Photo : JulienChabal / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Parc naturel régional des Volcans d'auvergne
The Volcans d'Auvergne Regional Nature Park was created on 25 October 1977, in the heart of the Massif Central, across the Puy-de-Dôme and Cantal départements. With about 390,000 hectares (389,733 according to the park's publications), it is the largest of the regional nature parks of France.
It brings together several volcanic groups: the Chaîne des Puys, the Sancy massif, the Monts Dore and the Cantal mountains, with sites such as the Puy Mary. The territory has nearly 150 communes according to sources.
The landscapes alternate craters, puys, summer pastures, forests, lakes and glacial valleys. Many hiking paths, including several stretches of GR, let you discover these ancient volcanoes and their natural environments, as well as the territory's pastoral and cheese-making activities.
