Travel to Auvergne

Day 8 Picherande - Puy Mary - Barcelona (634 Km.)

(in 64 Km.) Puy Mary: Puy Mary (The Great Pyramid) is one of the highest peaks of the Cantal (the Plomb du Cantal dominates with its 1855 meters high). Its height is 1783 meters, but with its pyramidal shape itself symbolizes the power and majesty of the mountains of Upper Auvergne. True totem, annually attracts about 600,000 visitors, who do not hesitate to climb the 200 vertical meters that separate the parking located next to Pas de Peyrol, which they collect cars, buses and motor homes. Access is free and it takes about an hour to get on and off.

Currently classified as Grand Site de France, the Puy Mary enjoys a paved and signposted leading to an orientation table, so the panorama is listed as one of the finest in France. On top of the volcano, on clear days, the views reach until the Mont Blanc, but the surroundings still get more attention, especially the line about the Puy Griou and Plomb du Cantal, and the seven green valleys extending in star around the summit: the rivers of Santoire, Petite Rhue, Mars, Maronne, Aspre, Bertrande and Jordanne, all them separated by divergent narrow promontories that create an unique landscape.

Formed through the accumulation of viscous lavas, the Puy Mary owes its singular form (horn type) to glacial erosion. The Puy Mary is part of the greater stratovolcanic set of Europe (2,700 square kilometers). It is the largest volcano in Europe in terms of diameter.

(in 570 Km.) Barcelona: We go back home. End of this 8 day trip by the Auvergne.