Crédits photo bandeau Ascent to Puy de Sancy by cable car
In the Massif du Sancy, it’s only natural to take to the heights! But sometimes, to reach the top you need a little help from the cable cars or the funicular railway, which operate in both summer and winter. And you can even travel in a Historical Monument, the Capucin Funicular in Le Mont-Dore!
An easy and pleasant way to reach the highest summit in the Massif Central, from the resort of Le Mont-Dore.
After a dizzying cable car ascent, followed by a 20-minute walk up via a series of wooden steps, you’ll find yourself at the top of Puy de Sancy. You can also get to the ridges in summer and, in winter, reach the ski slopes in the resort of Le Mont-Dore. Welcome to the roof of Auvergne!
The Sancy cable car in Le Mont-Dore
860 steps ! It is the necessary and totally rewarded effort to climb to the top of the Puy de Sancy.
The cable car in Super-Besse starts at an elevation of 1,320 metres and climbs to 1,800 metres, just below the Puy de la Perdrix summit. In summer, it offers quick access to a fabulous panoramic lesson in geography, as well as the downhill MTB slopes!
It’s a 40-minute walk up Puy de Sancy. From there, if the weather is particularly good, you’ll be able to see one-seventh of France and even the snow-capped summit of Mont-Blanc.
In winter, the cable car leads to the Super-Besse ski slopes and to the link-up with Le Mont-Dore.
Added bonus
At the arrival on site, you will have a wonderful view on the Nature Reserve of Chaudefour’s Valley. Open your eyes, Dall’s sheep love these volcanic peaks.
Perdrix cable car in Super-Besse
This cable railway has been travelling up and down the side of the valley at a speed of 1 metre per second since 1898. It is the oldest electric funicular in France and its engine room is a listed Historical Monument.
During the 10-minute climb and 250-metre elevation gain, you'll look down over the Dordogne valley and the Grande Cascade. In summer, this beautiful example of Art-Déco style will take you to the Salon du Capucin - the starting point of a number of hiking and mountain biking trails - and to the ridges of Sancy.
Added bonus
A stone’s throw from the funicular top station, you can get a taste of the health benefits of trees at the Sylvatorium du Mont-Dore. In the midst of the Capucin forest, this unguided tour is designed to heighten your senses.
The classified machinery of the Funicular du Capucin
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