Page 275 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

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are in general territorial public servants, although The region has been inhabited since prehistoric
the scientific team may include outside experts times. Today, the Auvergne is the location of some of
from time to time. Importantly, these resources are France’s most important Romanesque churches,
significantly boosted by partnerships with the medieval castles, cave paintings and Renaissance
private tourism attractions such as Vulcania and palaces, as well as the volcanic landscapes. The first
the Lemptégy Volcanic Theme Park. cathedral to be built in present-day Clermont-
Ferrand was erected by St Namace around AD450,
Patterns of tourism and rebuilt in the Gothic style at the beginning of the

The background 13th century. In the medieval town of Montpeyroux
as well as in many of the smaller villages continuing
We have seen that France remains dominant in artisanal traditions can be found, while gastronomic
terms of tourist arrivals in the early 21st century traditions include cheeses, pastry and wine.
(see Table 17.1). While the country’s share has A major natural attraction in the Auvergne is
been dropping in recent years under competition the Puy de Dôme, an extinct volcano that rises
from China and the rest of the Asia Pacific region, 1465m and provides views of the rest of the Puy
it remains the single most visited country in the mountain chain and the intermontane landscape
world. So much so that even preliminary UNWTO (Graveline, 1999, p29). Tourists may drive up to
figures for the first months of 2009 that indicate a the peak, where remains of a Roman Temple to
continuation of the negative growth already Mercury can still be seen. On this site in 1648
experienced in the second half of 2008 do not Blaise Pascal performed his famous experiment on
indicate a change in ranking on inbound tourism the weight of air (Davidson, 1983). While a wide
(UNWTO, 2009). Nevertheless, destinations all cross-section of France’s cultural history can be
around the world have suffered from a decrease in found in the villages, churches, pilgrim sites and
demand in major source markets, with the châteaux the area is also home to important
exception of Africa and both Central and South outdoor activities, including skiing, bird watching,
America, who all posted positive results in the rafting, biking, golfing, hiking and hang-gliding.
range of 3–5 per cent. So far northern, southern Lakes Guéry, Aydat, Pavin and Chambon provide
and Mediterranean Europe, north-east Asia, south facilities for water sports such as canoeing, fishing,
Asia and the Middle East are amongst the most swimming and sailing. The Auvergne Volcanic
affected subregions (UNWTO, 2009). In this Regional Park thus offers to sports, family and
context, UNWTO expects tourism to France to extreme tourists opportunities for snow sports,
decline between 2 per cent and 3 per cent in forest trekking, fishing and other activities in the
2009. rivers and volcanic lakes, hiking in the valleys and
mountains, and for horse riding on the tracks of
The Auvergne Volcanic Regional Park the Domes-Sancy and the Cézallier-Silt. The latter
As one of the attractions of France the Massif make it possible to ride more than 300km of the
Central, a large, rugged plateau of ancient granite park on public trails.
and hardened lava punctuated by volcanic peaks While the park is a protected environment for
and deep river gorges lies in the centre of the exceptional flora and fauna, its mountains also
country, located midway between Paris and the provide three classified downhill ski resorts, cross-
Mediterranean. On the western side of the Massif country skiing, and protect an agricultural
in the national regional park of the Volcans landscape that produces a wide range of wines and
d’Auvergne is the Puy de Sancy, the highest point cheeses, amongst other products. Its ancient
(1886m) in the Massif Central. To the east, the volcanoes have in addition ten associated thermal
regional park of Livradois Forez covers an area of spa areas, five of which are among the leading
woodland and the regional capital of Clermont- thermal resorts in France (these include Vichy,
Ferrand is 32km north of Issoire and the Royat, Mont Dore, Saint Nectaire and Volvic), as
departments of the Cantal and Haute-Loire are to well as mineral water springs, caves and rivers
the south. supporting rafting and canoeing.

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