Auvergne volcano day trips from Gannat
Published 5 November 2026
From Camping Le Mont Libre, the Chaîne des Puys is an easy day out: allow about 30 minutes' drive to Vulcania, Volvic or the Gour de Tazenat, and 40 minutes to the Puy de Dôme. Here are three days that are simple to organise during your stay, with the known opening times and the points to check before you go.
The Chaîne des Puys in a few figures
The Chaîne des Puys – Limagne Fault was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on 2 July 2018. It lines up 80 volcanoes over about 32 km, north to south, west of Clermont-Ferrand. Gannat lies just to the north, on the border between the Allier and the Puy-de-Dôme: that is what makes day trips from the campsite so easy. The French Ministry of Culture presents the site on culture.gouv.fr (in French).
Day 1: the Puy de Dôme and the Puy Pariou
Going up the Puy de Dôme
The Puy de Dôme rises to 1,465 m. The Panoramique des Dômes, a cog railway, leaves from Orcines (La Font de l'Arbre station) and reaches the summit in about fifteen minutes, over 5.6 km. In 2026, a return ticket cost €17.20 to €18.60 for an adult depending on the period, and €10.10 to €11.70 for children aged 4 to 14. If you would rather walk, the Chemin des Muletiers also leads to the top, and you can come back down by train.
In season, trains run every 40 minutes, and every 20 minutes in July and August. This winter, they run from Wednesday to Sunday with one train an hour, stop from 16 to 20 November 2026 for maintenance, then run daily from 19 December 2026 to 4 January 2027. Up-to-date times are on the Panoramique des Dômes website.
Walking round the Puy Pariou crater
Close by, the Puy Pariou and its perfectly round crater are climbed from the Col des Goules car park, on the D941 in Orcines. Allow about 2 hours there and back, largely on wooden steps. Going down into the crater is forbidden to protect the volcano: stay on the steps and waymarked paths. Dogs are welcome on a lead.
Day 2: Vulcania and the Lemptégy volcano
These two neighbouring sites, in Saint-Ours-les-Roches and Saint-Ours, combine well for a family day out.
- Vulcania is a discovery and attractions park devoted to volcanoes. In 2026, it was open from 25 March to 1 November, from 10 am to 6 pm (7 pm in high summer). The 2027 dates have not yet been published: check the Vulcania website before making plans.
- The Lemptégy volcano can be visited from the inside: this former pozzolana quarry reveals the heart of a volcano. The visit lasts about 2 h 30, with a geologist guide on foot or by little train, a self-guided trail and attractions. In 2026, the site was open from 10 February to 1 November; the 2027 reopening date has not yet been announced. Information on auvergne-volcan.com.
In summer, booking online is strongly recommended at Lemptégy.
Day 3: Volvic and the Gour de Tazenat
The Pierre de Volvic cave
In Volvic, the Grotte de la Pierre de Volvic is dug into the lava flow of the Nugère volcano. It tells the story of how lava stone was quarried. The temperature is around 10 °C, so bring a jumper, even in summer. In 2026, it was open daily from 10 February to 1 November, and it hosts the "Grotte du Père Noël" from 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. A combined ticket with Lemptégy is available.
The Gour de Tazenat
Further north, in Charbonnières-les-Vieilles, the Gour de Tazenat is a maar-type crater lake, about 700 m across and more than 60 m deep. A path runs all the way round it. In summer you can swim, but bathing is not supervised; canoes, kayaks and pedal boats are for hire from 1 July to 31 August. Personal paddleboards and inflatable boats are not allowed.
Our tips for a good day out
- Set off early in summer. The best-known sites are very busy: the Puy Pariou alone receives about 130,000 visitors a year.
- Bring a jacket. At the top of the Puy de Dôme you are at 1,465 m.
- Check the dates for the year. Vulcania, Lemptégy and the Volvic cave close in winter and publish their dates before the season.
- Keep a quieter day. After the volcanoes, the campsite pool (in summer) or the Sioule gorges make for a gentler break.
All the outings around the campsite, with travel times, are on our activities page. For a family stay, see also our page on family camping in Auvergne, then choose your cottage or pitch on the booking page.
