Auvergne Hotels France

Auvergne Auvergne is one of the 26 administrative regions of France, situated in central France it shares borders with Centre to the northwest, Bourgogne to the northeast, Rhone-Alpes to the east and southeast, to the south with Languedoc-Rousillon, southwest with Midi-Pyrenees, and Limousin to the west. Auvergne is located in the centre of the Massif Central, and is largely an isolated area of mountains and rugged countryside and rocky gorges. The region contains many volcanoes though the last eruption was over 6000 years ago. The tops of the volcanoes have eroded leaving plugs of unerupted hardened magma forming puys, or rounded hilltops. In the region surrounding Clermont-Ferrand, the capital of Auvergne, the highest mountain is 1885m: from north to south the terrain generally becomes flatted and rockier.

The terrain of the Auvergne is 25% woodland, 45% grassland, 20% arable land and 10% other areas including urban areas. In addition to Clermont-Ferrand the other towns are Montlucon, Aurillac and Vichy, a spa town. In Puy-de-Dome are Montpeyroux, Saint-Saturnin, Saint-Floret and Usson, all said to be the most beautiful villages in France, and the towns of La Bourboule and Mont-Dore have long been popular ski centre and spa centres.

East of Orcival and its interesting church.