The Auvergne boasts three extinct volcanic mountain areas viz. Monts Dôme, Monts Dore and the Cantal. Monts Dome is the chain of most recently extinct volcanoes and Mont Dore has the highest peak in the Auvergne region, Puy de Sancy (1885 metres). The Cantal, however, is the best area for walking being 4 to 5 times larger than Monts Dore and because of its valley, ridge and peak structure, more interesting walking country.

The Cantal is the southern part of the Auvergne Volcanoes National Park and was originally a massive volcanic area 60 - 80km diameter with a large central crater of 6-7km diameter. The centre of this large crater was roughly where Puy Griou is today and part of the crater wall is the ridge between Puy Mary and Col de Cabre. The original central volcano was over 3000 metres high and pumped lava from about 50 "chimneys". Erosion and extensive glaciation has produced the peaks (highest point 1855metres), ridge and valley structure sketched in "Cantal topography".


A wealth of detail on the geography, geology, agricultural history and the flora and fauna of the Cantal can be found in the website "Cantal Volcanic Views". Many excellent photos and descriptions of the Cantal mountains can be found in "Monts d'Auvergne - Auvergne Hills" (in English and French).



A book, in English, is now available in the Classic Geology in Europe series titled "Auvergne". This book by Peter Cattermole (ISBN 1-903544-05), published by Terra Publishing, can be purchased from Blackwells. As well as the geological history of the area it covers many other topics of interest.


Despite the fact that the Massif Central is only the third mountain range in France, the Alps and the Pyrenees being one and two, it is, nevertheless, a major mountain range. A days walking in the Cantal can be spent at over 1500 metres for most of the time--which is higher than the highest point in the U,K,, Ben Nevis (1343 metres). The highest point, Plomb du Cantal, is 1855 metres.

For walkers the Cantal peaks are all easily climbed without resorting to ropes or scrambling. The ridges, perhaps the most attractive feature of the region for the walker, are all wide and safe. There is an excellent network of Grande Randonée footpaths ("GR's) supported with many Petite Randonée ("PR's), forest tracks and other footpaths. Unlike the U.K. the paths are never busy and it is possible most of the year to walk all day and see few other walkers. Even in July/August the main concentrations of people are on the concrete path to the top of Puy Mary from Pas de Peyrol and within a few hundred metres of the top of the téléphérique to Plomb du Cantal.

The weather in the Cantal is typical of any mountain region--it can change very rapidly. Mist can appear very quickly and the usual rule of descending as quickly as possible must be followed. Snow can fall anytime from October to May, although the heavy falls are usually in January and February. The summer months, particularly July and August, can be very hot with the resultant high altitude dangers. June and late September/October can produce some very sunny days and the Cantal is absolutely at its best at these times. A wonderful range of autumn colours can be seen in early October.

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