Photo : Clément Beckert / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Puy de Sancy
At 1,885 metres' altitude, the Puy de Sancy is both the high point of the Massif Central and the highest volcano in mainland France. It stands in the heart of the Monts Dore, a massif born of a stratovolcano now deeply eroded, between the communes of Chambon-sur-Lac, Chastreix and Le Mont-Dore.
Its tormented relief, shaped by successive glaciations, contrasts with the gentler forms of the neighbouring Chaîne des Puys. In clear weather, the panorama from its summit extends over a large part of the Massif Central, to the Cantal mountains and sometimes even the Alps.
A gondola links the Mont-Dore resort to the foot of the summit, from where a wooden staircase lets you finish the climb on foot. In winter, the site becomes the heart of the Sancy ski area, while in summer the summit is suited to hiking and viewing the surrounding volcanic landscape.
