Site Houses of Grand Site de France Puy Mary – Volcan du Cantal
The Grand Site de France Puy Mary – Volcan du Cantal has 5 Site Houses and 2 outdoor activity resorts on its territory.
Why 5 Site Houses and not one?
- The territory of the Grand Site de France Puy Mary – Volcan du Cantal has the specificity of being covered by 7 glacial valleys which in the winter period due to the closure of the access roads to the Pas de Peyrol is no longer directly connected to each other. Thus this group of Site Houses meets several objectives:
- To improve the reception, information, and orientation of visitors with a view to a wider tourist development of the valleys and the whole department;
- To enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the Grand Site in order to encourage the general public to discover and promote a better understanding of the site;
- To create a network to welcome the public to the massif, federating partners and making the site a real entity and tourist destination;
- To offer by-products, local products (availables also on our e-shop), stays, activities, guided tours, events… allowing a better familiarisation with the territory of the Grand Site de France.
In each of these Site Houses, the route passes through a tourist reception area, then through the discovery of the Massif through themes specific to each place and to the territory.
Claux (Petite Rhue valley)
You will be able to take advantage of the advice and information about our reception agents as well as the area dedicated to exhibitions. The Maison de Site du Claux also houses the Maison de la Montagne (Mountain House)
Open during the summer period
Free access to the exhibitions
Information: 04 71 40 28 56
Dienne (Santoire valley)
Push open the doors of this old traditional farmhouse-block characteristic of Cantalian architecture and discover our museography on the stones of the local area and the Cantalien heritage. The Site House also houses the post office and the town hall of Dienne.
Open during the summer period
Free access to the museography
Information: 04 71 20 27 58
Falgoux (Mars valley)
Come and discover the Maison de Site du Falgoux, located in the Foyer rural de la commune. In this opulent 40/50’s architecture, you will be able to benefit from the advice and information of our reception staff as well as the space dedicated to exhibitions. The Maison de Site du Falgoux also houses the post office and the town hall of Le Falgoux.
Open all year round
Free access to exhibitions
Information: 04 71 40 86 78
Pas de Peyrol (Puy Mary)
On the listed site of the Monts du Cantal and at the foot of the emblematic pyramid of Puy Mary, the Site House of Pas de Peyrol (1589 m) tells the story of volcanism. Its formation, its transformations and its landscapes today are retraced through an audiovisual show on the largest volcano in Europe.
Our reception staff will advise you on your discovery of the Cantalien Massif and the department (hiking, visits…).
At the gates of the Maison de Site, a footpath leads you to the orientation table at the top of Puy Mary, to discover the extraordinary 360° panoramic view.
Open from May to October
Free access to the audiovisual show
Information: 06 08 03 35 10
Remember to consult the traffic and parking regulations before going to Pas de Peyrol.
Mandailles-Saint-Julien (Jordanne valley)
In this imposing stone building, a former manor house, the Site House unveils nature and landscapes. You will be able to move freely in the heart of a panoramic exhibition (pictures and wall panels, animal models, games, plant samples…). A 20-minute video will take you from ridges to valleys around the four seasons of nature in the Cantal to discover the richness of the local fauna and flora.
Open during the summer period
Free access to the museography
Information: 04 71 47 94 42
Outdoor activity stations
The grandiose landscapes such as those of the Cantal volcano and the vastness of the territory are a call to escape and practice sports activities.
The Grand Site de France Puy Mary – Volcan du Cantal has two outdoor activity resorts on its territory.
Col de Serre
The Col de Serre outdoor activity station was built by the Syndicat Mixte du Puy Mary with the support of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, European funds and the prefects of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and the Cantal department.
Situated at the foot of the slopes of the Haut Cantal Nordic ski area, it is an ideal starting point in winter for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing outings.
An agreement for the occupation of the public domain has been signed with the Natur’O’Col company to manage the outdoor resort. It offers summer and winter activities (hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice-falls, paragliding, climbing, VTT, canyoning…)
An off-bag room, an equipment hire area, and a restaurant are available to hikers.
Phone: 09 88 77 32 33
Mandailles-Saint-Julien
The creation of the Mandailles-Saint-Julien open-air resort gave new life to the old school (joint CABA and Commune project management). This open-air centre is managed by the Bureau des Guides d’Auvergne and MurMur&Nature via an agreement to occupy the public domain.
In addition to hiking and walking tours, you will find here trail, departures from activities such as the canyoning, climbing, rental of e-bike.
