Permanent Exhibitions

The Rumbling Chamber, dug out of 30,000 year-old lava flows, with volcanic sound effects and films, and the Volcanic Garden with its tree ferns from New Zealand, set the scene for your adventures at Vulcania.

The different exhibitions at Vulcania are not only meant to be seen but invite you to take part:

• New in 2008: see giant scale models of the Auvergne volcanoes on the surface of the cone. Constructed on a large scale, illustrated with cross-sections, they show you the largest volcanic mountains in Auvergne, including some of the most renowned, such as the Puy de Dôme, the Pariou, the Puy de la Vache and the Puy Mary.
  
  
• In 2008, learn about Sir William Hamilton and look through the first book ever written on volcanology, showing Vesuvius and its activity in the 17th century. This interactive version is digitalised and presented on a plasma screen.
  
  
• “Planets and Volcanoes”: from the Solar System to Planet Earth, discover the origins of volcanic activity, its mechanisms and. consequences.    Venture into the Theatre of the Universe and discover the cosmic history of the Earth through the story of a Meteorite.
  
  
• “On the Trail of Volcanoes”:  invites you to observe rich post-volcanic manifestations (mud holes, hot springs). The film entitled “The Magic Pond” takes you on a journey back in time for a bird’s eye view of Europe’s volcanic regions.
  
  
• “Man and Volcanoes”: shows you the work of volcanologists and how a volcanic crisis is managed.
  
  
• The “Krafft” exhibition: presents an exceptional collection of items donated by Katia and Maurice Krafft, the famous French volcanologists.
  
  
• The Planisphere: gives you updated information on the 520 active volcanoes on the planet, either dormant, on alert or erupting.

There is no shortage of possibilities for discovery at Vulcania…