Puy de Dôme
Orcines, France
The 1,465 m volcano above Clermont, with a Roman temple on top and a view along the whole Chaîne des Puys. The road is closed to cars: take the rack train or the mule path.
At 1,465 m the Puy de Dôme is the “jewel of the Chaîne des Puys” near Clermont-Ferrand and belongs to the Grands Sites de France network. On the summit, an interactive museum on the Gallo-Roman Temple of Mercury and an observatory for terrestrial physics recall its history and research. Three walking paths lead around the summit plateau.
You can go up on foot or by the Panoramique des Dômes rack railway. The Chemin des Muletiers on the steeper south side is 3.9 km with 350 m of ascent and takes about two hours; the Chemin des Chèvres on the north side is 4.9 km and takes about three hours. Please check the railway timetable and access rules in advance (as of October 2026). From the top you look over the chain of volcanoes; paragliders also launch from here.
- Nearest town
- Orcines, France
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 45.7725, 2.9644
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Aire de service de camping car d'OrcinesMotorhome stopover4 km from Puy de Dôme · 51 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Huttopia RoyatCampsite7 km from Puy de DômeTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Les DômesCampsite8 km from Puy de DômeTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Camping Le ChansetCampsite8 km from Puy de DômeTentsCaravansElectricityShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Camping de la PalleCampsite11 km from Puy de DômeTentsCaravansElectricityShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Aire Bromont-LamotheMotorhome stopover14 km from Puy de Dôme · 45 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Puy de Dôme?
Puy de Dôme is in Orcines, France, at GPS 45.7725, 2.9644. It is about 10 km from Clermont-Ferrand.
Can you camp near Puy de Dôme?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Aire de service de camping car d'Orcines, about 4 km away; within 25 km there are 74 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Puy de Dôme?
Puy de Dôme is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Auvergne volcanoes: Puy de Dôme to Puy Mary and Cinder cones, crater lakes and summer dairy huts: by motorhome through the volcanic landscape of the Auvergne.
What is there to see near Puy de Dôme?
Places worth a stop nearby: Murol castle (22 km), Lac Pavin (31 km), Lavaudieu (68 km) and Puy Mary (77 km).
When is the best time to visit Puy de Dôme?
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)