Auvergne Volcanoes: 10 Activities to Explore the Chaîne des Puys
Climb a volcano, walk to the bottom of a crater, swim in a lake born from an eruption… Welcome to the Chaîne des Puys, a wonderful adventure playground for all ages, less than an hour from Châtel-Guyon! Here is our selection, with how long to allow and the driving time from Camping de la Croze, so you can plan your days without wasting time on the road.
The 10 activities at a glance
| Activity | Who for | Time needed | From the campsite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puy de Pariou | walkers, children aged 8+ | 2 hrs | 30 min |
| Lemptégy volcano | families | 2 hrs 30 | 30 min |
| Vulcania | families | full day | 30 min |
| Panoramique des Dômes | everyone | half a day | 30 min |
| Chemin des Muletiers | walkers | 2 hrs | 30 min |
| Paragliding | teens, adults | 1 hr | 30 min |
| Gour de Tazenat | stroll, swimming | 1 hr | 20 min |
| Lake Aydat and Lake Chambon | swimming, canoeing | half a day | 40 to 55 min |
| Lake Pavin | stroll | 1 hr | 1 hr |
| Fades rail-bike and mountain biking | families, sporty types | half a day | 30 min |
Our favourite: Puy de Pariou and the Lemptégy volcano on the same day
If you only had one day in the volcanoes, this would be it. Get ready for some breathtaking views!
In the morning, Puy de Pariou. For us, it is the most beautiful crater in the Chaîne des Puys: an almost perfect cone with a crater nearly 100 metres deep. From the Goules car park, an easy path and then a staircase take you up, and the walk around the crater gives you a view of the nearby Puy de Dôme. Allow about 2 hours there and back. Set off early in summer: the site gets very busy by late morning. Going down into the crater is not allowed, to protect the vegetation. Our guide to Puy de Pariou.
In the afternoon, the Lemptégy volcano, about fifteen minutes away. After seeing a crater from the outside, you go inside a volcano. This former quarry has exposed the inside of a volcano: you go down about 80 metres below the old crater, among chimneys, volcanic bombs and slag. The visit takes 2 hours 30, on foot or by little train, so everyone can enjoy it. The site is open from February to November. Everything about the Lemptégy volcano.
Vulcania, to understand volcanoes while having fun
Just 30 minutes from the campsite, Vulcania is the perfect way to start your stay. Rides, immersive films and earthquake simulations help your children understand how the volcanoes they will see in the following days were formed. The park is home to the largest planetarium in France and puts on a sound and light show on some summer evenings. Allow a full day. Lemptégy is right next door if you want to do both over two days. See our campsite near Vulcania.
The Panoramique des Dômes: the top of the Puy de Dôme without the effort
The rack railway leaves from Orcines and climbs 5.2 km to the summit of the Puy de Dôme (1,465 m) in 15 minutes. From the top, the view takes in the whole Chaîne des Puys and the Limagne fault. You will also find the remains of the Temple of Mercury. On a clear day, you can see the Sancy massif and sometimes even the Alps! Our guide to the Panoramique des Dômes.
The Chemin des Muletiers, to climb on foot
Walkers will prefer the Chemin des Muletiers, the old Roman road that climbs straight to the summit. The climb is steep but short: allow about an hour to get up. You can come back down on foot or by train. More ideas in our top 5 hikes on the Auvergne volcanoes.
Fly over the Chaîne des Puys by paraglider
Looking for thrills? The summit of the Puy de Dôme is one of the best-known paragliding spots in France. On a first flight, you fly in tandem with a qualified instructor, with no experience needed, and see the whole line of volcanoes at a glance. Flights depend on the weather: book early in your stay so you can move it if needed. More ideas in our article on thrill activities in the Puy-de-Dôme.
Gour de Tazenat, the closest volcano to the campsite
Just 20 minutes away, the Gour de Tazenat is a perfectly round lake set in a crater. The walk around the lake takes an hour on a flat path, and swimming is allowed (unsupervised). It’s the ideal spot to cool off in the late afternoon, away from the crowds at the big lakes.
Swimming in the volcanic lakes
Lake Aydat (40 min) and Lake Chambon (55 min) have lifeguarded beaches in summer and offer canoeing and paddleboarding. Lake Pavin (1 hr) is the most spectacular: round and 90 metres deep, it can be explored along a shaded path, but swimming is not allowed. All the best spots in our guide where to swim in the Puy-de-Dôme.
The Fades rail-bike and mountain biking
The Fades rail-bike, 30 minutes away, runs along an old railway line above the Sioule gorges: an easy and unusual outing that children will love. Mountain bikers will find plenty of waymarked trails in the volcanoes and around the campsite. See our 6 mountain bike routes around the campsite.
Are the Auvergne volcanoes still active?
The Chaîne des Puys formed just over 100,000 years ago, and its last eruption was about 6,000 years ago. In volcanic terms, that is very recent: a volcano is considered extinct after 10,000 years without activity. The Auvergne volcanoes are therefore described as dormant, and scientists do not rule out them waking up one day in the distant future. Nothing to worry about for your holiday: they are monitored, and their youth is exactly why their shapes are so well preserved. The Chaîne des Puys and the Limagne fault have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2018. Find out more about the Auvergne volcanoes and the Chaîne des Puys.
3 days in the Auvergne volcanoes from the campsite
- Day 1: Vulcania, to understand before you explore.
- Day 2: our favourite, Puy de Pariou in the morning and the Lemptégy volcano in the afternoon.
- Day 3: the Puy de Dôme by train or on foot in the morning, then the Gour de Tazenat or Lake Aydat to cool off.
From our campsite in the Puy-de-Dôme, all these sites are less than an hour away: you can explore a different volcano every day without changing base, and come back each evening to the peace of our wooded site.
Our tips for enjoying the volcanoes
- Good shoes: the volcanic slag rolls underfoot; trainers are fine, sandals are not.
- Water and a windproof jacket: the summits are exposed to both sun and wind.
- Set off early in July and August: Pariou and the Puy de Dôme get very busy from 10 am.
- Stay on the paths: the vegetation in the craters is fragile.
Camping de la Croze means:
- your base camp 30 minutes from the finest volcanoes of the Chaîne des Puys;
- a heated pool to relax in after your hike;
- the peace of a nature campsite, on a three-hectare wooded site.
Don’t wait any longer: book your stay in Châtel-Guyon today!
Frequently asked questions about the Auvergne volcanoes
Which Auvergne volcanoes should I visit first?
The Puy de Dôme for the view, Puy de Pariou for its crater, and the Lemptégy volcano to see inside a volcano. All three are 30 minutes from the campsite.
Are the Auvergne volcanoes still active?
They are dormant, not extinct: the last eruption was about 6,000 years ago, and a volcano is only considered extinct after 10,000 years without activity. They are monitored.
What can you do in the Auvergne volcanoes with children?
Vulcania and the Lemptégy volcano (accessible by little train) are perfect for families. Puy de Pariou can be climbed on foot from around age 8, and the Gour de Tazenat offers a flat walk with swimming.
When is the best time to visit the Auvergne volcanoes?
From May to October, when the paths are passable and all the sites are open. In July and August, set off early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Where to stay to visit the Auvergne volcanoes?
Camping de la Croze in Châtel-Guyon is 30 minutes from Vulcania, Lemptégy and the Puy de Dôme, with a swimming pool and air-conditioned mobile homes in 2027.
