Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dome and the Parc National des Volcans

Roger and I enjoyed a one day excursion to Clermont-Ferrand and the surrounding area.  Clermont-Ferrand is the only large city in the Auvergne and is known to historians as the home of Vercingétorix, who rallied the Arvernes to defeat Julius Ceasar in 52 BC.  The city has a busy commercial center and is the headquarters for the Michelin tire company.  There is a small old center dominated by the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de l'Assomption.  It was built of special black volcanic stone enabling its pillars to reach record heights at the time.

We found the Parc National des Volcans about 1/2 hr. from Clermont-Ferrrand.  Stretching 90 miles, north to south, the park contains about 80 dormant volcanos. They are relatively young, 60,000 to 80,000 years old, which explains why their shapes are so well preserved.  We headed out on what I consider the most challenging and fantastic hike of my life!  We hiked to the top of the Puy-de Dome, the highest volcano in the Mont-Dome range, for a magnificent panoramic view of extinct volcanos, craters, domes, and caldera cones and basaltic plateaus.

Neighborhood Pique-Nique

We were invited to a super barbecue in the neighborhood.  French potato salad (French string beans and potatoes in a vinaigrette) with pork kebabs and sausages on the grill.  Other salads, a great selection of cheeses and desserts rounded out the meal.  The BBQ is even served in courses like any French meal!  Afterwards, we all played boule and the ruler even came out on several close calls!

Le Marché au Puy en Valey

I have had a great time grocery shopping and cooking in France.  I found two big grocery stores; the Super U and Intermarché.  I also found a great butcher shop where I bought some very interesting cuts of meat and poultry.  I brought along many of my favorite French cookbooks and have had so much fun cooking.  I have only made one typically American dinner otherwise every lunch and dinner has been "la cuisine française".  My next trip to the butcher I plan to buy a guinea hen to make Pintade aux Choux et Marrons.  (guinea fowl with cabbage and chestnuts).  It goes without saying I love the marché where I buy the freshest fruits and veggies.  Here is a photo of the Saturday morning marché in Le Puy en Valey.

Le Puy-en-Valey

Le Puy-en-Valey (about 30 min. from Grazac) is our closest city.  It is built up on the puys (solidified lava peaks)  that rise from the valley.  These peaks are crowned with huge statues; one of St. Joseph and one the the Virgin Mary.  The Romanesque cathedral, Notre Dame -du- Puy, is also built on a large pinnacle, reached by a steep, stone staircase.  The town becomes particularly colorful on Saturday mornings at "le marché en plein air".

Visit to Chambéry and Annecy

We spent 2 days in Chambéry, an elegant old city in the Rhone-Alp region about  2 hours from Grazac, visiting our Fulbright friends Sally and Lee.  The town's highlight is the 14th century Château des Ducs de Savoie.  We took a drive to Annecy, a lovely town surrounded by the crystal clear Lac d'Annecy.   The town is know as "Venice of the Alps"  as there are canals, decorated with huge baskets of flowers,  meandering through the old part of town.