Charvillat lies in the region of "Combrailles", a hilly area in the Auvergne
about 50 km NW of Clermont-Ferrand in the department Puy-de-Dôme.
The Combrailles offers you a varying countryside with lots of deciduous
and pine woods, twisting streams and rivers, picturesque villages with
Roman churches and characteristic farmyards.
It is here the river the Sioule has eroded passes and has formed beautiful
meanders thies creating splendid views. In a direct line from this lies
the great hydro electric dam, Les Fades Besserve.
Furthermore the Combrailles lies on the border of the Parc Regional Naturel des Volcans d' Auvergne
with aproximaltely 80 vulcanos which the Puy-de-Dôme is the most impressive.
The newly built and prestiguous themepark Vulcania which opened it' s gates in 2002 is also located here.
The village of St-Gervais d' Auvergne in the centre of the Combrailles has all sorts of facileties available
such as a supermarket, a baker, a butcher, a chemist ect. and a few hotels and restaurants.
The Combrailles are not only suetable as a summer residence. In April, May and June the road sides are
one mass of wild flowers, mainly forget-me-nots. At the end of August the bushes are loaded with
very large and sweet brambles and shortly after these have been turned into jam, the plum, peer and apple harvest
begins followed by walnuts and chestnuts in Oktober. In the autumn the many deciduous forests are adorned
with the most fabulous odours which create the effect of an INDIAN SUMMER.
And for those who dare……the forests house lots of toadstools and mushrooms. When in doubt you shoud aske
at the local chemist if they are poisonous or not. Even at the end of autumn, in the winter and early spring the area has an
extraordinary value, aspecially for the more phylosofically minded and those looking for tranquility and calm.
Amenities
On the border of St-Gervais d' Auvergne there is a small lake with a beach for spending time with small children
and about 15 km away near the hydro electric dam of Fades des Besserve there are more possibilities of aquatic sports.
Also worth mentioning is the beautiful craterlake "Gour de Tasenat".
Many other amenities in the area are also worth experiencing For instance I would like to mention the Gorges de Chouvigny,
the ruin of Chateau Rocher with it's splended view over the river the Sioule, the highest railwaybridge in Europe
(Viaduc des Fades), the Puy-de-Dôme with it's view of the vulcanic scenery, Mont-Dôre and Supperbesse for wintersports,
the thermal baths at Châtel Guyon and Vichy and of course the capital of the Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand with it's pleasant
and interesting city centre.
The local area offers a great number of possibileties for active holidays like horseback riding through the hills,
canoeing and trout fishing in the river the Sioule and hanggliding off the vulcanic mountain Puy-de-Dôme, ultra light flighing
and skiing in the winterspot areas of the Massive Central (1800 m). Lots of walks and cycle routes have also been marked
so you will be guided through the most splendid sceneries with detailed information.
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