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Auvergne
Auvergne is made up of four départements (counties): Allier, Puy-de-Dôme, Haute-Loire, Cantal
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. With is sprinkling of lakes and forests, Auvergne offers its visitors the largest group of volcanoes in Europe at 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 the Historic Road of the Auvergne Châteaux and 10 spa towns which preserve the charms of the “Belle Époque”.
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.
For further information, visit Auvergne Regional Tourist Board at http://www.auvergne-tourisme.info
We thank them for their collaboration.
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Ski in France - Skiing Auvergne
The best known resort in the Sancy range is Super Besse, which has some 45km of south facing slopes, comprising 27 runs: 7 green, 6 blue, 11 red and 3 black.There is a link to the north facing resort of Le Mont Dore and lift passes may be purchased for individual resorts or the whole area.
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Cycling in Auvergne
The Volcanic nature of Auvergne has shaped the region in a way that seems perfect for cyclists. Nature parks with remarkable scenic views like the Livradois-Forez park are perfect for a family cycling trip. Cyclists, from the most experienced of riders and downhillers to the family outing, will find that Auvergne has endless options.
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Horse Riding Auvergne
Auvergne is a great region for horses and riding and is a wonderful destination for riding holidays. The layout of the fields, the patterns of crops and woodlands, the layout of the towns and villages and the unique building structures create the perfect horse riding experience.
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Between Lakes and Volcanoes in Auvergne
Lakes and volcanoes share the West of Auvergne. Between the Chaîne des Dômes, the Monts Dore and the huge Massif Cantalien, it is an impressive yet idyllic environment that welcomes nature lovers.
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Food and Drink Auvergne
It is impossible to talk about Auvergne without mentioning the local products for which it is famous: the five AOC cheeses (Saint-Nectaire, Cantal, Salers, Fourme d’Ambert and Bleu d’Auvergne). Salt pork products (Oh! That delicious Auvergne ham and all those sausages!), washed down, in moderation, by good wines: Saint-Pourçain, Châteaugay, Madargues, Boudes or Corent.
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Walking in Auvergne
Auvergne's immense greenland is peppered with trecks for all ages and experience. All kinds of hiking trails are to be found through the landscape taht has been sculpted through the ages by volcanic eruptions.
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Hydrotherapy in Auvergne
Auvergne is the most important region for hydrotherapy treatment in France. Every year its 10 resorts welcome nearly 70,000 curists making Auvergne a major European health centre. The spa centres of Vichy, Le Mont-Dore, Saint-Nectaire, Châteauneuf-les-Bains, Châtel-Guyon, La Bourboule, Royat-Chamalières, Chaudes-Aigues, Néris-les-Bains and Bourbon-l’Archambault, together make up a unique group.
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History in Auvergne
In the Northeast of Auvergne, in the heart of the Allier and Bourbonnais area, the land of the Dukes of Bourbon, the ancestral home of eight of the last Kings of France, welcomes art and history lovers. Water, humble and salutary, floods this land of prosperous history with its blessings.
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Heritage in Auvergne
Auvergne has a particularly rich heritage of châteaux that are well worth visiting. Built in the Middle Ages, then under the Dukes of Bourbon d'Auvergne and their vassals, these sentinels set high up on volcanic promontories and these lovely residences nestled in the Bourbonnais bocage bear witness to a prestigious past.
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Vulcania in Auvergne -The European Volcano Park
Thousands of years of volcanism have forged the landscape of Auvergne giving it the special strength and character that make it a unique place in Europe.
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Watersports Auvergne
Auvergne, being known as the "land of lakes and volcanoes" is rich with numerous water sports. Natural and artificial lakes are in use all year round for sporting activities. From fishing and swimming to water skiing and kayaking, there is no limit to what can be done.
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Culture Auvergne
Because of the isolated nature of much of the Auvergne countryside, many ancient traditions have survived. Today the inhabitants are doing their utmost to preserve the special character of the region and the cultural heritage. Many of the old customs are upheld on the most important occasions.
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Nature Parks in Auvergne
The Auvergne contains two of the largest regional nature parks in France, the 'Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne' and it's smaller neighbour the 'Parc Naturel Régional des Livradois-Forez' - making this area the largest environmentally protected area in France.
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Not to be missed in Auvergne
If it were possible, the best way to travel in this region would be on the back of a donkey, just as the writer Stevenson did. It is indeed probably the pleasantest way to see this land of volcanoes, fashioned by their eruptions. Inactive for centuries, they gave birth to a strange and majestic landscape.
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Pierre & Vacances in the Dordogne and Perigord.
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