WThe Massif Central is a highland region in the middle of Southern France, consisting of mountains and plateaus. It covers about 15% of mainland France.
WThe Mounts of Cantal are a mountainous massif in the mid-west of the Massif Central, France, made up of the remnants of the largest stratovolcano of Europe, which was formed from 13 million years ago and last erupted approximately 2 million years ago. However, the main part of the volcanic activity was concentrated between 8.5 and 7 million years ago. Thereafter, the original volcano was largely eroded, massive landslides occurred, and it was further eroded by glaciers and water.
WThe Plomb du Cantal is the highest summit of Mounts of Cantal in the Massif Central, France. It is the second highest summit of the Massif Central, after the mountain of Puy de Sancy.
WThe Puy Mary is a summit in the mounts of Cantal in Massif Central in France. It is classified as a "Grand National Site" in France. Nearly 500,000 visitors come to this site every year.
WAllier is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in the centre of France. Named after the river Allier, it had a population of 339,384 in 2016. Moulins is the prefecture; Montluçon and Vichy are the subprefectures. Its INSEE and post code is 03.
WArdèche is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France. It is named after the Ardèche River and had a population of 320,379 as of 2013. Its largest cities are Aubenas, Annonay, Guilherand-Granges, Tournon-sur-Rhône and Privas (prefecture).
WAuvergne is a former administrative region in south-central France, comprising the four departments of Allier, Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal and Haute-Loire. Since 1 January 2016, it has been part of the new region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
WAveyron is a department located in the Occitanie region of Southern France. Named after the Aveyron River, it had a population of 278,697 in 2016. Its inhabitants are known as Aveyronnais or Aveyronnaises in French. The inhabitants of Rodez are called Ruthénois, based on the first Celtic settlers in the area, the Ruteni.
WCantal is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, with its prefecture in Aurillac. Its other principal towns are Saint-Flour and Mauriac and its residents are known as Cantalians. Cantal borders the departments of Puy-de-Dôme, Haute-Loire, Aveyron, Lot, Lozère and Corrèze, in the Massif Central natural region.
WThe Cévennes is a cultural region and range of mountains in south-central France, on the south-east edge of the Massif Central. It covers parts of the départements of Ardèche, Gard, Hérault and Lozère. Rich in geographical, natural, and cultural significance, portions of the region are protected within the Cévennes National Park, the Cévennes Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO), as well as the Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape. The area has been inhabited since 400,000 BCE and has numerous megaliths which were erected beginning around 2500 BCE.
WClermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, with a population of 143,886 (2017). Its metropolitan area had 485,315 inhabitants at the 2017 census. It is the prefecture (capital) of the Puy-de-Dôme department. Olivier Bianchi is its current mayor.
WCorrèze is a department in Southwestern France, named after the river Corrèze which runs through it. Its capital is Tulle, and its most populated town is Brive-la-Gaillarde.
WCreuse is a department in central France named after the river Creuse.
WThe Eyrieux is a tributary of the Rhône in the Ardèche department, France. The Eyrieux runs for 83 kilometres (52 mi). It begins in the Massif Central and joins the Rhône in the Rhône Valley just downstream of Valence.
WMont Gerbier de Jonc is a mountain of volcanic origin located in the Massif Central in France. It is made of a type of rock called phonolite. It rises to an altitude of 1,551 m (5,089 ft), and its base contains three springs that are the source of the Loire, France's longest river. It is the second most-visited site in the département of Ardèche, after the Ardèche Gorges.
WGoul is a river in the Massif Central of France. It runs through the Cantal and the Aveyron for 52 kilometers. It is a tributary of the river Truyère.
WHaute-Loire is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-central France. Named after the Loire River, it is surrounded by the departments of Loire, Ardèche, Lozère, Cantal and Puy-de-Dôme. In 2016, it had a population of 227,339; its inhabitants are called Altiligériens in French.
WHaute-Vienne is a department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in west-central France. Named after the Vienne River, it is one of the twelve departments that together constitute Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The neighbouring departments are Creuse, Corrèze, Dordogne, Charente, Vienne and Indre.
WThe lac de Vassivière or Vassivière Lake, one of France's largest artificial lakes, is a large man-made reservoir of about 10 square kilometres. It is situated on the Plateau de Millevaches in the départements of Creuse and Haute-Vienne. It is the largest area of water in the Limousin region of France and provides water supplies, hydroelectricity, and leisure facilities.
