Walking, sliding, jumping or using a rope down a river – explanation of canyoning! This can also be done here in the Auvergne!

An overview of no less than 30 nice walks in the Puy de Dôme department is available on this web page.

The walks are divided into walks up to 2 hours, from 2 to 4 hours and more than 4 hours. The walks are all located in the immediate vicinity of for example fruit and vegetable growers, meat processors, cheese makers, beekeepers or winemakers who sell their products on site and often open their business to visitors.

From 25 up to 28 September the 8th Volcanic Blues Festival will take place. Below a sneak peek. We do not have any availability left during this period.

2 days of mountain activities in and around Le Mont-Dore.

Saturday 28 June
Not too hard walk2 departures: 9.30 am and 2.30 pm, with a guide. Duration: about 3 hours.
Via Ferrata: meeting point at the Capucin. Duration: about 2 hours. From 10 to 12 am and from 2 to 5 pm (last departure). As of 12 years old.
(Rock) climbing: introduction to rock climbing. On an artificial structure for children. On cliffs for adults. At the foot of the Capucin.
Drinks & discussion: at the ice rink at 6 pm.

Sunday 29 June
Easy walk: see Saturday.
Via FerrataFrom 10 to 12 am and from 2 to 4 pm.
(Rock) climbing: from 9 am to 5 pm.

From Thursday 24 July up to Sunday 27 July, the 4th Mont-Dore Retro Rockin' festival will take place. For 4 days Le Mont-Dore will be in the devoted to Fifties rock 'n roll concerts which will be held in the open air and in the many bars and restaurants of Le Mont-Dore. We only have very limited availability left during this weekend.

More information can be found on the website of the festival.

For a foretaste we gladly refer you to the video below.

As the video below shows the Auvergne is ideal for a holiday with children. Adventure parc, theme park Vulcania, walking (with donkeys), all in the beautiful volcanic landscape.

One morning, one col!
4 cols in the Auvergne will be closed to traffic certain mornings from June 16 to September 25, 2014 from 6 am to 11 am except for cyclists and residents. 3 of those cols can be found close to Les Camélias:

Mondays: Col de la Croix Saint Robert.
Tuesdays: Col de la Genèste.
Thursdays: Banne d'Ordanche.

More info.

The fiftieth anniversary of the Anquetil-Poulidor duel on June 15 is an opportunity to relive the mythical side by side race which took place during the 1964 Tour de France stage .

"On this occasion, the train will only run as of late morning to allow 300 cyclists to relive this legendary climb”, says the director.

At the top, it will be possible to experience the feelings of the riders via a virtual reality device. And Raymond Poulidor will be present.

And furthermore from 15 June to 31 August 2014 "Tour 64, le duel Anquetil - Poulidor : histoire de héros" (The 64 Tour: the Anquetil – Poulidor duel: history of heroes).

This exhibition is about the duel between the two cycling champions during the summer of 1964 at the Puy de Dôme. It retraces via portraits and stories the history of these two great champions and explains why this duel made the Puy de Dôme stage one of the mythical stages of the Tour de France history.

The exhibition also looks into the 12 other stages that took place on the slopes of the Puy de Dôme volcano since 1952.

Something different: trail running with a mountain guide in the Puy de Dôme / Chaîne des Puys area.

The Vulcania theme park has as of June again a new attraction: Le Ballon des Puys. From a hot air balloon at about 450 the history of the Chaîne des Puys is being explained. The time-lapse video below shows how the balloon was created.

In anticipation of the renovation of our Puy de Sancy and Puy de Dôme apartments this fall, the sofa beds in these two apartments have already been equipped with new, comfortable mattresses. The renovation of these two apartments starts on October 16. The apartments will be equipped with a luxury kitchen and will be soundproofed.

As a member of Club Auvergne Sancy Hébergement we were invited to the Parc Animalier d'Auvergne. Although an over 1 hour drive from Les Camélias it was worthwhile the trip. Great explications about what this zoo want to achieve in a beautiful mountainside location.

Guests staying at Les Camélias can combine a visit to this zoo with a visit to the medieval village of Besse, Lac Pavin or the famous cattle-market in Brion.

Pictures of the visit can be found in the photo album on the Les Camélias Facebook page.

