Auvergne

Located midway between Paris and the Mediterranean, Auvergne is a land of geological diversity, its landscape punctuated by extinct volcanic peaks, crater lakes and deep river gorges. Its most notable natural monument is Puy de Dome, a 1,465-meter-high extinct volcano which provides breathtaking views of the surrounding area from its peak, where the remains of a Roman temple dedicated to Mercury can still be seen. Auvergne also offers visitors some of France's most beautiful Romanesque churches, medieval castles and walled villages and is a popular spot for skiing, rafting, biking, golfing, hiking and hang-gliding. The ten spa towns in Auvergne attract more than 80,000 people each year.

Tourist Office 44, avenue des Etats-Unis 63057 Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 1 - France