Relaxing in the Massif Central

Relaxing in the Massif Central

Itineraries in France

Itineraries in France

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Day 1

Depart from Vichy towards first stopping place Time 8 min Vichy The queen of spa towns TIme 3 hr 05 Famous since Gallo-Roman times for the healing and therapeutic properties of its springs, the famous and elegant spa resort of Vichy, highly prized by famous people like Napoleon III and Madame de Sévigné, has preserved its... Lunch Time 1 hr 30 Vichy The queen of spa towns TIme 2 hr 55 Visit continued... Time off Time 1 hr

Vichy

The queen of spa towns

6 hr

Day 2

Route to next stopping place Time 48 min Chouvigny Gorges Canoe-kayaking, an excellent way of discovering this listed natural site! TIme 3 hr 15 Dominated by a 13th-century castle fort, the Chouvigny Gorges road in the Combrailles, at the heart of the Sioule gorges between Menat and Ébreuil, offers motorists, bikers and cyclists a series of beautiful landscapes, both... Lunch Time 1 hr 30 Chouvigny Gorges Canoe-kayaking, an excellent way of discovering this listed natural site! TIme 15 min Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 46 min Queuille meander A particularly photogenic natural site! TIme 30 min The Sioule river forms a stunning loop in a beautiful green and unspoiled setting between Châteauneuf-les-Bains and Sauret-Besserve: the Queuille meander. This incredibly beautiful place can be admired from the panoramic... Route to next stopping place Time 29 min Châtel-Guyon Spa resort with old-world charm TIme 1 hr The spa resort of Châtel-Guyon in the Auvergne Volcanic Regional Nature Park has preserved all the charm of the past with its thermal baths, belle-époque buildings, casino/theatre and pretty Parc Thermal spa garden that's...

	Chouvigny Gorges	Canoe-kayaking, an excellent way of discovering this listed natural site!	3 hr 30
	Queuille meander	A particularly photogenic natural site!	30 min
	Châtel-Guyon	Spa resort with old-world charm	1 hr

Day 3

Châtel-Guyon Spa resort with old-world charm TIme 3 hr Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 15 min Volvic Town of stone and water TIme 1 hr The town of Volvic is known in French as the "town of stone and water" because of its special feature of buildings and fountains built in black lava and its famous pure and lightly mineralised spring water. The Maison de... Lunch Time 1 hr 30 Volvic Town of stone and water TIme 2 hr 30 Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 31 min

	Châtel-Guyon	Spa resort with old-world charm	3 hr
	Volvic	Town of stone and water	3 hr 30

Day 4

Puy de Dôme volcano The highest volcano in the Puys mountains, with an extraordinary panoramic view! TIme 1 hr 30 The 1,465-metre-high Puy de Dôme is the symbol of the département and the highest volcano in the Chaîne des Puys mountain range. Part of the Monts Dôme range in the heart of the Massif Central mountain region, around 15km... Route to next stopping place Time 17 min Royat Elegant spa resort near Clermont-Ferrand TIme 1 hr 30 The elegant spa resort of Royat, located west of Clermont-Ferrand, specialises in the treatment of osteoarthritis and cardio-arterial diseases. It possesses a recreational well-being and spa centre, Royatonic, where the... Lunch Time 1 hr 30 Royat Elegant spa resort near Clermont-Ferrand TIme 2 hr Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 8 min Clermont-Ferrand Capital of the Auvergne region TIme 1 hr 35 Clermont-Ferrand enjoys an ideal location between the Limagne plain and the Chaîne des Puys mountain range. The capital of the Auvergne region and the birthplace of the famous French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal,...

