Auvergne Volcanoes

Four days in the heart of Europe's largest volcanic range, dormant for 6,000 years but legible in every contour. The route links the Puy de Dome with its temple of Mercury, the Puy de Sancy topping out at 1,886 metres as the highest point of the Massif Central, Lac Pavin, a perfectly circular crater lake and the deepest in Auvergne, then Salers, a village built in black lava facing the Cantal mountains. Le Mont-Dore with its belle epoque spa, and the Vulcania park, complete the trip. This is a landscape of domes, craters and frozen lava flows where geology becomes obvious on foot. The Puy de Dome is reached by rack railway or on foot; the access road is closed to cars. Pack a fleece even in July.