As of 9 up to 16 February bars and restaurants of the Sancy Massif – but especially those in Le Mont-Dore – host many jazz concerts. More information on the Sancy Snow Jazz Festival can be found on this website. Below a teaser for this great festival.
The living area and the bedroom of this apartment have been refurbished. We have better soundproof the ceilings and the floors have been replaced.
We also used the opportunity to give the apartment a less dark look by applying lighter colors on the walls and putting dimmable spots in the living area ceiling.
Photos and availability can be viewed on the page about the apartment.
View the before and after photos below.
December is a great month for planning your 2019 cycling trips. Maybe our road cycling round trip is just what you are looking for.
During this cycling holiday you will cycle in 5 or 6 stages 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.
More information on our dedicated page.
Proudly we present a photo collage of the refurbished bedroom of our Puy de Baladou apartment.
The living area and the bedroom of this apartment have been refurbished. We have, for example, better soundproofed the ceilings and the floor has been replaced. We have also used the opportunity to give the apartment a less dark look and feel by applying lighter colors on the walls and spots in the ceilings. The apartment is again available during the Christmas holidays.
Pictures of the refurbished kitchen will follow shortly.
Because the renovation of our Puy de Baladou apartment will be finished for the Christmas holidays we have been able to change our availability:
Please do not hesitate to contact us for a reservation.
The webcam of the Col de Guéry - at 8 kms from Les Camélias - offers now also a 30 day time lapse.
Yesterday we did start with the renovation of our Puy de Baladou apartment. The morning was spend shopping in Clermont-Ferrand and when the guests had left the apartment in de afternoon we started emptying the apartment.
The coming week the living area and the bedroom of this apartment will be refurbished. We will for example better soundproof the ceilings and the floors will be replaced.
We also use the opportunity to give the apartment a less dark look by applying lighter colors on the walls and spots in the ceiling. The apartment will if all goes well be available again during the Christmas holidays.
Today the first snowflakes of the winter season are gently falling and that is why we share this magical video.
As a matter of fact we only have very limited availability left for the Christmas- and February half term holidays.
The blogger Lili in Wonderland did spend a weekend in the Sancy Massif and made the beautiful video below.
From 1'20" the video takes place on 'our' side of the massif and from 1'52" Le Mont-Dore comes into view with the thermal baths, the funicular railway and the adventure park in the forest. At 2'30" we arrive at the lake of Guéry (8 km from Les Camélias) to return at 3'05" to the other side of the massif with a hot air balloon flight above Lac Chambon.
Sunday 13 January 2019 the Trail Hivernal Oxsitis Sancy Mont-Dore ill again take place. Participants can choose between 20 kms with 900 meters of climbing or 30 kms with 1.500 meters of climbing.
Be quick, the maximum number of participants is limited.
This year one can register at two moments:
Below a foretaste with images of the 2018 edition of this really well organised event.
Each year in September the Transvolcanique is organised; a 2-day mountain bike event. On Saturday, the participants cycle 85 kilometers from Blanzat to Le Mont-Dore where they can spend the night. On Sunday, the participants cycle back to Blanzat via another route of again about 85 kilometers. Participants can also choose to participate only on Saturday or Sunday.
The video below gives an impression of this year’s edition. The video starts with a view on Le Mont-Dore, where Les Camélias is located.
In November, the living area and the bedroom of our Puy de Baladou apartment will be refurbished. We will for example better soundproof the ceilings and the kitchen floor will be replaced.
We also use the opportunity to give the apartment a less dark look by applying lighter colors on the walls and spots in the ceilings. The apartment will if all goes well be available again during the Christmas holidays.
After having shared the video of the 110 km race, we now also share the video of the other distances.
Last weekend the Trails du Sancy trail running race took place. Trail running races over 12, 20, 33, 60 and 110 km. Below the video of this annual event.
More information can be found on our trail running page.
Last weekend the La Sancy Puy de Dôme 2018 trail running competition took place. An ultra trail race over 110 kilometers from Le Mont-Dore via the Puy de Sancy to the Puy de Dôme and back via the Puy de Sancy to Le Mont-Dore. Below the video of this annual event.