	Puy de Dôme volcano	The highest volcano in the Puys mountains, with an extraordinary panoramic view!	1 hr 30
	Royat	Elegant spa resort near Clermont-Ferrand	3 hr 30
	Clermont-Ferrand	Capital of the Auvergne region	1 hr 35

Day 5

Clermont-Ferrand Capital of the Auvergne region TIme 3 hr 15 Visit continued... Lunch Time 1 hr 30 Clermont-Ferrand Capital of the Auvergne region TIme 1 hr 10 Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 22 min Gergovie plateau Site of the famous Battle of Gergovia between Vercingetorix and Julius Caesar TIme 1 hr 30 Formerly called Merdogne plateau, the vast Gergovie plateau, located 15 kilometres south of Clermont-Ferrand, is famous for being the site of the famous Battle of Gergovia that took place between Vercingetorix and Julius... Route to next stopping place Time 22 min Saint-Saturnin Romanesque church, medieval château and Renaissance fountain TIme 1 hr The old village of Saint-Saturnin, where the Counts of Auvergne once lived, towers above the Monne gorges from the top of a lava flow and has inspired a whole host of painters and writers. Its places of interest include a...

	Clermont-Ferrand	Capital of the Auvergne region	4 hr 25
	Gergovie plateau	Site of the famous Battle of Gergovia between Vercingetorix and Julius Caesar	1 hr 30
	Saint-Saturnin	Romanesque church, medieval château and Renaissance fountain	1 hr

Day 6

Saint-Saturnin Romanesque church, medieval château and Renaissance fountain TIme 1 hr 15 Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 15 min Aydat lake A beautiful stretch of water known for its recreational activities TIme 1 hr 45 Aydat lake, located in the Dôme mountains in the Auvergne Volcanic Regional Nature Park, is the largest natural lake in the Auvergne and a special site that's a popular destination with holidaymakers and fans of water-based... Lunch Time 1 hr 30 Aydat lake A beautiful stretch of water known for its recreational activities TIme 1 hr 45 Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 20 min Saint-Nectaire A renowned gastronomic stopping point, this village also boasts a magnificent Romanesque church TIme 1 hr 40 Famous for its cheese of character of the same name, the peaceful village of Saint-Nectaire in the Monts Dore mountain area is dominated by its superb 12th-century Auvergne Romanesque church built by the monks of La Chaise-Dieu...

	Saint-Saturnin	Romanesque church, medieval château and Renaissance fountain	1 hr 15
	Aydat lake	A beautiful stretch of water known for its recreational activities	3 hr 30
	Saint-Nectaire	A renowned gastronomic stopping point, this village also boasts a magnificent Romanesque church	1 hr 40

Day 7

Saint-Nectaire A renowned gastronomic stopping point, this village also boasts a magnificent Romanesque church TIme 2 hr 20 Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 23 min Pavin lake A stunning crater lake TIme 40 min Nestling in a pine, beech and spruce forest not far from Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise is a beautiful volcanic crater lake called Lac Pavin (surface area 44 hectares, depth 92 metres). Take the footpath surrounding the lake for... Picnic (bring your own food) Time 1 hr 30 Pavin lake A stunning crater lake TIme 40 min Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 6 min Super Besse Ski resort in the Sancy mountain area TIme 2 hr 55 The ski resort of Super Besse was built in 1961 and is located at an altitude of 1,350 metres on the south side of Puy de Sancy mountain not far from the village of Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise. Its ski area comprises both downhill...

	Saint-Nectaire	A renowned gastronomic stopping point, this village also boasts a magnificent Romanesque church	2 hr 20
	Pavin lake	A stunning crater lake	1 hr 20
	Super Besse	Ski resort in the Sancy mountain area	2 hr 55

Day 8

Super Besse Ski resort in the Sancy mountain area TIme 2 hr 05 Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 35 min Puy de Sancy mountain The highest peak in the Massif Central TIme 40 min Puy de Sancy mountain, part of the Dore mountain range in the Auvergne Volcanic Regional Nature Park, reaches an altitude of 1,886 metres, making it the highest peak in the Massif Central. Accessible during the summer season... Picnic (bring your own food) Time 1 hr 30 Puy de Sancy mountain The highest peak in the Massif Central TIme 40 min Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 9 min Le Mont-Dore Both a spa resort and a winter sports resort! TIme 2 hr 55 Le Mont-Dore is both a spa resort and a winter sports resort in a particularly attractive natural setting surrounded by beautiful mountains. This peaceful destination is perfect for both fans of relaxation, thanks to its...

