blog post
8 visits to immerse yourself in history: castles, dolmen, museum...
Florian Meyer • June 23, 2022
Castles, archaeological remains, dolmens... History has left numerous testimonies in Puy-de-Dôme around the campsite. Here are some ideas for visits that will take you from antiquity to the present day!
- Château de Murol (15 minutes from the campsite): you will return in 1492 to the court of Guillaume de Murol! This perfectly preserved castle is perched on the heights of Murol and offers the added bonus of an exceptional panorama from the top of its ramparts. The visit is exciting and suitable even for the little ones who will have a great time attending the knights' jousts in the castle courtyard , not to be missed!
The interior is furnished with many reconstructed rooms from the kitchen to the armory. Information on the Murol castle website
- Troglodyte fortress of Jonas (30 minutes from the campsite): a surprising site dug into a volcano whose beginnings date from the 9th century! The visit will introduce you to this castle which defended the valley, with more than 60 cavities and staircases cut into the rock . A great discovery that will interest young and old! Animated visits , with costumed characters, are organized during the summer.
Bonus: two escape games were created in caves around medieval intrigues!
(we haven't tested them yet but we hope to be able to do so soon :-) Info on
the Jonas Fortress website
- Château de la Bâtisse
(15 minutes from the campsite): this estate dating from the 14th century has undergone successive modifications until it became a magnificent pleasure residence with its French gardens.
It now hosts visits allowing you to explore the history of the Gallo-Roman era up to the Age of Enlightenment, through the Middle Ages, thanks to outdoor reconstructions. A night show is also offered during the summer. Information on
the Château de la Batisse website - Gergovie Museum
(20 minutes from the campsite): located on the site of the famous battle of Gergovie (52 BC), this archaeological museum takes you back to this confrontation between Julius Caesar and Vercingétorix!
An immersive room allows everyone to relive the battle by visualizing the places where it took place. Period objects and reconstructions also make the story more “palpable”. Perhaps a little too theoretical for the little ones, the museum is however quite accessible to children interested in history. Take advantage of your visit to admire the panorama of the Gergovie plateau, a beautiful walk goes around it .
Information on
the Gergovie Museum website - Dolmens and menhirs : several megaliths are present around the campsite, they date back to a very ancient period between 2800 and 2700 BC. The two closest are the Fohet menhir (or Long Stone) and its 4.75m height (in Aydat, 5 minutes from the campsite), and the Dolmen de Cournols (or the Grotte aux fées ) in 15 minutes from the campsite.
They always have an effect when discovered, whether for children or adults! - Oppidum de Corent
(30 minutes from the campsite): this would be the capital of the Arverni , the Gallic people who populated the region. Excavations are still underway on the Corent plateau site but it is possible to discover part of the remains already unearthed. You can walk around the public square, pass by the hemicycle of the Gallic assembly or see the remains of the Gallo-Roman theater. A 3D reconstruction allows a virtual visit to the Oppidum de Corent site .
- Temple of Mercury (25 minutes from the campsite): the highest Gallo-Roman temple is perched at the top of Puy de Dôme! It was built in the 2nd century in honor of Mercury, god of commerce and protector of travelers. You can now visit the remains either on a self-guided (and free) tour or on a guided tour.
Our ideas for activities and visits to do when it rains around the campsite in Aydat, in Puy-de-Dôme. Vulcania, Aventure Michelin, castle, swimming pools, climbing... You can continue to enjoy your vacation despite the rain!
Ideas for day hikes around Les Volcans campsite. Sancy ridges, Puys de Dôme and Pariou, Guéry plateau, waterfalls...
