Massif Central, You Can Feel Nature’S Heavy Ma- Chinery at Work

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MassifPOP 1.34 MILLION Central

Includes  Why Go? Clermont-Ferrand. . 539 In one of the wildest, emptiest and least-known corners of Vichy...... 543 France, the Massif Central, you can feel nature’s heavy ma- chinery at work. Below ground, hot volcanic springs bubble Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans up to supply Vichy and Volvic with their famous mineral d’Auvergne...... 547 waters, while high in the mountains trickling streams join forces to form three of France’s mightiest rivers: the Dor- Volvic...... 547 dogne, the Allier and the Loire. Puy de Dôme . . . . 547 The Massif Central and surrounding Auvergne region re- Le Mont-Dore . . . . 548 mains deeply traditional. Reliant on agriculture and cattle Parc Naturel Régional farming, it shelters the country’s largest area of protected Livradois-Forez. . . 553 landscape with two huge regional parks: the Parc Naturel Le Puy-en-Velay. . . 555 Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne and its neighbour, the Parc Gorges de l’Allier . . 560 Naturel Régional Livradois-Forez. On-tap outdoor activities include heady hiking trails, plunging ski slopes, paragliding La Montagne off shapely volcanic summits, and setting off on an age-old Protestante. . . . . 560 pilgrimage – sustained by some of the halest, heartiest food in France. Best Places to Eat ¨¨Maki Nova (p559) When to Go ¨¨La Golmotte (p550) Clermont-Ferrand ¨¨Les Caudalies (p546) °C/°F Te mp Rainfall Inches/mm 40/104 6/150 ¨¨Chez Laurette (p552) 30/86 5/125 ¨¨Le Sisisi (p542) 4/100 20/68 3/75 10/50 2/50 0/32 Best Places to 1/25 -10/14 0 Stay J FDM A M J J A S O N ¨¨Le Chastel Montaigu (p551) ¨¨Auberge d’Aijean (p552) Jun Experience Dec–Mar Max out Aug See sacred the region’s hiking on winter sports Vierges Noires ¨ ¨Hôtel Saluces (p553) trails in their at Le Mont-Dore or (Black Madonnas) ¨¨Hôtel Notre Dame (p548) full springtime catch Clermont- paraded on As- splendour. Ferrand’s short- sumption Day. ¨¨Le Moulin Ferme-Auberge film festival. (p560) # \ E # \ s on 9 m)

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