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Would you like another Volcano*? Backroad cycling in the Auvergne serves up a succession of impressive volcanoes. Beginning with the Chaîne des Puys, the "youngsters", with their many smooth tracks that snake their way between the volcanoes. Then comes the more mountainous atmosphere of the Puy du Sancy, older and larger, with their tapered ridges covered with soft green grass. The tour then heads south finishing at the huge Cantal Volcano. * Volcano: an aperitif drink made from gentian and chestnuts, served in the south of the Cantal.
If you're arriving by car and bringing your own bikes: One solution would be to park your car in Volvic directly. At the end of the trip you can take regional train (TER) from Issoire to Volvic via Clermont Ferrand with your bikes.
You can also leave your car in Clermont-Ferrand and take the regional train to Volvic (TER) with your bikes. At the end of your trip, take the train back to Clermont-Ferrand from Issoire with your bikes.
If you're arriving by car and renting bikes: Our bike rental provider is located in Clermont Ferrand. The bikes are to be picked-up and returned to the bike rental shop directly. We advise you leave your car in Clermont-Ferrand, pick-up the bikes and take the regional train to Volvic (TER) with the bikes. At the end of your trip, take the train back to Clermont-Ferrand from Issoire with the bikes.
Example train schedule (definite train schedule and fares to be checked with the SNCF website):
Parking: There is a free car park (Simply Market supermarket car park) at Clermont-La Rotonde station, from where you will take your TER to Volvic. On the way back, you can reach Clermont-La Rotonde station from Clermont-Ferrand SNCF station by bike (approx. 5 min).
The free car park at La Pardieu station can also be a solution. The train from Issoire to Clermont-Ferrand stops there on your return journey.
Other parking solutions can be found here.
Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 1pm at the train station in Volvic. On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Volvic or Clermont-Ferrand.
First volcanoes waited on hand and foot while we are slaloming between the projection cones of Nugere, June and Chopine. Goules Pass bring us then the foot of to Puy Pariou (the hike to the top is really worth the effort). We then follow a smooth path with a breathtaking view on great Puy de Dome. Downhill on a small road to reach the village, Laschamps, where we will spend the night.
Distance covered: approx. 25 km; altitude gain: approx. 600 m
Still heading south along the last young Puys and we begin to approach one of the larger volcanic edifice, the Sancy. We will cycle by the open craters of La Vache and Lassolas, with a possible break at the house of the Regional Natural Park of Auvergne Volcanoes. Puy Montenard will be the last puy before entering in a definitively more hilly relief. After a nice downhill we reach Murol, where we will spend the night. Option to go to lake Chambon.
Distance covered: approx. 45 km; altitude gain: approx. 700 m
We leave Murol cycling on quiet country lanes to discover the village of St Nectaire. With a very nice roman church, St Nectaire is especially the capital of the cheese of the same name. We finished with the plateaus and discover now the valleys of "Pays Coupé" (The Cut Land). We now discover valleys with more favorable climate for the culture of fruit trees but also of vine. You have to know that the wine from this region is the best of Auvergne. We reach Issoire Valley where our trip ends, at the train station.
Distance covered: approx. 40 km; altitude gain: approx. 700 m
Tour end: France Bike Trips services end in Issoire at around 4 pm. On request we can book the following night's accommodation for you in Issoire, Volvic or Clermont Ferrand. Return to Clermont Ferrand by train at the end of your bike trip, the regional trains accept bicycles on board (see the "Getting to the meeting point" paragraph). If you have rented the bikes with France Bike Trips, they are to be returned to the bike rental shop in Clermont Ferrand.
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 1pm at the train station in Volvic. On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Volvic or Clermont-Ferrand.
First volcanoes waited on hand and foot while we are slaloming between the projection cones of Nugere, June and Chopine. Goules Pass bring us then the foot of to Puy Pariou (the hike to the top is really worth the effort). We then follow a smooth path with a breathtaking view on great Puy de Dome. Downhill on a small road to reach the village, Laschamps, where we will spend the night.
Distance covered: approx. 25 km; altitude gain: approx. 600 m
Still heading south along the last young Puys and we begin to approach one of the larger volcanic edifice, the Sancy. We will cycle by the open craters of La Vache and Lassolas, with a possible break at the house of the Regional Natural Park of Auvergne Volcanoes. Puy Montenard will be the last puy before entering in a definitively more hilly relief. After a nice downhill we reach Murol, where we will spend the night. Option to go to lake Chambon.
Distance covered: approx. 45 km; altitude gain: approx. 700 m
Obviously, to leave Murol we have to cycle up. But soon enough, the wood of Courbanges gives us the way to the medieval town of Besse. Here, narrow paved streets invite us to saunter. A very interesting ski museum can also justify a big break. Then we head in the direction of the crater lakes of Pavin and Montcineyre in order to leave the Sancy Massif and approach a new type of relief: the basalt plateau of Cézallier. To get introduced to this relief, nothing more natural than to start from the villages of Brion and Godivelle. Like the plateau, these villages are almost empty but release an incredible charm, where man coalesces with nature. Night at Godivelle.
Distance covered: approx. 45 km; altitude gain: approx. 950 m
Heading towards the immensities of Cezallier Plateau, very welcome land for cows and almost nothing else. We pass next to the valleys of "Pays Coupé" (The Cut Land). Valleys with more favorable climate for the culture of fruit trees but also vine. You have to know that the wine from this region is the best of Auvergne. We reach Issoire where our trip ends, at the train station.
Distance covered: approx. 40 à 60 km; altitude gain: approx. 150 to 500 m
Tour end: France Bike Trips services end in Issoire at around 4 pm. On request we can book the following night's accommodation for you in Issoire, Volvic or Clermont Ferrand. Return to Clermont Ferrand by train at the end of your bike trip, the regional trains accept bicycles on board (see the "Getting to the meeting point" paragraph). If you have rented the bikes, they are to be returned to the bike rental shop in Clermont Ferrand.
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
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