Vulcania was born of a dream

In 1992, the Auvergne Regional Council decided to launch a scientific park and a museum of volcanism and to set it up in the heart of the chaîne des Puys, on the territory of the Regional Natural Park (a former military field of 57 ha).

In 1994, the project (architecture and scenography) was entrusted to the Austrian architect Hans Hollein.
The investment, worth around €123 million, was financed at 85% by the Region, 10% by Europe and 5% by the State.

On 20 February 2002, Vulcania, owned by the Regional Council, opened its doors to the public. Its operation was entrusted to the SEM Volcans, with two main objectives:

• To disseminate the latest know-how and knowledge in volcanology and the sciences of the earth and the universe;
• To be a tool for the economic, cultural and tourist development of the Auvergne region, i.e. the 4 departments.

This twofold objective sums up the particularity of Vulcania:

• A Scientific Park, with content developed with the Park’s scientific team and under the control of an external Scientific Council made up of the greatest European specialists in Earth Sciences
• An Attractive Park to bring the largest possible population to Auvergne and retain them there.

The balance between these two requirements, both a scientific park and a family attraction, although not always easy to achieve since the park opened, is what makes Vulcania so special and gives it its identity.