Fun activities for the FAMILY
La Pal, attraction and animal park
In this beautifully landscaped 50-hectare park you will find no less than 26 attractions (the Rollercoasters Twist, Azteka and Disque du Soleil, a dynamic 3D cinema, rafting, a Canadian river, a pirate ship ...). In addition, you will find about 600 animals from 5 continents in a single simulated habitat (elephants, giraffes, monkeys, bears, tigers, lions ...).
The volcanoes, a special nature reserve
The Chaîne des Puys (the chain of Puys) stretches for more than 35 kilometers in a ribbon of 80 dome mountains and craters and is located in the heart of the Parc Naturel Regional des Volcans d'Auvergne. These round volcanoes are a great environment for hiking. Lovers of fauna and flora will be amazed at the sight of the rare and wild plants and animal species.
The Puy de Dôme is no less than 1465 meters high. Sports enthusiasts can walk to the top. Since 2012, the summit of the Puy de Dôme can also be reached in summer and winter with the "Panoramique des Dômes" cogwheel boom. Once at the top you have a spectacular view of the entire area. It is even possible to see Mont Blanc and the (dormant) volcanoes of Auvergne in the distance at a glance!
The Mont-Dore in the Massif du Sancy looms up in a relief with pointed peaks and valleys of waterfalls and rivers through streams that flow into the numerous lakes. The natural lakes created in the craters are a geographic feature worth visiting. The GR30 starts from Massif du Sancy (GR stands for Grande Randonnée), this is the walk along the lakes of the Auvergne. This route is 189 km long and passes 15 crater lakes. Over the centuries, villages and later ski resorts have developed on the slopes or at the foot of the volcanoes. For swimming enthusiasts, it is wonderful in one of the volcano lakes. The crater lake Gour de Tazenat is a 45-minute drive from Maison Balady. The lake has a diameter of 700 m and a depth of about 66 m. Clear water is home to a variety of aquatic fauna. A path in the undergrowth makes it easy for everyone to walk around it.
Vulcania
The volcanoes in the Auvergne are a natural treasure that is unique in Europe. They are visible as far as the eye can see. Thanks to the solidified lava, a breathtaking, unspoiled nature image has developed over the centuries. Three well-known volcanoes are the Puy de Dôme, the Chaîne des Puys and the Plomb du Cantal. To learn more about volcanoes, visit Vulcania, a theme park 20 minutes' drive from Clermont-Ferrand. Vulcania is a playful 'scientific' tinted study of volcanic activity in the Auvergne and in the world.