Puy De Dôme
At 1465 metres Puy-de-Dome is the highest of the Monts Dome range of puys, a sacred place of worship for the Celts, spectacular in every season, but most awe-inspiring with its winter mantle of snow. It is one of the most challenging climbs of the Tour de France, and you can walk or drive the spiral route to the top to be rewarded with incredible views of 70 peaks and 11 departments, not to mention shops, bars, restaurants, a hotel and even the remains of a Roman temple, which was only discovered during excavations for the summit observatory in the 19th century. The hot currents rising around the mountain make it a favourite spot for hang-gliding. In the south of the department are the Monts Dore, a much older range of mountains, which include the highest peak of the Auvergne.