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Puy-de-Dôme (mountain)
Encyclopedia
Puy de Dôme is a large lava dome
and one of the youngest volcano
es in the Chaîne des Puys
region of Massif Central
in south-central France
. This chain of volcanoes including numerous cinder cone
s, lava dome
s, and maar
s is located far from the edge of any tectonic plate. Puy de Dôme is located approximately 10 km away from Clermont-Ferrand
. The Puy-de-Dôme
département (with hyphens) is named after the volcano.
In pre-Christian Europe
, Puy de Dôme served as an assembly place for spiritual ceremonies. Temples were built at the summit, including a Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to the God Mercury
, the ruins of which were discovered in 1873.
In 1648, Florin Périer, at the urging of Blaise Pascal
, proved Evangelista Torricelli
's theory that barometric
observations were caused by the weight of air by measuring the height of a column of mercury
at three elevations on Puy de Dôme.
In 1875, a physics laboratory was built at the summit. Since 1956, a TDF (Télédiffusion de France) antenna is also located there.
On the top of the mountain, there is a transmitter for FM and TV.
. It was here in 1964
that Raymond Poulidor
battled with Jacques Anquetil
in one of the race's most famous moments, racing side by side up almost the entire climb. Also on this peak in 1975
Eddy Merckx
was punched in the kidney by a spectator.
The road is only open for cyclists during very limited periods (when other vehicles are prohibited). In 2006 this is 7-9am on Wednesdays and Sundays between 1 May and 30 September.
This site gives details of the climbs gradients in detail Climb Profile
The Puy de Dôme is one of the most visited sites in the Auvergne
region, attracting nearly 500 000 visitors a year. It is a well-known centre for paragliding
. The summit offers expansive views of the Chaîne des Puys
and Clermont-Ferrand
. A restaurant and shops are available, as well as a visitor centre giving information on the history and geology of the area.
A pedestrian path
(), formerly a Roman road, leads to the Temple of Mercury. Alternatively, a 6 km motor road has a gradient of 12%. At busy times, private cars must be parked at the bottom and the ascent made by bus.
Hikers can also reach the Puy using a footpath on the northern side, which runs past the crater. The GR 4
long-distance trail uses this footpath and the to traverse the mountain.
Lava dome
|250px|thumb|right|Image of the [[rhyolitic]] lava dome of [[Chaitén Volcano]] during its 2008–2009 eruption.In volcanology, a lava dome is a roughly circular mound-shaped protrusion resulting from the slow extrusion of viscous lava from a volcano...
and one of the youngest volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
es in the Chaîne des Puys
Chaîne des Puys
The Chaîne des Puys is a north-south oriented chain of cinder cones, lava domes, and maars in the Massif Central of France. The chain is about 40 km long, and the identified volcanic features include 48 cinder cones, eight lava domes, and 15 maars and explosion craters. Its highest point is...
region of Massif Central
Massif Central
The Massif Central is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaux....
in south-central France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. This chain of volcanoes including numerous cinder cone
Cinder cone
According to the , Cinder Cone is the proper name of 1 cinder cone in Canada and 7 cinder cones in the United States:In Canada: Cinder Cone In the United States:...
s, lava dome
Lava dome
|250px|thumb|right|Image of the [[rhyolitic]] lava dome of [[Chaitén Volcano]] during its 2008–2009 eruption.In volcanology, a lava dome is a roughly circular mound-shaped protrusion resulting from the slow extrusion of viscous lava from a volcano...
s, and maar
Maar
A maar is a broad, low-relief volcanic crater that is caused by a phreatomagmatic eruption, an explosion caused by groundwater coming into contact with hot lava or magma. A maar characteristically fills with water to form a relatively shallow crater lake. The name comes from the local Moselle...
s is located far from the edge of any tectonic plate. Puy de Dôme is located approximately 10 km away from Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department...
. The Puy-de-Dôme
Puy-de-Dôme
Puy-de-Dôme is a department in the centre of France named after the famous dormant volcano, the Puy-de-Dôme.Inhabitants were called Puydedomois until December 2005...
département (with hyphens) is named after the volcano.
