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Puy de Sancy, the summit of the Massif Central where you can ski on the volcanoes

2023-02-19T07:18:36.454Z


A mecca for hiking in summer, the Regional Natural Park of the Volcanoes of Auvergne is also a winter sports ground; naturally out of category, with its volcanoes for mountains. Overview of the ski resorts of the Massif du Sancy.


3 resorts, 3 areas, 3 atmospheres

Less than an hour from Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme):

Super-Besse

,

Le Mont-Dore

and

Chastreix-Sancy

.

Each has its own character.

A common (at)tractor: volcanic ski resorts;

a leap in the history of the mythical volcanoes of Auvergne, a glide that is both gentle and technical, unique and panoramic.

The puys for summits, we ski on the snow-covered slopes of a strato-volcano (several nested volcanoes, erupting 5 million years ago).

89 km of trails of all colors in a preserved environment and a wide range of activities.

Read alsoAuvergne: four little-known hikes in the Chaîne des Puys

Super-Besse, volcanic and sporty

South slope of the Massif du Sancy: Super-Besse is the multi-activity resort par excellence, where to ski during the day... and at night.

OT Sancy

Altitude 1350-1850m.

21 ski lifts in 3 sectors

(beginner, playful and more committed): Super-Besse has everything of a great alpine resort.

Resolutely family-friendly (Family Plus label) with slopes for young and old alike, a wide snow front and more than 20 non-skiing activities, including the “Fantasticable” zip line (1600 m-120 km/h) for thrills, and the escape game in the cable car to broaden your knowledge of volcanoes.

The ski area is open, exposed to full sun;

gentle sliding from the three puys (Perdrix, Sancy and Gros) to the center of the resort, even to the highest accommodation (walking path).

30% of the slopes are lit at night (5 p.m. to 8 p.m.): unique in France.

Good plan and privilege: the Super-Besse/Le Mont-Dore ski link between Puys de Sancy and Ferrand, doubling the ski area, and this,

at no additional fixed cost;

open most of the season depending on the snow cover (area exposed to Atlantic winds).

Another asset: the leisure and aquatic center, a great address for après-ski.

And the priceless gift: the snowshoe hike with a “snack” stop in a former mountain pasture buron with the Pavin-Sancy guide office.

The panorama from the Puy de Chambourguet (1521m), a dive on another volcanic curiosity: Lac Pavin, a marr (crater lake) OT Sancy

Day pass prices

 : adult €38, child €27.

superbesse.com

Or sleep ?

Tourist residences and apartment rentals: information from the tourist office.

Such.

: 04 73 79 60 29. sancy.com

Where to eat ?

Brasserie Les Planches (resort centre) and La Bergerie (snow front).

Le Mont-Dore: historic and mountainous

North slope of the Puy de Sancy, 1200-1840m: nicknamed “le pt'it Cham”, Le Mont-Dore is one of the first winter sports resorts created in France (1936), after Montgenèvre and Chamonix.

Pierre Soissons

Departure from the tracks 3 km after crossing the village, which is worth a visit.

The Belle Époque style of its villas and palaces echoes its past and present as a renowned spa resort;

base camp of illustrious people like George Sand, Honoré de Balzac and Marcel Proust.

The

summit of Mont Dore

(1840m) is close to the Puy de Sancy accessible by cable car, also historic (1937 and 1961).

4 minutes of ascent, and on arrival a 360° view of the lakes, ridges, glacial valleys, mountain pastures and nature reserves (Vallée de Chaudefour, Chastreix-Sancy, Fontaine salée);

up to 1/7th of France, it is said.

Grand and exclusive.

Ready to slide on the 31 slopes, a majority of blue and green, red and black more committed, up to the big drop in Val d'Enfer.

With 20 corridors, Le Mont-Dore is one of the 10 most popular areas in France for freeriders.

Also families;

Station labeled Family Plus chosen for beginners (15 green slopes), and lively, with the Sancy Park toboggan area, the zip line with turns and the Explor'Games.

We come here to look for our mountain

» says Alain Audigier, director of the ESF Mont-Dore (50 instructors) which supervises ski touring outings at sunrise and sunset (Val de Courre).

Another curiosity in the area: the birth of the Dordogne (meeting of the Dore and the Dogne) to see on board the Dore chairlift.

Another sliding activity at Mont-Dore: ski-joëring (2h - €80) at the Ecuries de la Dordogne, the first equestrian center to launch the activity 15 years ago.

OT Sancy

Day pass prices

 : adult €38, child €27.

lemontdore.fr

Or sleep ?

Hôtel le Russie (town) and Hôtel Le P'tit Cham (station).

Where to eat ?

Là-Haut, Hauts Plateaux restaurant (Rigolet Haut), Buron from the Col de la Croix-Morand (15 min.).

Chastreix-Sancy, natural and confidential

Far North atmosphere on the western slope of Sancy.

Small chalets and wild environment of the nature reserve of the same name.

OT Sancy

1350-1730m (Puy de Chambasse):

always at altitude in the heart of the Parc des Volcans d'Auvergne;

18 wide slopes, as green, blue, red, as black accessible thanks to the 7 ski lifts.

It is rare to ski in a 100% ski lift resort.

Appreciable.

In the small resort of the Massif du Sancy, you can also slide uphill, and in a nature reserve: a privilege.

The Ski School (ESF) is active throughout the season;

Chastreix is ​​the resort for children.

On the package side, great flexibility: the "short day" (12 p.m. to 5 p.m.) and late afternoon (3 p.m. outdoors in the morning with Anita Thevenot (Escale Zen), to be combined with a snowshoe hike with Yves Lartigue on the Plaines Brûlées plateau.

Another escape:

In this Far North setting, why not try dog ​​sledding?

From baptism to initiation with the musher Dominique Robin (Randogs) and his dogs (from 80€).

OT Sancy

Day pass prices

 : adult €23.60, child €19.30.

sancy.com

Where to sleep and eat?

Terre d'Horizon, and rental of chalets.

Information from the Massif du Sancy tourist office.

Such.

: 04 73 21 52 00.

Read alsoQuiz: how well do you know the volcanoes of Auvergne?

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2023-02-19

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