La Grande Cascade du Mont-Dore
The Parc Naturel des Volcans d'Auvergne's La Grande Cascade du Mont-Dore, a volcanic landscape, enchants nature enthusiasts with its rushing flow of freshwater, gurgling stream, and lush flora. The largest waterfall in the Auvergne region, La Grande Cascade, plunges 32 meters down a lava rock cliff.
In the town of Mont-Dore, an easy climb leads to La Grande Cascade. The stairway outside the Town Hall (la Mairie), next to Les Thermes du Mont-Dore (thermal baths), is where hikers will start their journey. From here, hikers take the Route de Besse and Chemin de Melchi-Rose to La Grande Cascade. The out-and-back hike is just under five kilometers round-trip and takes 1.5 hours to complete. This waterfall's mountain views are an added benefit of visiting it. Hikers climb steep hillsides while avoiding switchback paths through dense forest foliage. Hikers can access the Plateau de la Durbise through a footbridge and staircase that are located at the base of La Grande Cascade. The hilltop offers expansive views of both the 1,886-meter-tall Puy de Sancy peak and the Haute Dordogne Valley. Spring, summer, and fall are the best times to go on a hike to La Grande Cascade du Mont-Dore. La Grande Cascade cannot be accessed in the winter.
