THE REGIONAL NATURAL RESERVE OF THE VOLCANOES OF AUVERGNE

Welcome in the vastest Regional Natural reserve of Europe. It spreads out over 395 000 hectares and over two departments, Puy de Dôme and Cantal. Just a step from the most famous craters of the region we find Montlosier's castle, seat of the Park.
You will be able to see there exhibition " volcanoes and people " which tells the geologic adventure of Auvergne. (04 73 65 64 26)
120 kilometres from North to South, 393000 hectares, 153 municipalities of Cantal and Puy de Dôme. The common denominator: volcanoes, naturally. Young or former, they constitute a doubtless unique set in the world. But especially the passion of its 92400 inhabitants for the earth on which they live. It is this passion that led them to unite. To protect an architectural and cultural natural patrimony of exception; revive a rural economy based on the agriculture, breeding and craft; develop shelters deserving the tremendous tourist potential of this country of mountains, water and wood. Discover the Regional Natural reserve of the Volcanoes of Auvergne; it is to learn to know Auvergne in that it has of more really, of more beautiful, of more attractive …

The Houses of the Park
House of Buronnier - Fraisse - high Laveissière Tel. 04 71 20 19 00 - Testimony of activities bound to these small buildings of festivity: burons. Tasting offered from 15/06 to 30/06 and from 01/09 to 15/09, from 14 hr till 18 hr. from 01/07 to 31/08, from 10 hours till 12h30 and from 14h30 till 19hr*.
House of the Gentian - Riom-ès-Montagnes Tel. 04 71 78 10 45 and 04 71 78 07 37 - Exhibition on healing plants and their cultivation. Commented Visit of the botanical garden. From 15/06 till 30/06 and from 01/09 till 15/09, every day from 14 hr till 18 hr. Of 01/07 in 31/08, all days from 10 hr to 12h30 till 19*.
House of the Fauna - Murat-Tel.04 71 20 00 52 and 04 71 20 09 47 - Collection of naturalized presented animals within their reconstituted environment. Of 01/07 in 31/08, every day from 10 hr till 12 hr and from 15 hr till 19h*.
Granier's thatched cottage - Niervèze - Thiézac tel. 04 71 47 04 55 - Within a hamlet of mountain, the life of the farm told in the course of time. From 15/06 till 15/09, all days from 14 hr till 18h*.
Information: Centre of Information in Aurillac: Holy Castle Etienne - Tel. 04 71 48 68 68 - Fax 04 71 64 95 39.
* For the groups, school holidays and except periods of opening, to inquire by telephone.

Savour landscapes
The entire Park is an invitation to walking. Walk of some hours or great ride; it is the best means to measure and to appreciate the magnificence of landscapes. Craters, Sharp crests, eased cones, the spectacle is total!

Live in the Park: the work of men
The territory of the Park gives evidence also of the adaptation of the man to its environment. The farms of mountain, robust protections with the thick walls, the roofs of small little flat rocks and slates, were built to resist to the rigours of winter … In villages, laundries, fountains and baker's ovens give evidence of the life in the past … Volvic's stone crosses raise themselves along roads. Everywhere, the secular bluish grey lave, sometimes almost black, and is glorified by the stone-cutters.
Used in numerous castles and for the cathedral of Clermont-Ferrand, it is also found in ornamentation of some Romanic churches as Saint - Saturnin, Orcival, Saint - Nectaire or Dienne … Great spaces and pure air, Auvergne is the country of the ride. Of the Hedged farmland Bourbonnais with the volcanic massifs, each will find its road in the surprising variety of landscapes and of the relief.
Far from roads and cities, it is certainly on foot that Auvergne is best discovered. Paths and roads of ride are numerous and very well worked up. Of variable length and difficulty, they allow everyone to walk at its pace, to taste the pleasures of the mountain-bike or to appreciate a beautiful pony-trekking …