History
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Puy de Dôme served as an assembly place for spiritual ceremonies. Temples were built at the summit, including a Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to the God Mercury
Mercury (mythology)
Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
, the ruins of which were discovered in 1873.
In 1648, Florin Périer, at the urging of Blaise Pascal
Blaise Pascal
Blaise Pascal , was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Catholic philosopher. He was a child prodigy who was educated by his father, a tax collector in Rouen...
, proved Evangelista Torricelli
Evangelista Torricelli
Evangelista Torricelli was an Italian physicist and mathematician, best known for his invention of the barometer.-Biography:Evangelista Torricelli was born in Faenza, part of the Papal States...
's theory that barometric
Barometer
A barometer is a scientific instrument used in meteorology to measure atmospheric pressure. Pressure tendency can forecast short term changes in the weather...
observations were caused by the weight of air by measuring the height of a column of mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
at three elevations on Puy de Dôme.
In 1875, a physics laboratory was built at the summit. Since 1956, a TDF (Télédiffusion de France) antenna is also located there.
On the top of the mountain, there is a transmitter for FM and TV.
Cycling
In more recent times, Puy de Dôme has served as an occasional stage finish in the Tour de FranceTour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
. It was here in 1964
1964 Tour de France
The 1964 Tour de France was the 51st Tour de France, taking place June 22 to July 14, 1964. The total race distance was 22 stages over 4504 km, with riders averaging 35.419 km/h. Stages 3, 10 and 22 were all two part stages with one the first half being a regular stage and the second half...
that Raymond Poulidor
Raymond Poulidor
Raymond Poulidor , is a former professional bicycle racer. He was known as the eternal second, because he finished the Tour de France in second place three times, and in third place five times, including his final Tour at the age of 40...
battled with Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil was a French road racing cyclist and the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times, in 1957 and from 1961 to 1964...
in one of the race's most famous moments, racing side by side up almost the entire climb. Also on this peak in 1975
1975 Tour de France
The 1975 Tour de France was the 62nd Tour de France, taking place June 26 to July 20, 1975. It consisted of 22 stages over 3999 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.899 km/h. Eddy Merckx was attempting to win his sixth Tour de France, but became a victim of violence. Many Frenchmen were...
Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
was punched in the kidney by a spectator.
The road is only open for cyclists during very limited periods (when other vehicles are prohibited). In 2006 this is 7-9am on Wednesdays and Sundays between 1 May and 30 September.
This site gives details of the climbs gradients in detail Climb Profile
Tourism
Auvergne (région)
Auvergne is one of the 27 administrative regions of France. It comprises the 4 departments of Allier, Puy de Dome, Cantal and Haute Loire.The current administrative region of Auvergne is larger than the historical province of Auvergne, and includes provinces and areas that historically were not...
region, attracting nearly 500 000 visitors a year. It is a well-known centre for paragliding
Paragliding
Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure...
. The summit offers expansive views of the Chaîne des Puys
Chaîne des Puys
The Chaîne des Puys is a north-south oriented chain of cinder cones, lava domes, and maars in the Massif Central of France. The chain is about 40 km long, and the identified volcanic features include 48 cinder cones, eight lava domes, and 15 maars and explosion craters. Its highest point is...
and Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department...
. A restaurant and shops are available, as well as a visitor centre giving information on the history and geology of the area.
A pedestrian path
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
(), formerly a Roman road, leads to the Temple of Mercury. Alternatively, a 6 km motor road has a gradient of 12%. At busy times, private cars must be parked at the bottom and the ascent made by bus.
Hikers can also reach the Puy using a footpath on the northern side, which runs past the crater. The GR 4
GR footpath
The Grande Randonnée , Grote Routepaden or Lange-afstand-wandelpaden , Grande Rota or Gran Recorrido is a network of long-distance footpaths in Europe, mostly in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. In France alone, the trails cover approximately 60,000 km...
long-distance trail uses this footpath and the to traverse the mountain.