Puy de Sancy, Volcanic peak at Massif Central, France.
Puy de Sancy is an extinct volcano in Auvergne rising 1,885 meters above sea level, surrounded by four valleys that radiate from its slopes. The sides are covered with grassland and volcanic rock, while the summit area appears bare and windswept.
Volcanic activity shaped the mountain over several million years until eruptions ceased around 250,000 years ago. Shepherds used the summer pastures on its slopes as early as medieval times, and religious processions brought pilgrims to the summit.
The mountain takes its name from Latin „cinctus
A chairlift carries visitors up to 1,780 meters (about 5,840 feet), from where a broad path leads to the viewing platform in around twenty minutes. The summit is clearly visible in fair weather, but fog and wind can reduce visibility considerably.
The Dore and the Dogne both rise on the mountain slopes and merge a few kilometers away to form the Dordogne, one of the longest rivers in France. Paragliders regularly use the updrafts at the summit for flights over the valleys.
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The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region offers a mix of nature and history. Walking paths lead through valleys and past waterfalls, while medieval castles stand on hilltops and ridges. Volcanic peaks rise from the landscape, and caves open into the earth below. You will find the Massif Central, alpine...
Winter changes France. The Alps are covered with snow, villages light up their holiday decorations, and the coasts look wild under the grey sky. This collection includes places worth visiting during this season: the peaks around Chamonix and Courchevel, Annecy Lake which freezes some years, the...
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