Discover the Auvergne

9 Day Itinerary

• Day 1:

  Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then we continue to our overnight hotel in France.

• Day 2:

  After breakfast, we will continue through the French countryside and arrive at our hotel in the Auvergne for a six-night stay.

  Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 3: Sancy Massif and Cheese Tasting

  Start with a visit to St. Floret and the 13th-century feudal castle with its frescoes telling the legend of Tristan and Isolde. Above the village, you will discover the archaeological site of Chastel and its human-shaped painted stone tombs dating from the early Middle Ages.

  Next, an invitation into the heart of the Sancy Massif, a climb up to the striking uplands between mountains and volcanic lakes. You will have time to linger in Besse, a medieval and Renaissance city built on a lava flow and fief of the Médicis family.

  Our journey continues on a flavour discovery route with a visit and a tasting session of the famous St. Nectaire cheese. Its original flavour comes from the rich grasslands and wildflowers of the region.

  Continue on to Lake Chambon and head to the Valley de Chaudefour to discover a hidden glacial vista.

  Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  Sancy Massif

  

  More Photos

  Included Highlights

  • St. Nectaire Cheese Tasting
  • St. Floret
  • Besse
  • Lake Chambon

• Day 4: Clermont Ferrand, Volcanoes National Park and Puy de Dôme rack railway

  Leave for Clermont–Ferrand, regional capital and town of the Black Diamond. Situated on a volcanic hill, the historic centre of Clermont offers charming pedestrian streets bordered by fine old private townhouses and fountains.

  The awesome Gothic cathedral built out of black lava stone with its remarkable stained glass windows, towers above the centre of the town. Another beautiful Romanesque church, the Notre Dame du Port basilica, classed UNESCO world heritage, graces another part of the city.

  We continue into the Volcano Park, an area unique in Europe, with an astonishing panorama of 80 volcanoes ranging over 30 kilometres. We include a rack railway ride to the Puy de Dôme.

  Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  Clermont-Ferrand

  

  More Photos

  Included Highlights

  • Clermont-Ferrand
  • Volcanoes National Park
  • Puy de Dôme

• Day 5: Auvergne Villages

  We head to Usson with its black stone vineyard houses. Here in this “prison” village, perched on a basalt rocky peak, Queen Margot lived in exile for nineteen years.

  We continue to Montpeyroux, a village of craftsmen. You will be intrigued by its maze of vaulted passages and vineyard houses, a thousand-year-old harmony in pale-coloured stones

  Included meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner

  Montpeyroux

  

  More Photos

  Included Highlights

  • Usson
  • Montpeyroux

• Day 6: Day at leisure

  A leisurely day in Issoire. The hotel includes a video presentation about the volcanic region tonight.

  Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 7: Vichy and Thiers

  Explore the historical city of Vichy with us on this optional excursion, taking in its many famous sights, such as the Opera House, the Town Hall, and the stunning city centre.

  After this, we make our way to Thiers, known for its charming half-timbered houses and picturesque setting along the Durolle River valley.

  Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  Vichy

  

  Optional Excursions

  Our optional excursions are a great addition to enhance your holiday experience and are highly recommended.

  	2022
  Vichy and Theirs	TBC

  The optional excursions will be available to book during your tour.

  Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in cash in Euros (for tours to Europe) or Sterling (for UK tours).

• Day 8:

  We depart the Auvergne and travel northward for an overnight stay.

  Included meals: Breakfast

• Day 9:

  Return home.

  Included meals: Breakfast

Single Room Supplement from £269.00 (9 days).