See also: Sancy

The Puy de Sancy is a extinct Volcan located in the solid mass of the Monts Gilds, in the department of the Puy-de-Dôme. It is located at 35 kilometers in the south-west of Clermont-Ferrand.

It is more the high summit of the Massif Central with its 1 886 meters of altitude and the most volcano of Metropolitan France. It is an old volcano of the stratovolcano type. It ceased any activity 220 000 years ago.

It was formed at the end of the tertiary era and was to measure more than 2 500 meters. Several assumptions can explain its current geomorphology. More in sight to date, would be a continuation of remains avalanche. The sides of stratovolcano would have collapsed. It remains of this activity the sources of water charged out of iron and other minerals, which goes back to surface charged with gas, like the source of the valley of Chaudefour or the thermal springs of Mount-Gilds and Bourboule.

Four valleys occur on its sides:

• Chaudefour (north-eastern)
• salted Fountain (southern)
• the Dordogne (northern)
• Hind (western)

With the foot of Sancy, two small Ruisseau X takes to them source: gilds and Dogne which while meeting will give rise to the the Dordogne. Many moufflons and marmots live on Puy de Sancy. They were introduced by the man then thrived.

One reaches the foot by a road from the city of the Mount-Gilds, then one can reach the Sommet either with foot in approximately one hour, or by a Téléphérique in 3 minutes, then by a way arranged in staircase in approximately 20 minutes.

Top, one has a splendid sight on the surroundings and per good weather one can even see the Mont Blanc.

There are two ski stations: Super Besse and the Mount-Gilds.

It is called Puei of Crotz or Sant Circ in occitan.

See too

• Path of great excursion GR. 4

Bond external

• Site of the Solid mass of Sancy

• Photographs of Sancy