Chaîne des Puys

The Chaîne des Puys extends 40 kilometers north to south, featuring 48 cinder cones, 8 lava domes, and 15 natural craters across central France.

The last volcanic eruption in the mountain range occurred around 4040 BCE, marking the end of an active period that shaped the current landscape.

The mountain range earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2018 for its representation of continental breakup processes and geological formations.

Visitors reach the highest point, Puy de Dôme at 1,465 meters, via a rack railway system that operates daily from Clermont-Ferrand.

The volcanic field contains distinct formations including maars, which are crater lakes formed by groundwater interaction with magma during eruptions.

Location: Puy-de-Dôme

Elevation above the sea: 1,465 m

Made from material: volcanic rock

Address: Chaîne des Puys, 63680 Chastreix, France 63680 Chastreix

GPS coordinates: 45.50000,2.80000

Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:37