Hi !
we will make a 38 days trip in France next summer. After 5 days in Dordogne and before 8 days in Alps (Thônes) and Lyin we will go through Auvergne region for 3 days. After reding we cant chose between 2 options.
1) Go to Montpeyroux (with a stop to puy du Sancy) and make daytrips from there (Issoire, Murol..)
2) Go to Puy Mary with an overnight in that region, and then go for 2 nights in le Puy en Valay (daytrip to Polignac)
After that we head to Thônes for 5 nights .
Hello!
Montpeyroux is not a great base for #1. It is a pretty hilltop village, but it is not that close to the scenic areas around Puy de Sancy. I would rather stay in Besse, Murol, or Saint-Nectaire, and I would not visit Issoire (the main church is pretty but that's about it).
In any case, I prefer option 2! I discovered the Puy Mary area last year and it is stunning; Salers would be a good base. And Le Puy is great too i hear (haven't visited yet).
As for Thônes, that's precisely where my paternal grandparents used to live. Good choice. It is not as postcard-perfect as some other villages in the region, but it is still picturesque and it has the benefit of being a proper town with shops & restaurants, and of good road connections.
Hi Balso !
Thanks a lot for that answer.
We will travel with kids (12 ans 15 years old), I'm more inclined by the #2 but I dont know if the #1 would be more appealing for the kids. We are not into spa at all, but swimming in the lake could be something fun....for 2 hours !
Le Put en Valay seems stunning but it's a bit out of our way if we chose to stay in Salers.
Glad to know that Thônes is a good choice. We chose it because we found a nice lodging there and it's not too far from Annecy (and the lake) and since we will do daytrips from there having roads near was a must.
Le Puy en Valay seems stunning but it's a bit out of our way if we chose to stay in Salers
From Puy Mary, going to Lyon via Le Puy en Velay only takes 30 min longer as going via the autoroute through Clermont, and it is free and much prettier, so Le Puy is not as out of the way as it seems.
But it is true that making just one stop could be better for the family, and the attractions of Le Puy en Velay might be lost on kids/young teens.
In which case, the Puy de Sancy area is really great too. It feels a bit less wild than around Puy Mary, more developed, but still amazing. I spend 3 days in Besse last year and loved it, wished it was longer! I am not seeing any lake near Montpeyroux though: are you referring to Lac Chambon near Murol? Staying in the vicinity would be lovely indeed!
Regarding things to do around Thônes, feel free to PM me. I've spent many summers there.
Balso many thanks once again !
We are more inclined about making Salers-Puy Mary-Murat-Puy-en-Velay. WE thoughts about 2 nights in Salers (and maybe climb Puy Mary from there) and then go for one night in Puy-en-Velay.
The only problem is that being in Salers mean to be on the western side of Puy Mary and leave us a lot of road after our 2 nights there. There's not a lot of airbnb in Murat.
I agree that the split 2 nights Puy Mary / 1 night Le Puy is probably better.
The hike up Puy Mary is surprisingly steep. There are stairs, but it is not an easy hike! Gorgeous view, though. If you happen to look for something more mellow, and less busy, Puy Violent is a great hike too, accessed from a car park up a narrow road just east of Salers. But that's if you do stay in Salers.
It is true that Salers adds about 1.15 hour of driving vs. Murat, going through the pass at the foot of Puy Mary. Total time to Le Puy is probably 3 hours from Salers. If that sounds like too much and if you are not finding anything you like in Murat, perhaps have a look in Cheylade? It's a small village, but the valley is gorgeous.
Also, not all apartment rentals use Airbnb, and besides apartments there are many B&B's in the area (you then need to eat out, but for 2 nights that's probably manageable?). I find Google Maps is a great tool to find such non-hotel accommodation, since it links to each property's details when available.
Thanks again Balso !
We have a hard to find something decent for 4 in Salers. Our plan was to be one night there, and then take a full day to go to Puy-en-Velay (passing thru Puy Mary) ans have 2 nights here (Puy-en-Velay). I guess we will have to do something else.
We have a hard to find something decent for 4 in Salers
You might be looking a bit early for next summer.
But yes, spending just one night there (in a hotel if you cannot find an Airbnb) and taking advantage of Day 2 to explore the mountains on the way to Le Puy en Velay is perfectly OK. The area is safe, I would not worry about luggage in the car (as long as there are no obvious valuables of course).
I think we have a plan.
We foune something that seems decent in Salers so 2 nights there and then head slowly to Puy-en-Velay for 2 nights.
That would mean to cut one night in Dordogne (so 4 instead of 5). What we would do is go to gouffre du Padirac in our way to Salers instead of doing it as a daytrip from Sarlat.
For the full days in Salers we will see.. Castle ? Puy Violent ?
