The Massif Central

• Dramatic landscapes: deep gorges, sweeping vistas, ancient volcanoes
• Unique mountain wilflife: kites, eagles, buzzards, deer, marmots
• Source of France's greatest rivers
• An amazing variety of butterflies and wild flowers
• 'Roof of the world' feeling

Here, at the very heart of the Massif Central, you’re in a land of sweeping landscapes, deep gorges and ravines - France's great rivers, the Loire, Dordogne and the Lot - have their source here. There are green fertile valleys, and windswept uplands vivid with yellow broom. Walking and hiking in France to the ancient volcanoes of the Auvergne, and the dramatic ridges between them, you get views extending from the mountains of the Cantal to Mont Blanc in the Alps and Mont Ventoux in Provence.

The Massif Central is an inclined plateau, highest at its eastern edge near Les Estables, where it falls away in deep ravines to the Rhône Valley a thousand metres below. So there are a lot of different habitats, at different altitudes. You can see red and black kites, eagles, buzzards, and harriers. There are deer too, and marmots near Les Estables.

The tall yellow gentian, and the martagon lily, are among the special flowers of the Massif Central, and the sénécon argenté, with its grey leaves and yellow flowers, is found only here and on Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees. There are wild strawberries and bilberries in summer and people report seeing an amazing variety of butterflies.

Guided Walking Tours