Guided hike to the Vestide du Pal volcano
Église Notre-Dame de Prévenchères
Route de Prévenchère
Église Notre-Dame de Prévenchère
07560 Montpezat-sous-Bauzon
Montpezat-sous-Bauzon, Ardèche
Opening : Saturday 4 July 2026 between 2 pm and 5 pm.
Subject to favorable weather.
A walk with Bernard Riou from the Paléo-découvertes association.
Meet at 2 pm – Car park by the church in Montpezat-sous-Bauzon (duration: 3 hours). Suitable for ages 7 and over. 6 km with 200 m of elevation gain. Please wear suitable walking gear appropriate for the weather.
The Vestide du Pal volcano: Europe’s largest maar?
A truly magical place, likely known at the time when the first humans were living in the Chauvet Cave – some 36,000 years ago – the Strombolian-type Roux volcano erupted. Prehistoric humans must have travelled through the Rhône Valley before heading west, following the valleys to reach the high plateau via the Vestide du Pal. This maar-type volcano forms a crater 1,700 metres in diameter and 150 metres deep. Some claim it is ‘the largest in Europe’.
Book free of charge on the Monts d'Ardèche Regional Nature Park website.
- Pets accepted: Unknown
- Pets allowed (supplementary payment): Unknown
- French
