Le Puy de Dôme

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The Puy de Dôme - a lunar landscape of craters and cones

Puy de Dôme hit the headlines on 12 July 1964 when its ascent was the scene of an epic cycling duel between Poulidor and Anquetil during the Tour de France of that year. Incidentally, Poulidor won the climb and finished the stage in 3rd place behind Bahamontes and Jimenez.

A landmark site of the department, symbol of Auvergne and its wide open spaces, the Puy de Dôme is at the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne, between the Plaine de Limagne and the Plateau de Combrailles. It is 1,465m high and its landscape is best described as lunar with golden brown or green craters and cones, followed by large stretches of wild moorland peppered with forests. It offers a unique 360° panorama of the 80 volcanoes which make up the Chaîne des Puys, the finest volcanic formation in Europe.

At the top of Puy de Dôme

Les Dômes du Puy de Dôme — Well-signposted paths lead to the top of the Puy de Dôme and offer the opportunity to see mouflons and other wildlife. The paths are the Chemin des Chèvres and the famous Sentier des Muletiers which is much shorter but much steeper. For those who find walking difficult, the Panoramique des Dômes, a rack railway takes you to the top in just a few minutes all year round. This train was introduced in 2012 to replace pollutant vehicle traffic. It is silent, eco-friendly, safe and allows access to the summit all year round. Once you reach the top by whichever means, there is a snack bar and a restaurant to recharge your batteries. The train terminus at the bottom of the Puy is also the site of a Visitor Centre with exhibitions, regular events and a free car park.

The Temple of Mercury, a mountain temple of Roman Gaul

At the foot of the emblematic transmission mast is a wonderful archaeological surprise offering a window on the past. Dating from the 2nd century A. D., the Temple of Mercury is the largest mountain temple of Roman Gaul ! Principally dedicated to Mercury, the large, terraced sanctuary was a major centre of pilgrimage and its construction at the top of the Puy de Dôme was no mere accident.

Benefitting from an ideal viewpoint over the capital city of Augustonemetum – today Clermont-Ferrand – the sanctuary is open to all. For many years it has been the object of a restoration project and is a wonderful additional asset for the Grand Site de France. Finally, if you are feeling brave, you can fly over the huge Dôme on a paraglider : a truly thrilling experience !

Discover Puy de Dôme with Gites de France Puy de Dôme : Chaîne des Puys, Vulcania Theme Park"