Massif Central - Where as a Base and Routes

[alesupper]

Hi

Me and a mate are planning to head to the Massif Central area of France this coming summer. I have done a bit of Googling and found this article from Ride Magazine that suggests staying in Issoire. The article also includes GPX files for 3 suggested routes. I have never been to the area, so I am looking for advice from those who have please. Is Issoire a good place for a base for 3/4 nights? If not then please suggest alternative base locations and any links to routes/gpx files would be very much appreciated.

TIA
Alesupper

 

[MartinK]

We stayed in the Hotel Au Val Dore in La Bourboule

Au Val Doré

Au cœur du Massif du Sancy, c'est à La Bourboule que l'équipe du Val Doré vous accueille pour un séjour détente.Que vous soyez curiste, touriste, ou e...

www.hotel-val-dore.com

I thought it was pretty good and well located

 

[siddo]

Hi

Me and a mate are planning to head to the Massif Central area of France this coming summer. I have done a bit of Googling and found this article from Ride Magazine that suggests staying in Issoire. The article also includes GPX files for 3 suggested routes. I have never been to the area, so I am looking for advice from those who have please. Is Issoire a good place for a base for 3/4 nights? If not then please suggest alternative base locations and any links to routes/gpx files would be very much appreciated.

TIA
Alesupper

I've ridden there and stayed at Le Put en Velay and Clermont-Ferrand. Nice part of the world.
Your link has gpx routes for the area and you can download direct from there.

 

[alesupper]

We stayed in the Hotel Au Val Dore in La Bourboule

Au Val Doré

Au cœur du Massif du Sancy, c'est à La Bourboule que l'équipe du Val Doré vous accueille pour un séjour détente.Que vous soyez curiste, touriste, ou e...

www.hotel-val-dore.com

I thought it was pretty good and well located

Thanks MartinK, I will take a look

 

[Davey B]

Personally...I'd stay at either Le Mont Dore...a lovely Spa town just up the valley from...(or) La Bourboule that Martin mentions above.
A few of us off here stayed at The Grand Hotel, Mont Dore, a few months ago. The finest breakfast I've ever had. A nice place to stay.

Home - Grand Hôtel Le Mont-Dore Hôtel ** Auvergne France

WELCOME TO THE GRAND HOTEL ! Comfort and classIn the heart of the Massif Central, on the Massif du Sancy, was built in the 19th century “Le Grand Hôtel” in the center of Mont-Dore. Nowadays, this charming hotel, located right next to the ski slopes of Mont Dore and Super Besse, welcome you for...

www.hotel-mont-dore.com

 

[alesupper]

I've ridden there and stayed at Le Put en Velay and Clermont-Ferrand. Nice part of the world.
Your link has gpx routes for the area and you can download direct from there.

Hi, yes I was wondering if Clermont-Ferrand might be a better location than Issoire as it is much bigger with more choice for accommodation, food and bars. I have already downloaded the gpx routes from the RiDE mag article

 

[siddo]

Hi, yes I was wondering if Clermont-Ferrand might be a better location than Issoire as it is much bigger with more choice for accommodation, food and bars. I have already downloaded the gpx routes from the RiDE mag article

Le put is really nice. I've stayed there twice.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

We stayed at Salers, last September

Lovely medieval town, with plenty of serviced accommodation and bars/restaurants plus boulangerie/grocers and butchers with charcuterie

We did self catering and the 7am trot to the Boulangerie, down those medieval steps was a joy to behold for fresh croissants, pain and pain aux raisins, with a visit to the butcher’s for local charcuterie and Salers & Bleu D’Auvergne cheeses on the way back

Ate out at night at one of the many restaurants

 

[alesupper]

We stayed at Salers, last September

Lovely medieval town, with plenty of accommodation and bars/restaurants plus boulangerie/grocers and butchers with charcuterie

View attachment 471402View attachment 471403View attachment 471404View attachment 471405View attachment 471406View attachment 471407View attachment 471408View attachment 471409

That does look lovely, thank you.

 

[alesupper]

Le put is really nice. I've stayed there twice.

Do you mean Le Puy?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

That does look lovely, thank you.

Roads in the area are superb

 

[wessie]

It's a big area and I have visited a few times.
Last September we stayed a couple of days in the Cevennes in the Jonte Gorge at Meyrueis. Hotel d'Europe. 2nd time there, lovely village surrounded by good roads in the various gorges including the Tarn.
We then moved north to Le Mont Dore in the Grand Hotel mentioned above. Again, very good amongst the Volcanes.

On a previous visit we stayed in La Bourboule using Hotel L'Aviation

The roads around Puy Mary are very good.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Leadfarmer is probably the most knowledgeable in that region to get some suggestions

 

[Mzokk]

I've stayed in Thiezac......but not recently 1984 I think. Late in the evening heading due East I'd say Chum on a GS1000G and me on a CB750F2

 

[leadfarmer]

Some good suggestions already I probably wouldn’t recommend Issoire as it’s fairly industrial

Le Mont Dore is nice, we met up with some of the French posse there recently as mentioned above, La Bourboule is nice too

The Puy Mary is a good ride up and the roads around there are great

I’m in Le Puy en Velay, so a little to the south east of Clermont Ferrand, I tend to go even more south east of here and into the Ardèche or south into the Lozère and the Gorge du Tarn, we really are spoiled for good riding

Pretty much anywhere south of Saint Etienne and Clermont you’re into good roads and nice villages and towns

My favorite local road….

 

[siddo]

Do you mean Le Puy?

Yes

 

[timeandtide]

Le put is really nice. I've stayed there twice.

So is Le Puy!

 

[wessie]

I’m in Le Puy en Velay, so a little to the south west of Clermont Ferrand, I tend to go even more south west of here and into the Ardèche or south into the Lozère and the Gorge du Tarn, we really are spoiled for good riding

orienteering not a strong point?

 

[leadfarmer]

orienteering not a strong point?

Fixed, thanks

Luckily I’m a primate not a pigeon

 

[alesupper]

I've stayed in Thiezac......but not recently 1984 I think. Late in the evening heading due East I'd say Chum on a GS1000G and me on a CB750F2

View attachment 471422

A blast from the past!