Apart from this distance, there were also races over 12, 20, 33 and 60 kilometer. More information can be found on our trail running page.
We are and will be enjoying some really nice late summer weather. Great weather for one of the many walks which are possible here: the Guéry plateau.
The col and the Guéry lake are only 8 km from Les Camélias and from here you can make a beautiful, very varied walk. Think of plank bridges along the lake, a waterfall, a plateau full of cows and a part on a mountain ridge.
The photos in this French article give a good impression of what can be seen during the walk.
More information about walking opportunities in the vicinity of Les Camélias can be found on this page.
During the Volcanic Blues Festival (September 27 up to 30 September 30 included) 2 Blues dance clinics will be organised.
The clinics will take place on Saturday September 29 and Sunday September 30 from 5:30 pm up to 7 pm.
Yesterday we did visit 3 Horizons Sancy works of art. The photo album of these works of art and their impressive surroundings can be found on our Facebook-pagina.
The 10 works of land art can be visited until next weekend.
Although we are still enjoying nice late summer weather, we already have many reservations for the winter holidays. During the Christmas holidays we only still have the following availability left:
We also receive already many reservations for the February Half Term Holidays. The period from February 16 up to Februay 19 included is already fully booked. And the period from February 20 up to March 2nd is already almost fully booked! We advice you not to wait too long for making a reservation for this period.
Les Camélias is located in the Parc naturel régional des Volcans d'Auvergne; a protected area where nature, life and work go hand in hand. France has several of these protected areas and this is the largest.
The video below gives a good picture of the diversity of the area where we already over 10 years are welcoming guests.
From September 27 up until September 30 the 12th Volcanic Blues Festival will take place.
A great event with blues music in the many bars & restaurants in Le Mont-Dore. Below a sneak peek.
Why not combine a weekend of hiking or cycling with great concerts?
We only have limited availability left during this week-end.
During the Summer holiday we only still have the following availability: our Puy de Dôme apartment from Friday August 24 up to Sunday August 26.
As of August 26 you have more choice.
In our previous news item we wrote about Horizons - Landschapskunst: the Massif du Sancy landscape, which is already very beautiful, is adorned with 10 landscape art objects until September 23.
3 objects are located in the vicinity of Les Camélias; in the forest of the Rossignolet waterfall in Le Mont-Dore, in the Parc Fenestre in La Bourboule and alongside the road to the Banne d'Ordanche in Murat-le-Quaire. These 3 artworks can be visited during one hike or mountain bike trip.
We have made several hiking routes which pass by the 3 artworks. And which - depending on the variant – visit also 1 or 2 waterfalls and pass over or under the Puy Gros. From Le Mont-Dore the distances of vary from 24 to 26 km.
But hikers can also take the bus to La Bourboule and start the walk there. To end in La Bourboule and take the bus back is also a possibility. These walks are between 17 and 19 km.
It is also possible to visit the 3 artworks on the mountain bike using variants of our already existing Pessade-Servières-Guéry routes. The shortest route is 26.3 km, the route that goes all the way to Lac de Servières is 42.8 km. The mountain bike routes can be extended at the end.
Until September 23rd Horizons - Rencontres "Arts Nature" takes place around the Sancy massif. The of itself already stunning landscape is during this period decorated by 10 land art objects.
The objects are sometimes easy to access, but sometimes one has to walk a (fair) bit. A great way to explore the Sancy massif!
3 objects are located close to Les Camélias; in the forest close to the Rossignolet waterfall, in the het Parc Fenestre in La Bourboule and on the road to the Banne d'Ordanche in Murat-le-Quaire.
The video below gives a good impression of this years edition of Horizons.
The in our area popular band Wazoo filmed their last video at the Guéry. The col and Lac de Guéry are at just 8 kilometers from Les Camélias and is bursting with possible activities: hiking, trailrunning and mountain biking and in wintertime it is a great area for cross country skiing and snowshoeiing.
At Pessade - 20 km from Les Camélias – you will find a great activity: a fun route between the trees. The video below gives a good impression of what to expect. At Pessade much more activities can be done; mountain biking - there is even a small bike park - and hiking are also among the possibilities. There is also a bar-restaurant.
