Trail des Puys

The Trail des Puys is a 38-kilometer trail race with 1,500 meters of elevation gain starting from Orcines, in Puy-de-Dome, in the heart of the Chaine des Puys. This event crosses one of the most spectacular volcanic landscapes in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where domes, craters, and lava flows compose a unique playground for trail runners.

The Chaine des Puys is an alignment of 80 volcanoes stretching 45 kilometers from north to south across the Auvergne highlands. These volcanoes, extinct for approximately 6,000 years, display a remarkable diversity of forms: lava domes, scoria cones, maars, and craters. The Puy de Dome, the chain's highest point at 1,465 meters, is the symbol of Auvergne and one of the most famous summits in France.

The Trail des Puys course is a succession of climbs and descents on the flanks of the volcanoes. Runners climb the Puy de Dome via its ridge trails, descend into craters, cross lava flows colonized by forests and meadows, and ascend toward new volcanic summits. The panorama from the ridges is grandiose: the Limagne plain extends to the east, while the Cantal and Sancy mountains appear on the horizon.

The 1,500 meters of elevation gain are concentrated in short but steep climbs typical of volcanic relief. The volcano slopes, covered with short grass or beech forests, offer varied terrain. Descents into craters, on volcanic scoria trails, are particularly technical and fun, with lava stones rolling underfoot.

Orcines, the starting village at the foot of the Puy de Dome, is the guardian of this volcanic heritage. The Romanesque church of Orcines, with its sculpted capitals, bears witness to medieval Auvergne's artistic richness. The Temple of Mercury, a Gallo-Roman sanctuary atop the Puy de Dome, recalls that these volcanoes were already sacred places two thousand years ago.

The Chaine des Puys is a territory of remarkable ecological richness. The summit grasslands shelter rare mountain plant species, the slope forests are the domain of deer and roe deer, and the wetlands occupying crater floors preserve unique ecosystems. The Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Natural Park, the largest regional natural park in France, ensures the preservation of this heritage.

Aid stations highlight Auvergne specialties: Saint-Nectaire, Cantal cheese, truffade, and Puy lentils. The atmosphere is festive and warm, driven by the enthusiasm of Auvergnats for their volcanic land. The Trail des Puys is a race that combines sporting challenge with geological wonder, a globally unique experience in a volcanic landscape of exceptional beauty and power.