys mountain range. Allow about 2 hours to reach the summit
Day 2: Exploration of the Monts Dore and the Villages
- Panoramic of the Domes (Mont Dores): Enjoy a breathtaking view of the surrounding volcanic landscapes.
- Les Roches Tuilière and Sanadoire: Hike between these two iconic rock formations, perfect for nature lovers46.
- Village of Orcival: Visit this charming village known for its Romanesque basilica.
- Puy de Sancy Volcano: The highest point in the Massif Central, ideal for a more demanding hike67.
- Chauvet Lake: Discover this lake of volcanic origin, located at an altitude of 1166 m, perfect for a picnic or a quiet walk25.
- Village of Saint Nectaire: End the day in this village famous for its eponymous cheese.
Day 3: Cultural and Natural Discovery
- Montpeyroux: A picturesque medieval village with narrow streets and magnificent views.
- Usson Village: Known for its medieval ruins and fascinating history.
- Le Puy en Velay: Visit this historic town famous for its cathedral and monumental statues.
- The Allier Gorges: Enjoy spectacular scenery as you follow rivers and gorges, perfect for hiking or kayaking46
Day 4: Medieval City and Nature
- Medieval City of Salers: Explore this well-preserved medieval city, known for its architecture and historical ambiance.
- Lac de Lastioulles: End your road trip with a visit to this peaceful lake, ideal for relaxing and appreciating the natural beauty of the Auvergne
Tourist circuit of the Auvergne volcanoes
This 4-day itinerary follows the tourist circuit of the Auvergne Volcanoes, a map of which you will find below:
Now you can discover the detailed stages of this tourist circuit :
Auvergne Volcanoes Tour – Day 1
For the 1st day of my road trip, my circuit begins with the regional capital of Auvergne: Clermont Ferrand.
Clermont Ferrand
City of Vercingétorix, Blaise Pascal and Michelin's Bibendum, Clermont-Ferrand is not a very touristy city. Without spending half a day there, I recommend that you go and discover its beautiful Gothic cathedral as well as the Notre-Dame-du-Port basilica.
Or why not visit the L'Aventure Michelin museum? You will thus discover the history of the famous world tire manufacturer whose head office has been based in Clermont Ferrant since 1889.
Vulcania
If you have children, it is impossible to go to Auvergne without going to Vulcania! Only 20 minutes from Clermont-Ferrand, I recommend that you spend 2 or 3 hours in this amusement park dedicated to the world of volcanoes and the natural phenomena of the Earth.
Puy de Domes
After 15 minutes by car, my program takes us to discover the Puy de Dômes to end the day. And to reach the top of the highest volcano in the Chaîne des Puys, I recommend that you take the Panoramique des Dômes.
The departure station is located at Lieu-dit La Font de l'Arbre - Chemin du Couleyras on the Municipality of Orcines.
This little cogwheel train takes you in 15 minutes to the top of the volcano (1465 meters). Up there you will have a spectacular panorama of the volcanoes of the Chaîne des Puys and the Limagne Fault.
See details on official site of the Panoramique des Dômes.
Where to sleep in Puy de Dôme?
If you are looking for simple, well-equipped and inexpensive accommodation, I recommend the Gîte-Hôtel The Little Cham which is located in the ski resort of Mont-Dore.
See this accommodation in Puy de Dôme
Auvergne Volcanoes Tour – Day 2
The Tuilières and Sanadoire Rocks
On the road that goes from the Mont Dore resort to Orcival on the D27, so on my route, you will arrive at the parking lot of Col de Guery. There, you have to park to admire a point of view is indicated and arranged for visitors.
These 2 rocks are the remains of a crater and in the middle the remains of a gorge carved by a glacier over millions of years ago.
Orcival
After the pretty point of view, I recommend that you take a little walk in the pretty village of Orcival. Typical village of Auvergne, you can visit its Romanesque basilica and the castle of Cordès with its gardens.
