Chaîne des Puys

#1121 among destinations in France

Nature, Natural attraction, Volcano, Unesco

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Facts and practical information

The Chaîne des Puys is a north-south oriented chain of cinder cones, lava domes, and maars in the Massif Central of France. The chain is about 40 km long, and the identified volcanic features, which constitute a volcanic field, include 48 cinder cones, eight lava domes, and 15 maars and explosion craters. Its highest point is the lava dome of Puy de Dôme, located near the middle of the chain, which is 1,465 m high. The name of the range comes from a French term, puy, which refers to a volcanic mountain with a rounded profile. A date of 4040 BCE is usually given for the last eruption of a Chaîne des Puys volcano. ()

Alternative names: Elevation: 4803 ftCoordinates: 45°30'0"N, 2°48'0"E

Location

Auvergne-Rhône-AlpesFrance

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Day trips

Chaîne des Puys – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Super Besse, Puy de Sancy, Lac Pavin, Lac des Hermines.

2.9 miE
Winter sport, Ski area
Super Besse
74 min walk • Nestled in the heart of France's Massif Central, Super Besse is a dynamic ski area that beckons winter sports enthusiasts with its pristine slopes and breathtaking mountain vistas. This alpine gem, situated in the Auvergne region, offers a picturesque setting for an...
2.1 miN
Nature, Natural attraction, Volcano
Puy de Sancy, Mont Dore
53 min walk • Nestled in the heart of France's volcanic region, the Puy de Sancy is the highest peak in the Massif Central, rising to an elevation of 1,885 meters. Located near the town of Mont Dore, this majestic mountain is a beacon for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
4.3 miE
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Lac Pavin
109 min walk • Lac Pavin, nestled in the heart of France's Auvergne region, is a pristine volcanic lake known for its circular shape and deep blue waters. Formed roughly 6,000 years ago by a phreatomagmatic eruption, a rare occurrence where magma meets water, the lake is the youngest...
2.8 miE
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Lac des Hermines
71 min walk • Lac des Hermines is a lake near Super-Besse, in Puy-de-Dôme, France. At an elevation of 1350 m, its surface area is 0.14 km².
2.1 miN
Nature, Natural attraction, Volcano
Monts Dore
55 min walk • The Monts Dore are the remnant peaks of a volcanic massif situated near the center of the Massif Central, in the Auvergne region of France. They form a picturesque mountainous region, dotted with lakes, thermal springs and romanesque churches.
5.4 miSE
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Lac de Montcineyre
137 min walk • Lac de Montcineyre is a lake in Compains, Puy-de-Dôme, France. At an elevation of 1182 m, its surface area is 0.4 km².
2.9 miSW
Church
Église Saint-Quintien, Picherande
74 min walk • The Saint-Quintien church is a Catholic church located in Picherande, France. It is protected as a historical monument.
4.8 miN
Railway, Transport
Funiculaire du Capucin, Mont Dore
124 min walk • The Capucin funicular is located in the commune of Mont-Dore. It is the first electric funicular built in France and is registered as a historical monument. Its line crosses 175 meters of difference in altitude and ends at the Salon du Capucin, at...
3.3 miSE
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Lac Chauvet
86 min walk • Lac Chauvet is a lake in Picherande, Puy-de-Dôme, France. At an elevation of 1176 m, its surface area is 0.54 km².
3.3 miW
Church
Saint-Bonnet Church
84 min walk • The Saint-Bonnet church is a Catholic church located in Chastreix, France.
2.4 miE
Church
Chapelle Notre-Dame de Vassivière
61 min walk • Chapelle Notre-Dame de Vassivière is a chapel built in the 16th century 8 km from the center of the commune of Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, in the French department of Puy-de-Dôme.