Puy de Dôme and the Chaîne des Puys

Take the D941 out of Clermont-Ferrand and in just 15 km you reach the base of the Puy de Dôme, a 1,465 m sentinel over the UNESCO-listed Chaîne des Puys since 2018. The road threads past breached cones and ancient lava flows, with quick stops at Orcines or the Col de Ceyssat. As you climb, the skyline unfolds: some 80 volcanic features from Volvic to La Vache and Lassolas—a textbook continental rift. Archaeology buffs will spot the 2nd‑century Temple of Mercury, and on clear days the Puy de Sancy appears, sometimes even the Forez range.

Your driver collects you from your Clermont-Ferrand hotel in a Mercedes, water on board; you mix the Panoramique des Dômes rack railway, short walks, and scenic pauses while they handle roads, parking, and waiting. This dedicated private driver adapts the sequence to the weather; enjoy truffade in Orcines or a sip of Volvic at the Goulot spring while they drive. Add-ons can include Vulcania, the Volvic Stone Museum, or a detour to Puy de Pariou to read its crater on a 30–40 minute hike.