Parc naturel régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

Paysages volcaniques du Parc naturel régional des Volcans d'Auvergne

Volcanic Landscapes of Chaîne des Puys

The Chaîne des Puys is a 40-kilometer tectonic fault featuring over 80 monogenetic volcanoes in France's Massif Central. This UNESCO World Heritage site showcases diverse geological formations, including the iconic Puy de Dôme lava dome and the cinder cones of Puy Pariou. The landscape is characterized by ancient craters, basaltic flows, and deep maars like Lac Pavin. Spanning approximately 95,000 years of volcanic activity, the area offers extensive hiking trails through dormant and extinct craters, providing a rare look at the evolution of continental rifting.

Volcanic Landscapes of Chaîne des Puys — Carte

A

Puy de Dôme

Puy de Dôme is a lava dome and one of the youngest volcanoes in the Chaîne des Puys region of Massif Central in central France.

B

Puy de Sancy

Puy de Sancy is the highest mountain in the Massif Central, in Puy-de-Dôme departement of south central France.

C

Lac Pavin

Lac Pavin or Lake Pavin is a meromictic crater lake, located in the Dore mountains, in Auvergne, in the territory of the commune of Besse…

D

Gour de Tazenat

The Gour de Tazenat is a volcanic lake in the French department of Puy-de-Dôme.

E

Puy de Lassolas

The Puy de Lassolas is a volcano in the Chaîne des Puys in France, peaking at 1187 metres.

F

Puy Pariou

The Puy de Pariou, also known as Puy Pariou or Le Pariou, is a volcano located in the Chaîne des Puys, in the Massif Central region.

G

Puy de Chalard

Extinct volcano in the Puy-de-Dôme department belonging to the Chaîne des Puys.

H

Le Petit Suchet

Also known as Puy de l'Aumône, this dormant volcano reaches 1,198 meters and features ancient caves used for stone extraction.

I

Puy des Goules

An extinct volcano also known as Montgoulède, featuring a regular crater approximately 30 meters deep.

Matthieu Perona / CC BY 3.0

J

Puy de la Bannière

Extinct volcano located near Volvic, part of the northern Chaîne des Puys.

Medium69 / CC BY-SA 4.0

K

Puy des Gouttes

An extinct cinder cone that partially surrounds the younger Puy Chopine.

Medium69 / CC BY-SA 4.0

L

Puy Chopine

A volcanic needle of trachyte that rose through the center of the older Puy des Gouttes.

Jmfriedt~commonswiki / Public domain

M

Puy de la Vache

The Puy de la Vache is a basaltic volcano in the Chaîne des Puys, in the Massif Central of France.

Gegeours / CC BY-SA 3.0

N

Puy de Louchadière

Large extinct volcano featuring a breached crater open to the west.

Gegeours / CC BY-SA 3.0

O

Grand Sarcouy

A trachyte lava dome known for its cauldron shape and Merovingian-era sarcophagus quarries.

P

Puy de Lemptégy

A volcano excavated for scoria, now serving as an open-air museum where the internal structure of a volcano is visible.

Q

Puy de la Nugère

Extinct volcano known for producing the gray Pierre de Volvic lava stone used in regional architecture.

R

Puy de Paugnat

Extinct volcano in the northern part of the Chaîne des Puys.

S

Puy de Mercœur

Dormant volcano at the southern end of the main chain, featuring a well-preserved crater.

T

Puy de Clierzou

Lava dome approximately 11,000 years old, featuring several caves where volcanic rock was quarried.

U

Puy de Chaumont

Extinct volcano located north of Puy de Dôme between Grand Sarcouy and Petit Suchet.

V

Puy de la Coquille

Extinct volcano forming a twin pair with Puy de Jumes, featuring a distinct crater.

W

Puy de Côme

Dormant volcano known for its two nested craters and extensive basaltic lava flows.

X

Puy de Berzet

Volcanic peak located near the village of Berzet.

Y

Montagne de Janson

Ancient volcanic formation in the Dore mountains area.

Z

Le Tartaret

Dormant volcano whose lava flow created the natural dam for Lake Chambon.

Puy de Saint-Martin

Dormant volcano located in the Massif du Sancy region.

Puy Griou

A phonolite dome in the Cantal mountains, recognized by its steep conical shape.

Puy de Porcherolles

Extinct volcano located near the Puy de Dôme.

Puy de Fraisse

Extinct volcano within the northern Chaîne des Puys.

Puy de Montjuger

Volcanic peak reaching 1,142 meters in altitude.

Nid de la Poule

A small, well-defined volcanic crater located on the slopes of the Puy de Dôme.

Vivanson

Dormant volcano located in the southern part of the regional park.

Petit Puy de Dôme

Dormant volcano situated immediately north of the main Puy de Dôme peak.

Puy Besace

Dormant volcano located near the Puy de Lassolas and Puy de la Vache.

Petit Sarcouy

Extinct volcano located adjacent to the larger Grand Sarcouy dome.

Creux Morel

Extinct volcanic crater located near the Puy de Pariou.

La Roche Vendeix

Volcanic phonolite peak that formerly housed a medieval fortress.