Area
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The region Auvergne:
Les Fayes is situated circa three kilometers outside the small village of Gouttieres in the French region Auvergne, in the middle of French, in the Central Massif. The Auvergne has four departments: Allier, Cantal, Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dome. Puy-de-Dome is situated West of Lyon and known for an stage of the Tour the France. This less crowded part of France is known of the many forest, the rivers and the lakes. Also it is a mountain and volcanic area.
The Auvergne, were the main city is Clermont-Ferrand, is the beautiful green heart of France, were lots of French people choose this part of their country for vacation, because of the unspoiled nature. The Auvergne kept always the rough image. It is a region of protected nature areas, volcanoes, craters, lakes and sometimes very deep canyons (Allier and Sioule canyon) and an outstanding Flora and fauna . Between the hills you will find firtile (???) fields were the white Charolais cows are grazing.
The Auverge is in first place a region for nature lovers, culture, cure in the hot springs and sport activities
Goutierres is situated in the region Les Combrailles, a region with a variety of landscape with lots of spruce forest, curving rivers, creeks, and back roads with hairpins , with old Romansh churches and old farms were almost nothing has chanced in the last 50 years .
Near by Les Fayes (20 km drive) you will find the river Sioule that caved out the mountain rocks and do give now great scenic lookouts and views. The gorges of Sioule are similar to the more known gorges in the Ardeche, only the region of Sioule is not be over visit by tourists. Les Combrailles is situated on the edge of Parc Regional Naturel des Vilcans d'Auvergne with 80 Volcanoes , were the Puy-de-Dome the most known is. Everywhere in that region you see the peak of that Vulcan above everything else. It is clear were the name of that region, department 63 Puy-de-Dome, is coming from. In this area you will find a Family Theme Park Vulcania.
The Combrailles is not only beautiful in Summer, but in every season you see it on a different way. In Spring the side of the roads are covered by lots of wildflowers. On the end of August the bushes are full with delicious blackberries, were we make jam and pies from. Then the time of plumes, pears, ans apples is coming, Followed by the walnuts and chestnuts. In the Fall the forest is changing in a picture with the most beautiful colors , called Indian Summer. In the Winter often you see snow what will give the landscape a calm character. One-hour drive and you will be in a Winters sport area were you can find activities like, down hill skiing, snow boarding, cross country skiing, toboggan, dog sledding and snow shoeing.
GOUTTIERES
Les Fayes is a small settlement from Gouttieres. The village is situated on an altitude is 628m. In the valley between Pionsat and St-Gervais d'Auvergne in the department Puy-de-Dome. Because of the altitude and situated in the inland Gouttieres have real seasons. The Summers are warm, sometimes 35C, but in the evening it can be nice cool and not humid. In Spring the temperature can be as high as 30C and on the same day as low as 5C. Because there is no big industry and city's , at night the sky's are pit black and you see thousand stars. In Gouttieres you will not find any stores, but in St Gervais d'Auvergne (5 km) and St Eloy des Mines (13 km) there are many stores, included a huge grocery store ,Intermarche. Also on weekly basis there are markets and events/festivities . The closest ( 1 hr drive) big city is Clermont Ferrand, with a historic and beautiful old downtown. Also the airport is there.were non stop flights are arriving and leaving from and to Amsterdam (KLM/Air France) and Paris.
SOME LINKS :
www.auvergne-tourisme.info - over the region Auvergne
www.combrailles.com - over the Combrailles
www.sancy.com - the mountains we see from Les Fayes.
www.vulcania.com - An adventurepark for the whole family
www.route-chateaux-auvergne.org/puy_de_dome_hollandais.htm - with all the castles in our neighbourhood
www.clermont-fd.com - about the capital of the puy-de-dome .