Puy de Sancy volcano
Puy de Sancy is an extinct volcano whose summit reaches 1885 meters. The highest point in the Massif Central, it is the highest volcano in mainland France.
To enjoy the magnificent panoramas offered by the surroundings of this volcano, you can hike from Super Besse, Mont-Dore and from Chastreix-Sancy. Loop trails offer walks from 3:30 to 6:XNUMX around the volcano. See the routes on: Sancy.com
Chauvet Lake
Then, the next stage is located at an altitude of 1166 m at Lac Chauvet.
From Picherande, you can take a beautiful 4 hour hike, the route of which you will find below (map kindly shared by BALIRANDO Les Amis des Chemins).
Saint-Nectaire
After this beautiful hike, you will take the road for 30 km to reach the pretty village of Saint-Nectaire.
This village, known for its AOP Saint-Nectaire cheese, is also an old spa town from the 19th century. As a result, you will appreciate not only its cheese but also its Romanesque church and its architectural heritage from the Belle Epoque.
It is moreover to make the most of it that I advise you to spend the evening and the night there.
Where to sleep near Saint-Nectaire?
Very well located in Saint-Nectaire (opposite the Mercure hotel), this apartment is well equipped and perfect for a stopover night.
See this apartment in Saint-Nectaire
Tourist tour in Auvergne - Day 3
The program of the 3rd day of my tourist circuit in Auvergne takes us to the Gorges de l'Allier. On the road, we will stop to admire two small villages classified among the most beautiful villages in France.
Montpeyroux
Montpeyroux is a superb arkose stone village. From its 13th century tower, you can enjoy a magnificent panorama over the entire region.
Usson village
25 kilometers further south of Montpeyroux, there is another village classified among the most beautiful villages in France: Usson.
Usson was once dominated by a castle which for 19 years served as Queen Margot's place of exile.
Le Puy en Velay
Then, it will be necessary to make a hundred kilometers (1h30 of road) to arrive at Puy en Velay. Indeed, it is a must-see site when sightseeing in Auvergne!
On the road to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, the municipality of Puy en Velay offers pilgrims a place of welcome and information and a museum-trail on the theme of the Way of St-Jacques.
To visit this city, you can visit the Rocher Corneille and the Statue of Notre-Dame de France, the Chapelle St-Michel d'Aiguilhe (at the top of the volcanic rock), the Cathedral, its 12th century cloister and the upper town.
The Allier Gorges
To visit the Gorges de l'Allier with a little tight timing, the tourist train is the ideal solution! So you put down your car and let yourself be rocked by the rails through landscapes accessible only by train.
To make this scenic route by train, you have to go to the train station Langeac (40 km from Le Puy en Velay). Be careful because there is only 1 return trip per day.
Where to sleep in Langeac?
For convenience, I recommend the Abel Hotel, which is just a 10-minute walk from Langeac train station. Restaurants, shops, cafes are also a 10-minute walk away and the hotel has free parking.
Tourist tour in Auvergne - Day 4
My 4th day program combines history, old stones, relaxation and nature. To begin with, it will take a little over 2 hours to get to Salers.
Medieval city of Salers
Ranked among the most beautiful villages in France, the village of Salers is well worth a visit.
Then you will take the road back to the Lac de Lastioulles, 65 km from Salers.
Lastioulles lake
It is in this magnificent setting that my 4-day road trip in Auvergne ends. Thus, you can enjoy the landscapes, the lake beach and the nautical center (rental of canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, etc.).
And if you are in good shape, there are 3 hikes to do:
- The lakes of Crégut for its panoramas on the Puy Mary, the lakes and the mountains of Cantal;
- Lake Laroche;
- The Trémouille forest.
Where to sleep at Lac de Lastioulles?
Here is a guest room that I particularly recommend. The house is very well located near Lake Lastouilles and the reception is top notch!
Other ideas from road trip in France ?
here is my Normandy tour