Allier, Cantal, Haute-Loire, Puy-de-Dôme

About the region
The Region: The Auvergne is a little-known mountainous region in central France. The rural hilltop farming communities have not yet been subjected to mass tourism, which makes it a relaxing area to explore.

Clermond-Ferrand is a hub of activity and is the capital of this area, but its sprawling 60s architecture, heavy industry and trapped summer pollution are not particularly heart-warming. However, once out of the town, you are quickly swallowed up by the beauty of the surrounding volcanic mountains and incredible views. Volvic, the famous spring water, comes from a few miles up the road.


Skiing in winter and walks in summer are the perfect way to take in the scenery of the Massif Centrale mountains, and driving around the twisty roads you will see the dairy herds and roaming sheep, on which the local economy has been based for centuries. Wheat fields take up much of the lowlands of the north Auvergne, which compares drastically to the remote, steep and sometimes bleak surroundings of the far south. In between these two extremes there are soft, rolling hills, chestnut orchards and ancient farmsteads nestling in rich green meadows.

For a bit of civilisation and sophistication, Vichy is the place to spend some time. It is the most elegant city in the Auvergne, and well-worth a visit.


Weather: Long, cold, snowy winters are replaced with clear blue skies and strong sun in the summer. Conditions are effected by the high altitude. The hot summers are punctuated by tremendous and sudden storms, for which you need to be prepared!

Gastronomy: The extremely sustaining cuisine from the Auvergne developed in response its history of poverty and hardship. Cheese (Cantal, Tomme and Tomme Fraîche), bread and potatoes are the basis of lots of tasty local recipes, along with bacon, garlic, cabbage and eggs; calorific mountain food. Traditional dried sausages and salted hams from this region are world-renowned, as are the green lentils from Puy.

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Le Mont-Dore, in the Mountains

Discover the little Auvergne town... This pretty town is nestled in stunning scenery at the foot of the Puy du Sancy mountain, in the Auverge National Park of Auvernge Volcanoes, and has a year-long tourist season. Don't let that put you off, because the relatively few visitors mean that the town is... more...

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