	Super Besse	Ski resort in the Sancy mountain area	2 hr 05
	Puy de Sancy mountain	The highest peak in the Massif Central	1 hr 20
	Le Mont-Dore	Both a spa resort and a winter sports resort!	2 hr 55

Day 9

Le Mont-Dore Both a spa resort and a winter sports resort! TIme 3 hr 15 Visit continued... Lunch Time 1 hr 30 Le Mont-Dore Both a spa resort and a winter sports resort! TIme 50 min Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 9 min La Bourboule Spa resort with special focus on its natural environment and on children! TIme 2 hr 50 La Bourboule, located on either side of the Dordogne river at an altitude of 850 metres, is both a spa resort known for its curative water and an approved Green Resort (resort paying particular attention to its natural environment)...

	Le Mont-Dore	Both a spa resort and a winter sports resort!	4 hr 05
	La Bourboule	Spa resort with special focus on its natural environment and on children!	2 hr 50

Day 10

La Bourboule Spa resort with special focus on its natural environment and on children! TIme 3 hr 10 Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 42 min Lunch Time 1 hr 30 Route continued... Time 42 min Salers A wonderfully unspoiled medieval town! TIme 1 hr 30 The small medieval town of Salers, built in the 15th century, possesses a beautiful central square. It also boasts handsome houses with lava walls and slate roofs, as well as certain residences decorated with turrets. It... Route to next stopping place Time 7 min Fontanges monolithic chapel A chapel carved out of the rock TIme 30 min This chapel was dug into the rock in 1901 in Fontanges. Route to next stopping place Time 20 min

	La Bourboule	Spa resort with special focus on its natural environment and on children!	3 hr 10
	Salers	A wonderfully unspoiled medieval town!	1 hr 30
	Fontanges monolithic chapel	A chapel carved out of the rock	30 min

Day 11

Tournemire and Anjony castle Tournemire, a charming village... TIme 1 hr 30 The charming lava houses are settled along a narrow street in Tournemire. At the end of it, the Anjony castle and its four round towers dating the 15th century. Route to next stopping place Time 34 min The mounts Cantal Puy Mary, largest volcano in Europe TIme 1 hr 10 Covering 2,500 km2, the mounts Cantal are what remains of the biggest volcano in Europe. The highest peak in the area is the Plomb du Cantal, at 1,855 metres. It is the location of the Auvergne's largest ski resort, Super-Lorian,... Lunch Time 1 hr 30 The mounts Cantal Puy Mary, largest volcano in Europe TIme 3 hr 45 Visit continued...

	Tournemire and Anjony castle	Tournemire, a charming village...	1 hr 30
	The mounts Cantal	Puy Mary, largest volcano in Europe	4 hr 55

Day 12

The mounts Cantal Puy Mary, largest volcano in Europe TIme 1 hr 05 Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 20 min Murat Medieval town situated in the heart of the mounts Cantal in the Auvergne Volcanic Regional Nature Park TIme 1 hr 30 Situated at an altitude of 920 metres, the city of Murat benefits from an exceptional geographical situation. It is indeed in the heart of the mounts Cantal, in the Auvergne Volcanic Regional Nature Park. The setting is beautiful... Route to next stopping place Time 37 min Lunch Time 1 hr 30 The Truyère Gorges A natural place with magnificent landscapes... TIme 1 hr 30 A place not to be missed for its magnificent landscapes of green countryside, water and wild gorges. Route to next stopping place Time 4 min Chaudes-Aigues This spa town possesses the hottest spring in Europe! TIme 1 hr 55 What makes this spa town unique is its total of 30 hot springs, including the hottest in Europe (the Par) which flows at 82 degrees Celsius! The hot water is used in numerous ways, including to treat rheumatism and heat the...

