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Auvergne
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Le Puy-en-Velay |
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l'agence de communication Conjoncture S.A. |
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Extremely spacious, incredibly diverse, and wonderfully unspoiled, this region in the highlands of the Massif Central is the perfect holiday destination. Only one hour from Lyons and three hours from Paris, Auvergne offers the best in year-round adventure and entertainment. By car, foot, bike, horse, kayak, river raft, or even hot air balloon, explore this rich region of long extinct volcanoes, lush green valleys, sparkling rivers, and tranquil lakes. Tour picturesque villages, ten of which rank among the "most beautiful in France." Satisfy a passion for skiing on over 200 km (120 miles) of downhill runs and 800 km (480miles) of cross-country trails. Or indulge yourself in one of AuvergneÕs elegant spa towns, the perfect fusion of nature and Belle Epoque architecture. Superb Romanesque churches and fine châteaux dot the landscape. Fêtes and festivals beckon. The people are warm, the food traditional. From the smartest hotels to the simplest gîte, value for money is excellent. |
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Allier (3) |
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Rafting sur l'Allier |
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l'agence de communication Conjoncture S.A. |
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Pasturelands and huge forests dominate the Allier countryside. The Tronçais Forest, one of the loveliest oak-groves in Europe, contains trees dating back nearly three hundred years. To the east, the Bourbonnais Hills offer gentle expanses; to the south, old castles tower above the vine-clad hillsides of Saint-Pourçain in the Sioule River Valley. Whether in the elaborate confines of VichyÕs spa, or in the pastoral atmosphere of the surrounding lakes and rivers, urban and rural diversions abound. |
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l'agence de communication Conjoncture S.A. |
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To see: Moulins, mediaeval capital of the Bourbon Dukes, Montluçon and its castle museum containing FranceÕs finest collection of ancient hurdy-gurdies, Charroux and the castellanies of the Boubons, the mighty châteaux lining the winding Besbre River between Lapalisse and Dompierre, and the migratory bird site at Val dÕAllier. |
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Cantal (15) & Puy-de-Dôme (63) |
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The neighboring departments of Cantal and Puy-de-Dôme are home to the largest volcanic gouping in Europe. Jagged crests, deep glacier valleys, wide plateaus, and ancient lava flows bear mute testimony to the primeval past. The grey Volvic stone of Puy-de-Dôme, renowned for its mallability to the chisel and its ability to withstand rough weather, recalls the more recent past, having been the masonÕs stone of choice for generations. In the alpine pastures, sturdy stone burons still shelter the summer herdsmen, while jasseries, like Le Coq Noir, still produce traditional cheeses in the wilds of the Hautes-Chaumes. |
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Le Pariou & le Puy de Dôme |
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l'agence de communication Conjoncture S.A. |
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To see, Cantal: the perfectly preserved mediaeval town of Selers, the Château of Anjony (one of the finest in Auvergne), the viaduct of Garabit by Gustave Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame), the episcopal city of St-Flour (founded in the 4th Century), the famous European Street Theatre Festival of Aurillac, and the tiny churches and comb-like belltowers of the Jordanne Valley. |
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Cantal |
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l'agence de communication Conjoncture S.A. |
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To see, Puy-de-Dôme: the Romanesque architectural jewels of Issoire Abbey, Orcival Ba-silica, and Clermont-FerrandÕs Notre-Dame du Port, the Church of St-Saturnin, the Church and 40 springs of the spa town of St-Nectaire, the tournament of knights at the Château of Murol, and the migratory bird sites at Prat-de-Bouc Pass (Cantal), la Serre Mountain, Baracuchet Pass, and Saint-Gervais-dÕAuvergne (Puy-de-Dôme). |
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Les Thermes de Châtel-Guyon |
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l'agence de communication Conjoncture S.A. |
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Cantal |
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l'agence de communication Conjoncture S.A. |
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Haute-Loire (43) |
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Fête du Roi de l'Oiseau |
l'agence de communication Conjoncture S.A. |
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The silence on the high plateaus of Mount Mézenc is haunting and the panorama from its summit (1753 metres, 5750 feet) spans one fourth of France. The thatched cottages of Moudeyres, the Lake and 12th Century Romanesque Church of Saint Front, and the ancient houses of Fay-sur-Lignon, Chaudeyrolles, and Les Etables mark the travellerÕs progress. Between the Forez and Livradois Mountains to the north, AuvergneÕs second most important Gothic structure, the Chaise Dieu Abbey, strikes a commanding pose amid an evergreen forest. In the southwest, the Allier and Loire Rivers cut impressive gorges beneath the Velay and Margueride plateaus, home to EuropeÕs earliest inhabitants. Nearby, towering basalt spurs and volcanic cones watch over Le Puy-en-Velay, lending the town the appearance of a landlocked version of Rio. |
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Notre-Dame-des-Chazes |
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l'agence de communication Conjoncture S.A. |
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To see: Le Bouchet Lake, the high pastures of Le Forez, Yssengelais and Le Meygal craters, Notre-Dame Cathedral and St-Michel dÕAiguilhe Chapel in Le Puy-en-Velay, St-Julien Basilica in Brioude, Cistercian Abbey in La Chaise Dieu, Collegial Church of St-Laurent in Auzon, 12th Century Cloister in Lavaudieu, and the thatch-roofed hamlets of the Mézenc Highlands. |
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Last updated: Mon, Feb 15, 1999
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Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999 Globalfest International Events On-line Ltd. All rights reserved.
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