Tag Archives: Volcanic Ensemble

French Views: Auvergne’s Volcanic Ensemble (Video)

Located in central #France​, the Regional Natural Park of the #Auvergne​, with its 400,000 hectares, is the largest volcanic ensemble in Europe. In July 2018, #UNESCO​ listed the Chaîne des Puys mountains range as a world heritage site. Since then, a whole population has been striving to preserve this priceless heritage. We meet the park wardens studying the minute creatures of these open spaces and the craftsmen producing enamelled lava from the dormant volcanoes.

Auvergne is a historical region in central France, and is now part of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The mostly rural, mountainous area is popular for hiking and skiing, with vast forests and dormant volcanoes such as Puy de Dôme. An abundance of natural hot springs has spawned spa towns such as Vichy, known for its mineral water. Clermont-Ferrand is a busy university city with a stately Romanesque church, Notre-Dame du Port.