WThe Causse du Larzac is a limestone karst plateau in the south of the Massif Central, France, situated between Millau (Aveyron) and Lodève (Hérault). It is an agricultural area, where sheep produce milk for Roquefort cheese.
WThe Limagne is large plain in the Auvergne region of France in the valley of the Allier river, on the edge of the Massif Central. It lies entirely within the département of Puy de Dôme. The term is sometimes used to include this, and three other less extensive plains, that lie along the valley of the Allier, in which case the first is known as Grande Limagne to distinguish it from the others. The name is derived from the Latin Lacus Magnus, or large lake.
WLimousin is a former administrative region of southwest-central France. On 1 January 2016, it became part of the new administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It comprised three departments: Corrèze, Creuse, and Haute-Vienne.
WLoire is a department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.
WLot is a department in the Occitanie region of France. Named after the Lot River, it lies in the southwestern part of the country and had a population of 173,758 in 2013. Its prefecture is Cahors; its subprefectures are Figeac and Gourdon.
WLozère is a department in the region of Occitanie in Southern France, located near the Massif Central. It is named after Mont Lozère. With a 2016 population of 76,422, it is the least populous French department.
WMont Lozère is the highest peak in the Cévennes, a subrange of the Massif Central in France. It is 1,699 metres (5,574 ft) above sea level and lies within the Cévennes National Park.
WMargeride is a mountainous region of France, situated in the Massif Central, inside the départements of Cantal, Haute-Loire and Lozère.
WThe Meygal is a French mountain region, in the Massif Central, Haute-Loire (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes).
WMont Aigoual is the highest point of the Gard department, France. It is part of the Massif Central, and it is located within the Cévennes National Park. Its southern slopes are the source of the river Hérault flowing into the Mediterranean.
WThe Mont Mézenc is a summit of the Massif Central, France.
WThe Monts du Lyonnais are a range of low-altitude mountains and eastern foothills of the Massif Central located in the Loire and Rhône departments in France.
WPatranque is a rural dish from Auvergne in France made by soaking stale bread in milk and tome fraîche or young Cantal cheese.
WMont Pilat or the Pilat massif is a mountainous area in the east of the Massif Central of France.
WThe Planèze of Saint-Flour is a French volcanic plateau, belonging to the Cantal Mounts. It is a traditional area of the Auvergne region.
WThe Plateau de Millevaches is an upland area in Limousin a former administrative region of France. It covers approximately 3,500 km² and crosses the boundaries of three French departments: Corrèze, Creuse, and Haute-Vienne.
WPuy de Sancy is the highest mountain in the Massif Central. It is part of an ancient stratovolcano which has been inactive for about 220,000 years.
WThe Puy de Pariou, also known as Puy Pariou or Le Pariou, is a volcano located in the Chaîne des Puys, in the Massif Central region. It is formed by the overlay of two strombolian cones and a tuff ring; it produced three lava flows during its eruptive history.
WPuy-de-Dôme is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in the centre of France. In 2016, it had a population of 650,700. Its prefecture is Clermont-Ferrand and subprefectures are Ambert, Issoire, Riom and Thiers.
WRoquefort is a sheep milk cheese from Southern France, and is one of the world's best known blue cheeses. Though similar cheeses are produced elsewhere, EU law dictates that only those cheeses aged in the natural Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon may bear the name Roquefort, as it is a recognised geographical indication, or has a protected designation of origin.
WRoquefort-sur-Soulzon is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.
WSaint-Étienne is a city in eastern central France, in the Massif Central, 55 km (34 mi) southwest of Lyon in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, on the trunk road that connects Toulouse with Lyon. Saint-Étienne is the capital of the Loire department.
WThe Sidobre is a mountainous area located in the south of the Massif central, in central France. It is a 15.3 km long, 6.6 km wide plateau made of granite, covered with forests. Its highest point is in the lieu-dit “Le Patau”.
WThe Tome fraîche or Tomme fraîche is a hard pressed curd, slightly fermented and unsalted based on cow's milk, traditionally produced in the region of Aubrac and Cantal in Haute-Auvergne.
WVolvic is a brand of mineral water. Its source is Clairvic Spring, Auvergne Regional Park, just to the north of the Puy de Dôme in France.