- Shaded hikes. Several hiking trails are well suited to very hot days thanks to the shade offered by the undergrowth. Among the easiest hikes (from 3 years old), the tour of Lake Pavin, the Puy de Vichatel or the Queureuilh and Rossignolet waterfalls are recommended. Slightly longer and shaded hikes are also possible such as the Dent du Marais loop in Murol (2h15), the three waterfalls of the Chaudefour valley (3h) or the Roches Tuillières and Sanadoire loop (3h). Remember to take water, there are generally no refueling points on the paths. - Hiking near the water. On hot days it is also pleasant to hike along a stream and have a picnic stop in the cool. The Gorges de la Monne (15 minutes from the campsite) are ideal for this type of getaway, the walk lasts 2 hours and it is possible to stop and play at the water's edge without difficulty. Be careful though, the end of the return path is not very shaded. Another possibility: the Chiloza waterfalls, a 2-hour walk near Besse which leads to the edge of multiple small waterfalls where children can play, build dams, make boats... Possibility of shortening the walk by doing a round trip to avoid the somewhat long second part of the loop. - Swimming at the lake. Although many lakes are close to the campsite, only Lake Aydat and Lake Chambon are allowed for swimming. It is even monitored there during the summer on the developed beaches. It is also possible to rent pedal boats, canoes, paddles... In July and August, we advise you to go there in the morning to enjoy the calm. - Adventures at the Forêts des Arboris (5 minutes from the campsite). This eco-citizen leisure park is located in the Aydat forest and offers activities suitable for all ages: treasure hunt for the little ones, game experiences (a sort of escape game in the countryside) or laser wood (laser game in the woods) for older children and adults. We then enjoy the freshness of the forest and the refreshment bar with its local drinks. The adventure also continues into the evening with Auvergne legends that come to life between land art and incredible light shows. We recommend +++ - Visit to the Grotte de la pierre de Volvic (35 minutes from the campsite). Freshness guaranteed in this old quarry from which Volvic stone was extracted, this dark volcanic rock found on many buildings including the Clermont-Ferrand cathedral. We also discover the daily life of the workers who worked there as well as the works made from this stone. Information on the Volvic stone cave site.
Our advice for hiking with young children (from 3 years old) in the Puy de Dôme: Puy de combegrasse, Lac Pavin, Lac de Servière, Mont Dore waterfall...
Discovery of vineyards and wine tastings in Puy-de-Dôme, AOC Côte d'Auvergne, from the Les Volcans campsite in Aydat.
- Puy de la Combegrasse, the must in one hour! This is the walk to do even if you only spend one night at the campsite. Count a good hour including a nice little hill to climb the puy but without major difficulty. And the climb is worth the detour: at the top you will have a 360° panorama of the chain of puys and the Sancy massif (with 2 orientation tables). It is also a very beautiful place to admire the sunset (provide warm clothes)! This hike is accessible to children, from 3 years old, taking their time. As a bonus: the brochure "I discover the Puy de Combegrasse" (available at the reception of the campsite) The Puy de Combegrasse hike (be careful here the departure is not from the campsite) Want to prolong the pleasure? Add the puy de l'enfer and the narse d'Espinasse after the puy de la Combegrasse. That is about 3 hours of walking (10km, yellow markings) always from the campsite. This hike offers beautiful discoveries with in particular the astonishing narse of Espinasse, an old crater at the foot of the Puy de l'enfer, which was long believed to be haunted! You will also be entitled to sublime panoramas on the chain of puys. Details of the hike on Balirando. - Puy de Vichatel, a magnificent crater in 2h30! It is the second deepest crater in the chain of Puys after the Puy Pariou), and it is possible to go down inside, a great experience! A large part of the hike is in the undergrowth (very pleasant on sunny days) with beautiful viewpoints at the top. The walk lasts about 2h30 or 3h with children, on a very passable path. The route is not marked from the campsite but you cannot get lost with an IGN map or a GPS application. The course is available is line. - Puys de la Vache de Lassolas, twins in one day! Go with the picnic to discover these two beautiful twin craters. On the menu: glowing pozzolan and exceptional views of the Puys chain! To enjoy it you will have to face two beautiful hills and a lot of stairs. Our little advice: go up by the Puy de Lassolas, because its path is in pozzolan, very slippery on the way down. On your way you will also cross the puys of Charmont and Rodde. To discover these puys with young children, prefer to leave the car park provided for this purpose. Suggested hiking route from the campsite (18.5 km loop). - Lac de Servières, a one-day discovery! This lake was formed in a volcano crater and offers a still wild landscape. The hike to get there from the campsite is a round trip without any particular difficulty with several beautiful viewpoints. It is possible to eat along the way in Pessade. The hike of about 19 km is done by following the white and red markings of the GR from the campsite.
Campsite The Volcanoes ***
11 chemin de la Rodde, La Garandie, 63970 AYDAT
+33 (0)4 73 79 33 90
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