France’s “green lung”,
Auvergne is the land of Wide-Open Spaces. Located in the
heart of the Massif Central, today it is at the crossroads
of several motorways:
3 hours from PARIS on the A71 motorway
2 hours from LYON on the A72 motorway
BEZIERS, the A75 “La Méridienne” motorway
(free)
BORDEAUX, the A89 motorway (under construction)
With is sprinkling of lakes and forests, Auvergne offers
its visitors the largest group of volcanoes in Europe, Vulcania,
the unique European Volcano Park, two Regional Nature Parks
(the Auvergne Volcanoes and Livradois-Forez) more than 500
Romanesque churches, nearly 50 châteaux to visit along
Historic Road of the Auvergne Châteaux and 10 spa
towns which preserve the charms of the “Belle Époque”
and are not to be missed.
All along the tourist routes through the
l’Allier, Cantal,
Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme,
départements, the wealth and variety of the landscapes
are perfect for many sport and leisure activities: hiking,
mountain biking, horseback riding, hang gliding, canoeing-kayaking,
swimming, cross-country and downhill skiing or snow shoeing
in winter. Auvergne also means delicious food and a fun,
festive atmosphere in the friendly spirit of hospitality
that is so typical of the Auvergnat people.