Its stunning surroundings were a hard act to follow, but the Massif Central has succeeded in creating a built heritage worthy of them! The highlight of its exceptional natural environment is indisputably the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park. Majestic views await visitors from the top of the Puy de Sancy, Puy Mary and Puy de Dôme. The Cévennes National Park, where Mount Lozère is the highest point, and the Millevaches Regional Nature Park in Limousin will also please hikers looking for great expanses of preserved countryside.
Walkers will be captivated by the splendid landscapes of water and rock in the Tarn Gorges, a site dotted with charming villages such as Sainte-Enimie. They can relax on the lake shores of Le Bouchet, Vassivière or Chambon, and the Gévaudan Wolf Park is a great place to meet that legendary animal. Fans of the underground world can visit the Aven Armand or Dargilan caves, while tree-lovers may prefer a stroll in the Tronçais forest.
After enjoying a good meal featuring Auvergne's exceptional cheeses, a walk on the streets of the many characterful villages and medieval towns will be very welcome, for instance in Collonges-la-Rouge, Turenne, Salers or Lavaudieu. Auvergne's capital, Clermont-Ferrand, will reveal its prestigious buildings to inquisitive tourists, and elegant Vichy will surprise them with its lavish spas. Visitors will come across the Way of St. James in Conques or Le Puy-en-Velay, where some magnificent religious monuments still remain.
There is no shortage of cultural and architectural treasures, and visitors can broaden their minds by discovering Aubusson tapestry and its six centuries of history, or travelling to the heart of volcanoes and the Earth at the incredible Vulcania theme park. They can admire the religious heritage jewels that are Souvigny Priory, La Chaise-Dieu Abbey and Orcival Basilica, as well as the fortresses of Anjony and Murol. And above all, don't forget to go and admire the Millau viaduct, an amazing aesthetic and technological feat.
