Taxi Clermont-Ferrand → Aydat

Lac d'Aydat is Auvergne's largest natural lake: 65 hectares of fresh water formed 8,600 years ago by a spectacular geological event. The Puy de la Vache, a Strombolian volcano in the Chaîne des Puys, erupted and produced a 15-kilometre lava flow that swept down the slopes to block the Veyre valley, creating a natural dam behind which waters gradually accumulated. This volcanic lake is a living testament to the recent eruptive activity that shaped Auvergne's landscapes — activity so recent in geological terms that scientists consider the Chaîne des Puys merely dormant rather than extinct. Just 25 km from Clermont-Ferrand, Aydat is the locals' favourite nature destination. From the first fine days of May, families flock to its managed beaches to enjoy water that warms naturally thanks to the lake's shallow depth (15 metres maximum). At the height of summer, the main beach takes on the air of a small seaside resort with its lifeguards, imported sand, restaurant terraces and guinguette music. The water sports centre on the north shore offers a wide choice of activities: kayaking, canoeing, pedalos, stand-up paddling, dinghy sailing and windsurfing school. Anglers are well catered for too: the lake is renowned for its pike, perch and carp, and fishing competitions attract enthusiasts from across the Massif Central. Beyond the lake, Aydat is the ideal gateway to explore the volcanic geology of the Chaîne des Puys, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2018. The Puy de la Vache and its twin the Puy de Lassolas are two Strombolian volcanoes with breached craters — literally torn open on one side by the pressure of molten lava — offering a life-size volcanology lesson. The trail connecting them is one of Auvergne's most popular: accessible to all, it offers 360° panoramas over the Chaîne des Puys, Puy de Dôme and Sancy in just 45 minutes. The solidified lava flows, volcanic bombs and red scoria scattered along the path visually narrate the site's eruptive history. For more ambitious hikers, the cheire trail (lava fields) links Aydat to Randanne through a fascinating mineral landscape, while the Puys ridgeway path leads on foot to the summit of Puy de Dôme. In summer, the Thursday evening night market by the lake is an unmissable festive gathering: local producers, artisans, open-air concerts and tasting of Auvergne specialities under the stars. The village itself, with its Romanesque church and dark volcanic stone houses, bears witness to a thousand-year history tied to the volcanic earth that gave it birth.