When to go dans le Puy-de-Dôme ?

The Puy-de-Dôme concentrates in its territory the different climates of Western Europe. Sub-oceanic, humid and cold, on the plateaus and mountains of the south-west, windy and covered with snow three months a year, sub-oceanic cool in the hills and low mountains of the north-west, sub-continental dry in the plains of the center and the mountainous foothills of the west, sub-continental cool to cold in the massifs of the east, with there also a snow cover which is maintained all winter.

The harshness of the winter climate does not attract tourists, except for ski enthusiasts who have a choice of ten winter sports resorts scattered throughout the area. In summer, it is the hikers who are found on the marked trails that rise to the heights of the Puy de Dôme revealing splendid panoramas on the green volcanoes. There are two high tourist seasons: winter and summer. The rest of the year the tourist sites are asleep. Of course, the cities with their monuments and museums welcome you all year round and in the low season give you the opportunity to discover the "real" local life. You should also know that throughout the year, this territory offers events that are well worth your visit. The International Short Film Festival in Clermont-Ferrand, an international event, takes place during a week in February, the Sancy Snow Jazz in Mont-Dore at the same time, in the Sancy massif, the Plein la bobine festival in La Bourboule, of Cinema for young audiences (end of May/beginning of June), Piano in Riom and its region, the second half of June, Europavox in Clermont-Ferrand, end of June-beginning of July, the Pamparina in Thiers at the beginning of July (world music) or Bach in Combrailles, in August, on the organ of Pontaumur and in the small churches of Combrailles. In autumn, from October to November, the Automnales take place with their music, theater, dance, circus or puppet shows, involving about twenty communes.