France’s “green lung”, Auvergne is the land of Wide-Open Spaces. Located in the heart of the Massif Central, today it is at the crossroads of several motorways:
3 hours from PARIS on the A71 motorway
2 hours from LYON on the A72 motorway
BEZIERS, the A75 “La Méridienne” motorway (free)
BORDEAUX, the A89 motorway (under construction)

With is sprinkling of lakes and forests, Auvergne offers its visitors the largest group of volcanoes in Europe, Vulcania, the unique European Volcano Park, two Regional Nature Parks (the Auvergne Volcanoes and Livradois-Forez) more than 500 Romanesque churches, nearly 50 châteaux to visit along Historic Road of the Auvergne Châteaux and 10 spa towns which preserve the charms of the “Belle Époque” and are not to be missed.

All along the tourist routes through the l’Allier, Cantal, Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme, départements, the wealth and variety of the landscapes are perfect for many sport and leisure activities: hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, hang gliding, canoeing-kayaking, swimming, cross-country and downhill skiing or snow shoeing in winter. Auvergne also means delicious food and a fun, festive atmosphere in the friendly spirit of hospitality that is so typical of the Auvergnat people.

http://www.auvergne-tourisme.info/uk/

Area 26,000 km2
4.8% of French national territory 1,309,000 inhabitants

Businesses (Percentage of jobs) 

- Service industries: 63%
- Industry: 25%
- Agriculture : 10%
- Miscellaneous : 2%

Tourism

Over 180,000 tourist beds (hotels, campsites, B&Bs, gîtes, holiday villages, etc.), nearly 30 million bed nights a year

Higher education

nearly 40,000 students
2 universities
5 engineering schools
1 business school

Economy Several leading companies on both an international and European scale (Michelin, Limagrain, Delbard, Volvic, etc.)