	The mounts Cantal	Puy Mary, largest volcano in Europe	1 hr 05
	Murat	Medieval town situated in the heart of the mounts Cantal in the Auvergne Volcanic Regional Nature Park	1 hr 30
	The Truyère Gorges	A natural place with magnificent landscapes...	1 hr 30
	Chaudes-Aigues	This spa town possesses the hottest spring in Europe!	1 hr 55

Day 13

Chaudes-Aigues This spa town possesses the hottest spring in Europe! TIme 2 hr 05 Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 26 min Saint-Flour City of Art and History TIme 1 hr This medieval town has pretty Renaissance houses around its Armes square and around its Saint-Pierre cathedral, as well as mansions dating from the 16th century. Shops selling specialities line the picturesque narrow streets... Lunch Time 1 hr 30 Saint-Flour City of Art and History TIme 1 hr Visit continued... Route to next stopping place Time 34 min Blesle Beautiful villages TIme 1 hr 30 The Haute-Loire has some very pretty villages, such as Blesle, Auzon, Lavaudieu and Lavoûte-Chilhac – perfect places for a relaxing wander. Route to next stopping place Time 31 min

	Chaudes-Aigues	This spa town possesses the hottest spring in Europe!	2 hr 05
	Saint-Flour	City of Art and History	2 hr
	Blesle	Beautiful villages	1 hr 30

Day 14

Auzon Beautiful villages TIme 1 hr The Haute-Loire has some very pretty villages, such as Blesle, Auzon, Lavaudieu and Lavoûte-Chilhac – perfect places for a relaxing wander. Route to next stopping place Time 27 min Lavaudieu Beautiful villages TIme 1 hr 45 The Haute-Loire has some very pretty villages, such as Blesle, Auzon, Lavaudieu and Lavoûte-Chilhac – perfect places for a relaxing wander. Route to next stopping place Time 14 min Lunch Time 1 hr 30 Route continued... Time 14 min Lavoûte-Chilhac Beautiful villages TIme 1 hr The Haute-Loire has some very pretty villages, such as Blesle, Auzon, Lavaudieu and Lavoûte-Chilhac – perfect places for a relaxing wander. Route to next stopping place Time 22 min The Allier gorges The charming village of Saint-Arcons-d'Allier overlooks the Allier gorges TIme 2 hr From Langeac to Chapeauroux, the gorges are only really visible by train. However, there are several pretty, typical villages in the gorges, such as Saint-Arcons-d'Allier.

	Auzon	Beautiful villages	1 hr
	Lavaudieu	Beautiful villages	1 hr 45
	Lavoûte-Chilhac	Beautiful villages	1 hr
	The Allier gorges	The charming village of Saint-Arcons-d'Allier overlooks the Allier gorges	2 hr

Day 15

Route to next stopping place Time 45 min The Bouchet lake A magnificent natural site! TIme 45 min This circular lake is unusual in that it occupies a volcano crater. Lake Bouchet is completely surrounded by spruce, larch and beech forests – a really magnificent location. You almost feel like you're in Canada! Route to next stopping place Time 29 min Le Puy-en-Velay Its Romanesque cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site TIme 1 hr 15 Main city of the Haute-Loire, Le Puy-en-Velay has many attractions. The visit of the Notre-Dame-de-France cathedral built in the 11th century should not be missed, as well as its cloister. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the... Lunch Time 1 hr 30 Le Puy-en-Velay Its Romanesque cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site TIme 2 hr 45 Visit continued...

	The Bouchet lake	A magnificent natural site!	45 min
	Le Puy-en-Velay	Its Romanesque cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site	4 hr

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