In the context of the "spring of thermalism ", the thermal baths of Le Mont-Dore and La Bourboule have a special offer. 3 treatments for € 30 from 19 to 24 May. Le Mont-Dore: massage shower in the pool, ondée thermal and steam room. In La Bourboule: thermal bath, steam room and mist shower.

From 17 May 2014 up until 4 October 2014 Flybe will fly between Southampton and Clermont-Ferrand v.v. More information.

During July and August - and especially from 13 July up to 20 August - we only have limited availability left. Planning to stay with us during this period? Book now!

Les Camélias is a partner of the Grands Thermes de La Bourboule. Our guests benefit from a 20% discount on spa treatments at the Espace Bien-Etre. One can choose from a large number of packages. More (French) information can be found on the website of the Grands Thermes de La Bourboule.

Following the post of April 28 on hiking routes now an item on motorcycle routes. The immediate vicinity of our accommodation is also great for touring on beautiful and quiet roads, over mountain passes and along rivers.

We have a number of GPS motor routes available for motor cyclists.

Les Camelias has a locked garage where motorcycles, helmets and motor suitcases can be safely stored. Our tools can be used. And motorcyclists can of course also make use our free laundry service.

Motor bikes can be rented in Gelles, at 21 miles from Le Mont-Dore, at Moto JP.

Les Camelias is located in a fantastic, varied hiking area. There are no less than over 400 miles of marked hiking trails in the immediate surrounding area of Les Camélias. The variety of walks is very large; from short but no less beautiful walks for the whole family to more challenging day trips.

Obviously we propose booklets with walking routes, hiking maps and GPS tracks. A GPS can also be rented.

One of the short walks takes hikers to the hot spring "Source de Croizat". It is lovely to take a bath in the 40 degree water. The walk can also be done from Les Camélias.

Upon request, we have now made a five-day version of our road bike tour.

Participants will cycle through 3 different middle mountain ranges; the Massif du Sancy, the Livradois-Forez and the Cantal. The climbs will go up to 1.589 meter. On average the climbs will bridge between 300 and 400 meters but this can go up to 700 meters on a few occasions. This might not seem to strenuous, but it should be taken into account that you will not encounter many flat stretches of road during this cycling trip.

To allow everyone to cycle on his / her own level, we have (at least) five routes of different levels per stage. It is possible to change your level each day and, if necessary, you might even be able to switch levels during the stage itself. Mountain stages and less intense stages alternate.

Luggage transport is included in this trip.

More information can be found on this page.

The Pic du Capucin, which is well visible from the Les Camélias garden, features as of coming weekend a Via Ferrata. In 400 meters 222 meters of climbing must be overcome. There are three routes, each with a different level of difficulty.

The tourist attraction Volcan de Lemptegy has a new attraction, and we were invited to the inauguration. We did not only visit the new attraction - the 4D movie "Aux Origines" - but we also got an extensive, very interesting tour. Below a preview of the new attraction in the form of a video and underneath this video some pictures taken during our visit. More information can be found on the Volcan de Lemptégy website.

Via the (French) video below one can visit the thermal baths of Le Mont-Dore and also visit the engine room of the funicular railway. The funicular railway is the oldest in France (1898). The video furthermore mentions that Le Mont-Dore is the second oldest ski resort in France.

Climbing the Puy de Dôme individually is no longer possible. Because of the creation of a tourist train - the Panoramique des Dômes - the Puy de Dôme is closed to individual cyclists. However, special events for cyclists are being organised. Climbing the Puy de Dôme on a bicycle will be possible on 14 June 2014 between 7.30 am and 9.30 am during the La Montée de Puy de Dôme event. A maximum of 300 cyclists can participate in this event.

More information can be found on the FFCT website. Registration is possible via this registration form.

We currently receive many information requests and reservations of cyclists. Therefore below a film which clearly shows that our region is suitable for many different types of cyclists.

L'Auvergne, terre cyclo from Auvergne Tourisme on Vimeo.

Saturday 6 September: "La Dorée Trail" women-only, 12,5 kms with 550 meters of climbing.
Sunday 7 September: "Le Chemin des Crêtes" over 18 kms with 1090 meters of climbing, "Trail du Sancy" over 32 kms with 2300 meters of climbing and the "Grand Trail du Sancy / Mont-Dore over 60 kms with 3350 meters of climbing. Registration via the website of the organisation.