For a long period of time Auvergne was more or less an inaccessible region, and although this situation no longer applies, the region still retains a wild aspect, which delights all those who love nature. This is a land of unspoilt, wide open spaces with volcanoes, lakes filled with the clearest water, and some exceptionally steep-sided valleys such as the Allier and Sioule gorges.

Incorporating the volcanic 'island' at the core of the Massif Central, the Auvergne owes its unique beauty to the peaks of violet-coloured volcanic rock, sculpted limestone plateaux and rolling green valleys. The lower Auvergne (the 'Limagne') has two National Parks, three wonderful rivers and several circular, deep blue crater lakes. Auvergne's 'liquid gold' is its water: an abundance of mineral and thermal springs.

PRIME ATTRACTIONS: Be sure to see 'Monts Dômes' - an extraordinary area of extinct volcanoes. The highest is the Puy de Dôme with a stunning panorama of almost 100 other peaks stretching into the distance. Also well worth a visit are the man-made wonders of the cathedral at Le Puy, the magnificent abbey of Chaise Dieu and the Châteaux at Cordes, Murat and Murol.

FOOD & WINE: Specialties include Coq au Vin, Potéc Auvergnat, smoked and cured hams, local salmon trout and 'petite friture'. Famous cheeses are St. Nectaire, Bleu d'Auvergne and Cantal. The excellent vineyards of St. Pourçain in the north are among the oldest in France. Also popular are the 'Côtes d'Auvergne' wines.

HISTORY: The castle of Bourbon-l'Archambault, in the north of the region, gave its name to the royal dynasty. In the 11th century, Pope Urban II launched the first crusade and built scores of Romanesque churches, seemingly inspired by snail-shells, honeycombs and pinecones.

ACTIVITIES: The region is the perfect destination for ‘green' holidays, activity holidays and hot spring therapies. It has the wild character of a land passed through since time immemorial by Compostelle pilgrims. The region offers many activities from white water rafting, hang gliding, pony trekking and mountain biking to gentle walks through fields of wild flowers. The crater lakes are perfect for water sports, and the spas, such as St. Nectaire and Vichy, offer cures for many ailments.

LOCAL EVENTS:

• May-mid October Summer opera in Vichy.
• July International folk festival, Le Puy-en-Velay.
• Mid August Chaise-Dieu music festival.

CLIMATE: Hot summers in the valleys - kept green by occasional August storms - cooler in the mountains. Autumns are warm and sunny - an ideal time to visit.