13.28 - Escape to Auvergne: Lyon getaway
Only a couple hours away from Lyon, the Auvergne region is known for its rolling, dormant volcanoes, Gaulois history, & Romanesque architecture, volcanic wine and fromage.
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1. France: Escape to Auvergne: Lyon getaway
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1. Escape to Auvergne: Lyon getaway
The balance of culture, history, beautiful nature, wine, and cheese in Auvergne is impressive. It is a great, quiet destination easily accessible from Lyon.
This huge, mountainous region located at the very heart of France is a well-kept foody secret, lauded by those ‘in the know’.
Auvergne is known for its mountain ranges and dormant volcanoes. Together the Monts Dore and the Chaîne des Puys include 80 volcanoes. The Puy de Dôme is the highest volcano in the region, with an altitude of 1,465 metres (4,806 ft).
Clermont-Ferrand sits on the plain of Limagne in the Massif Central and is surrounded by a major industrial area. Clermont-Ferrand has been listed as a "tectonic hotspot" since July 2018 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
One of the oldest French cities, it was known by Greeks as the capital of the Arvernie tribe before developing in the Gallo-Roman era under the name of Augustonemetum in the 1st century BC
Auvergne: appreciating nature
Some of the most beautiful peaks and rolling volcanoes are at the heart of this region - near Orcival and Lac de Guéry. The entire area is situated in the Parc National régional des Volcans d’Auvergne, the largest national park in France and also one of the oldest. Geologically speaking, the volcano types and profiles change as you move from north to south in the park, with a series of eighty younger volcanoes in the north near Clermont-Ferrand, and larger plateaus in the center and the south.
Volcanic wine, the well-kept secret of Auvergne
If you were asked to name a few French wine regions, the Auvergne wouldn’t even be on the list. Foodies know that the Auvergne has the best terroir going, not only for cheese but everything that springs from its gloriously fertile volcanic soil. The sole exception is their vineyards which are mostly undiscovered.
5 AOP Fromages from Auvergne - oh my
In Auvergne, a volcanic mountain with emblematic landscapes, unspoiled nature is home to a remarkably rich biodiversity. The women and men there have perpetuated ancestral know-how, thus guaranteeing cheeses of exceptional quality.
Cantal , Saint-Nectaire , Fourme d'Ambert , Bleu d'Auvergne and Salers are among the products that have made Auvergne gastronomy famous.
Further reading about Auvergne:
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a. France Off the Beaten Path: Coquenard, Andillac en route to Les Pyrénées – Part 4 - by Craig Healey
En route to the Pyrenees: The town of Coquenard is in the Andillac commune and Part of the Tarn department; an unvisited part of south-west France, with highlights and hidden gems. Part 4 of a 12-part series: Discover more…
b. France: Literary Pilgrimages - Proust, Louis Stevenson, and Modiano by Mike Shuttleworth
On a recent trip to France, I made three literary pilgrimages, although not all were French writers. In the back of my mind, there was always the question: what do we hope to get from places that are marked by writers? Discover more
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I just spent 5 days there last week! It was somewhere I knew nothing about until this year's Tour de France route was announced. Clermont Ferrand is very interesting, with wonderful architecture in the old part and the joined town of Montferrond, an easy tram ride away. A trip up to the Puy de Dome was a highlight with wonderful views of volcano country! I wish I'd had more time, and a car, for further exploring as there are some beautiful towns in the area. I caught the train to Nîmes where I'm based for a week before heading back to Paris. It was a very scenic trip. But a word of warning - very hot in the middle of July. One day in Clermont Ferrand was 44 degrees and sirens sounded for closure of the local parks!
Lovely, brimful of information. Saved for a deeper dive. Thank you