Page 353 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

just west of Clermont-Ferrand.
Glowing lights of a traveling At the centre, the Puy de
funfair in the centre of Dôme towers above a high
Clermont-Ferrand plateau. A mountain railway STAY
spirals up the peak at a steady
12 per cent gradient, taking
village of St-Nectaire-le Haut, 15 minutes to reach the top, Hôtel Radio
with its soaring, elegant pro- while the steeper Roman path This hilly Art Deco
portions, is one of the most is still used by hikers. (No cars gem has original floor
beautiful. The 103 stone or buses ascend the Puy de mosaics, mirrors and
capitals, 22 of them poly- Dôme; phone 08 26 39 96 15 wrought-iron decor,
chrome, are vividly carved, for train information.) side-by-side with radio
and the treasury includes a At the summit are the memorabilia.
gold bust of St Baudime and vestiges of the Roman temple ! E5 ⌂ 43 av Pierre et
a wooden Notre-Dame-du- of Mercury and a meteorol- Marie Curie, 63400
Mont-Cornadore, both marvels ogical/telecom munications Clermont-Ferrant
of 12th-century workmanship. tower. On a clear day, the ∑ hotel-radio.fr
The lower village, St-Nectaire- view across the volcano will ¡¡¡
le-Bas, has more than 40 hot take your breath away. The
and cold springs. controversial, Parc Européen L’Auberge d’Aijean
Nearby, the 12th-century du Volcanisme, Vulcania, an
citadel of Château de Murol educational amusement park High up in the Monts du
Cantal, with a lovely
has costumed guides demon- built in the area, uses the terrace, this converted
strating medie val life and latest tech nology to simulate barn offers comfy rooms
knightly pursuits. It is volca nic activity in its under- and delicious food.
wonderful for children. ground circuit.
In the southwest corner ! E5 ⌂ Le Gandilhon,
Château de Murol of the Monts Dômes region Lavigerie ∑ auberge-
' " ⌂ Murol # 10am–6pm is the Château de Cordès, puy-mary.com
daily (to 8pm Jun–Aug) a small, privately owned ¡¡¡
¢ 1 Jan, 14 Jul, 25 Dec 15th-century manor house
∑ murolchateau.com with formal gardens designed Chateau St Saturnin
by Le Nôtre. Inside are well- A 13th-century castle
furnished state rooms and a in beautiful grounds,
15 chapel, all Rococo in style. with views of the
mountains. Rooms
Monts Dômes Vulcania have four-poster beds
! E5 ⌂ Puy de Dôme " \ - ⌂ D941B, St-Ours- and tapestries.
k £ @ Clermont-Ferrand les-Roches # Mid-Mar– ! E5 ⌂ Pl de l’Ormeau,
n Aydat; www.parcdes mid-Nov: 10am–6pm 63450 Saint-Saturnin
∑ vulcania.com
volcans.fr ∑ chateaudesaint
saturnin.com
The youngest range of the Château de Cordès ¡¡¡
Auvergne volcanoes at 4,000 "' ⌂ Orcival # Jul & Aug:
years old, the Monts Dômes, or guided tours at 11am, 2:30 &
Chaîne des Puys, encom pass 4pm daily; gardens 10am–
112 extinct volcanoes aligned 6pm daily ¢ Sep–Jun ∑
over a 30-km (19-mile) stretch chateau-cordes-orcival.com

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