Page 159 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

DRIVE 14: Volcanoes of the Auvergne 157

Manzat
St-Georges- PLAN YOUR DRIVE
de-Mons
Châtelguyon Start/finish: Clermont-Ferrand
Les Ancizes- Par c Naturel Ennezat
Comps Riom to Salers.
Rég ional des
Number of days: 3, allowing time to
Volcans Volvic Chappes
walk around the Puy de Dôme’s sum-
d’A uv er gne mit and climb to the top of Puy Mary.
Gerzat
Pontgibaud
Vulcania Orcines CLERMONT- Clermont-Ferrand Distance: 190 km (120 miles).
Auvergne
Sioule Puy de Côme La Baraque FERRAND Pont-du- Road conditions: There are several cols
1,252 m
Lempdes Château (passes) on the route and the higher
PUY DE DÔME ones may be blocked by snow in win-
Gelles Col de Ceyssat La Font Royat Cournon-
de l’Arbre d'Auvergne ter. A sign on the approach road will tell
Massagettes whether it is ouvert (open to traf fic) or
Le Cendre
Busséol fermé (closed). The Pas de Peyrol is
Rochefort- closed between October and April.
Montagne Randanne St-Amant-
Tallende
Orcival When to go: May to October.
St-Saturnin Opening hours: Monuments and
PUY -DE-DÔME Allier Vic-le-
Comte
Plauzat museums are generally open from 10am
COL DE GUÉRY to 6pm. Most sights close on Monday
Lac de Guéry Champeix or Tuesday and on public holidays.
La Bourboule St-Nectaire
Murol Couze de Chambon Main market days: Besse-et-St-
Mont-Dore Issoire
Chambon- Lac Chambon Anastaise: Mon; Salers: Wed;
sur-Lac
St-Nectaire: Sun.
Puy d’Ysson
Puy de Sançy
1,885 m 856 m
BESSE-ET-ST-ANASTAISE Shopping: The Auvergne’s most
Super-Besse Vodable popular purchases are edible: cheese,
Lac Pavin honey, home-made cakes and Riom-ès-
St-Germain-
Puy de Montchal Valbeleix Lembron Montagnes’ gentian liqueur. Also shop
1,411 m
Picherande for enamelwork, pottery and carved
stone or wooden objects.
Compains
Égliseneuve- Major festivals: Clermont-Ferrand:
d'Entraigues Ardes
Espinchal Couze d’Ardes International Short Film Festival, late
La Godivelle Jan/early Feb. Salers: Fête de la Vache
et du Fromage (cheese festival), Aug.
Mont Chamaroux
1,476 m
Condat
Le Luguet Anzat-le- DAYTRIP OPTIONS
1,551 m Luguet
Marcenat
Families will enjoy a day out in
KEY Vulcania; mountain lovers will
Massif
Drive route admire the view from the Puy de
Centr al Dôme; keen drivers will enjoy the
Ségur- Allanche drive through Pas de Peyrol. For
St-Hippolyte les-Villas details, see p161.
CHEYLADE
Le Claux
Dienne
Col de Serre
Murat
Puy Mary
1,787 m
Plomb du Cantal
1,855 m