Charade Circuit, Motorsport racing track in Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.
Circuit de Charade stretches across 4 kilometers of winding roads built around an extinct volcano, featuring numerous elevation changes and technical turns throughout its layout.
The original 8-kilometer racing circuit opened in 1958 and hosted four Formula One French Grand Prix events before being modified to a shorter configuration in 1989.
The circuit maintains strong connections to French motorsport heritage through regular vintage car events and classic racing exhibitions throughout the racing season.
Visitors can experience the track through driving courses, professional simulators, and paintball activities, with simulator sessions starting from 25 euros per person.
The track incorporates solar panel installations and electric vehicle initiatives, transforming this traditional racing venue into an environmental technology center.
Location: Saint-Genès-Champanelle
Inception: 1957
Official opening: 1958
Website: https://charade.fr
GPS coordinates: 45.74250,3.02894
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:39
Clermont-Ferrand sits at the edge of a volcanic landscape in the Massif Central, offering a mix of geological formations, medieval architecture and urban spaces for photographers. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, built from black volcanic stone, rises above the historic center, while Puy de Dôme, a 4,800-foot (1,465-meter) dormant volcano, shapes the surrounding terrain. The city combines industrial history with architectural heritage, from the Romanesque design of the Basilica of Notre-Dame-du-Port to modern facilities like the Michelin Museum. The city center preserves its medieval street pattern in neighborhoods like Rue des Gras and Rue du Port, where dark stone buildings line narrow lanes. Place de Jaude forms the main square, featuring the equestrian statue of Vercingetorix and the Renaissance-era Fountain of Amboise. Parks such as Jardin Lecoq and Parc Montjuzet provide green spaces within the city, while cultural institutions like the Musée d'art Roger-Quilliot and Centre de Photographie Fontfreyde display contemporary and historical collections. The surrounding area includes several volcanic cones, among them Puy de la Vache, as well as the Chemin du Volcan hiking trail and the remains of the Gallo-Roman Temple of Mercury atop Puy de Dôme.
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