Puy de Lemptégy, Dormant volcano in Puy-de-Dôme, France
Puy de Lemptégy is a dormant volcano in Puy-de-Dôme whose inner structure has been exposed through extensive quarrying. The slopes display distinct layers of ash, lava, and volcanic materials that visitors can view directly.
The volcano formed about 30,000 years ago through volcanic eruptions. After World War II, it became a quarry for reconstruction materials before eventually becoming a public learning space.
The site functions as a place where visitors learn to read rock layers and understand how volcanoes work. You can touch volcanic materials and see how the volcano was shaped from within.
Visitors can explore on foot or ride a train that provides access to different levels of the site. The best conditions are on dry days when the pathways are easy to walk.
Old quarrying machines such as screens and grinders from the mineral extraction era remain visible on the site. These industrial tools show how dramatically the landscape was reshaped to supply building materials.
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