About forty minutes on foot, or you can take the rack train through the mountain if you'd rather skip the climb.
Discover Local Auvergne: What to Do Around Mercure Auvergne
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Auvergne, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Auvergne in 5 picks
Clermont-Ferrand
The best starting point for the region, built from dark volcanic stone with a Gothic cathedral to match. The Notre-Dame-du-Port basilica and the old streets of Montferrand are worth a slow wander before you head for the volcanoes.
Puy de Dôme
The symbol of Auvergne and the highest summit in the Chaîne des Puys at 1,465 metres. Hike up in about forty minutes or take the rack train through the mountain if you'd rather save your legs for the view.
Vulcania
A science park about fifteen kilometres from Clermont-Ferrand, built entirely around volcanoes and the science of the Earth. It's genuinely engaging whether you're travelling with kids or not.
Le Puy-en-Velay
A dramatic town built around volcanic rock spires, with a chapel perched on top of one and a cathedral on another. It's also a historic starting point for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago.
Chaîne des Puys – Faille de Limagne
This volcanic chain and fault line is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the reason Auvergne's skyline looks unlike anywhere else in France. It's best appreciated from the top of the Puy de Dôme itself.
FAQ
Yes, it's built specifically around volcanism and natural phenomena in a way that works for both kids and adults.
It's a separate trip further south in the region, best planned as its own day given its distinct volcanic-rock townscape.
Where to sleep
See our Mercure hotels across Auvergne, ideally placed to explore these picks.