Domaine du Balbuzard

Happily, the hills are not alive… The last eruption in the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Park happened 6,000 years ago, but in human holiday terms, the action’s still going. Take a 40-minute drive to Vulcania for seismic-themed thrill rides and cinematic experiences, then go next door to Puy de Lemptégy for walks and train rides inside the mountain, where an eruption simulator and light show greet the stout of heart. A similar distance away, the spa and ski resorts of Mont-Dore and La Bourboule do a nice line in thermal spring baths, funicular and cable car rides and high-up hikes, while in the little town of Volvic, cave tours and exhibitions give a different take on the local bottled water trade. If you're after edibles, make the 10-minute trip to Giat, where local farmers sell their wares at twice-monthly Sunday markets, or sidle over to Saint-Nectaire’s cheese centre an hour away for dairy tours and tastings. Burn it off afterwards at Aqua Loisirs Confolant, where the Sioulet widens into a lake for such leisurely larks as kayaking, pedalo rides and inflatable obstacle courses. Those more into interiors must have a meander round Aubusson, centre of a rich tapestry heritage, with museums and many a tempting rug shop; both are half an hour away.