City: France
Top Things to do in France
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Top 8 Volcanos in France, France
– in Europe (green & dark grey)
– in the European Union (green)
Restaurants in France
1. Vallee de Chaudefour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 251 reviews
2. Chaine des Puys
3. Puy-de-Dome Volcano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,736 reviews
Reviewed By 4KiaraS - Chester, United Kingdom
This was the highlight of our trip to the Clermont-Ferrand area. The hike to the top is about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on your pace. It does get a little more strenuous as you get the the top - and quite steep on the way down, so wear proper hiking shoes. Foe those with mobility issues (or young children) there is the option of taking a train, but if you're able-bodied, you'll want the experience of the hike! There is a middle option - there's a parking lot a little higher up the mountain that cuts about 20-30 minutes off the hike. That lots tends to fill up before the lower lot tough, so go early if you plan to be use that option. There's also a restaurant and a restroom at the upper parking lot. The views along the way are breathtaking. The height of Puy de Dôme is 1,465-metres. At the summit, it's nothing short of magical! We were fortunate enough to be there on a clear day where we had a perfect view of the Chaîne des Puys (volcanoes), Monts Dore and Monts du Forez mountains, Clermont-Ferrand and the Limagne plain. There's a path around the summit so you can take in the full panoramic view. I was shocked to see how many sheep were at the summit! The summit also provides restroom facilities, restaurant, gift shop, ruins of a Gallo-Roman temple, a meteorological observatory and a visitor information center. It took us 75 minutes to hike to the summit and about 45 minutes to go down because we went with the momentum and were basically running all he way down. Be careful - it gets slippery!! This is definitely something not to be missed! Bring a refillable water bottle and wear proper hiking shoes. It was hot when we went, but if you're visiting in cooler months you may ant to bring a light jacket for when you're at the summit.
4. Parc Naturel Regional des Volcans d'Auvergne
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 56 reviews
5. Puy Mary
6. Puy de la Vache
7. Le Puy du Pariou
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 383 reviews
Reviewed By albertv1527 - Utrecht, The Netherlands
Highly recommend hike. There are multiple paths leading to the top of the Puy de Pariou. If you take the path that goes counter clockwise around the base of the puy you will be treated on a varied landscape with some clearings that allow for very nice panoramas. After 2,5 km (the last stretch slanting up) you will reach stairs that spiral around the puy all the way to its top. Those are 500+ steps. From halfway up the stairs you can see more mountains in the distant south (i.e. Puy de Sancy & co). On the top you have a magnificent panorama over the nearby volcanoes and into the caldera. Can very well be combined with going up neighbouring Puy de Goules. In fact they share the car park (Parking des Goules). If you only go up one volcanoe, choose Pariou, it's the better experience. If you do both, save Pariou for last.
