As the title suggests, this route will take you on a tour through a landscape of the volcanoes and will visit the iconic Puy de Dôme where you can either hike or take the cog railway train to the summit at 1465m.
The route starts by heading away from the city and crossing the River Allier and then south along the edge of the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park, through forests and small villages with views of the surrounding volcanoes, most are actually cinder cones and lava domes. The roads are rural but generally in good condition. After crossing over the River Allier for the 2nd time and then the busy A75 motorway, I have suggested a coffee stop at Saint-Germain-Lembron. The roads become more twisty and hilly after you pass the fish farm at Barèges and you are constantly reminded of the strange landscape that you are in with different views around every corner. I have added a suggested lunch stop at Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise where you can park your motorcycle in the square and keep an eye on it while having lunch. When it comes to gastronomy, Besse and Saint Anastaise boast a rich culinary heritage. The Massif du Sancy is known for its exceptional local products, such as cheese, charcuterie, and honey. There are a good selection of places to choose from to eat.

After lunch, the route carries on twisting and turning, climbing and descending through forests of pine and open Alpine style meadows, always making you smile with it's strange beauty. I say strange because all of the peaks are rounded and have a very soft appearance.

The highlight of this route comes just before returning to Clermont Ferrand.
Reaching an altitude of 1,465 metres, the Puy de Dôme is not the highest peak in Auvergne, but it is the most iconic, and certainly the most famous. From time immemorial, this volcano has been subject to ardent veneration, first by the Arverne people (the ancestors of Auvergne’s inhabitants), then by the Gallo-Romans, who built a temple to the god Mercury during the first century AD. You can choose to hike to the summit or take the Panoramique des Dômes train. The Panoramique des Dômes is a rack or cog railway that takes approximately 15 minutes to reach the summit. The cost of a return ticket varies but it's no more than 18.60€ (June 2025).

On the way back to the iBis Budget Hotel in Clermont Ferrand the route passes very close to the motor racing track 'Circuit de Charade' you may be lucky to pass when there is some racing because the view is free.
Enjoy