Puy de la Vache, Basaltic stratovolcano in Puy-de-Dôme, France.
The Puy de la Vache rises to 1167 meters in elevation and features distinct red and black scoria cones formed through volcanic activity.
The last eruption of Puy de la Vache occurred around 6020 BCE, resulting in a lava flow that extended fifteen kilometers to the southeast.
The volcanic formation serves as an educational site where students and researchers study geological processes and volcanic structures throughout the year.
Multiple hiking trails lead to the summit, providing access points from Saint-Genès-Champanelle with designated parking areas at the base.
The volcano's lava flow created several lakes in the region, including Lake Cassière in the north and Lake Aydat in the south.
Location: Puy-de-Dôme
Elevation above the sea: 1,167 m
Made from material: basalt
GPS coordinates: 45.70557,2.96315
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.
Charade Circuit
6.6 km
Puy de Lassolas
720 m
Puy de Vichatel
2.2 km
Puy de Mercœur
1.3 km
Puy de l'Enfer
6.1 km
Puy de Charmont
3.1 km
Puy de la Combregrasse
4.3 km
Puy de la Toupe
3 km
Église Saint-Sidoine d'Aydat
5.1 km
Puy de Montchal, Aydat
2.1 km
Puy de Laschamps
3.3 km
Puy de Pourcharet
2.5 km
Puy de Monchier
4.8 km
Puy de la Rodde
4.8 km
Puy de Montjuger
1.6 km
Puy de la Mey
569 m
Puy de Montgy
2.5 km
Église Sainte-Anne d'Aurières
5.1 km
Église Saint-Georges de Nébouzat
4.7 km
Chapelle Saint-Aubin
5.4 km
Église Saint-Martin d'Allagnat
6.1 km
Église de la Visitation de Beaune
3.3 km
Église Saint-Aubin de Manson
6 km
Narse d'Espinasse
6.5 km
Église Saint-Jacques de Rouillat-Bas
5 km
Église de l'Assomption de Nadaillat
5.8 km
Puy de Barme
4.4 km
Château d'Allagnat
6.1 kmReviews
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