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Vulcania: amusement park in Auvergne
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Vulcania and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Located in the heart of the volcanoes of the Chaîne des Puys, in Auvergne, in the Auvergne-Rhônes-Alpes region, Vulcania invites you to explore the fascinating world of volcanoes and planet Earth.

Vulcania, a project of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Regional Council

Born from the initiative of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Council, Vulcania opened its doors on February 20th 2002 with a double objective:

  • to be a tool for attractiveness and development, 
  • to be a tool for the economic, cultural and tourist development of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region.

Nowadays, thanks to the support of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Council, Vulcania continues to evolve with the aim of attracting more visitors to discover our territory and to raise public awareness of local and global geological issues through fun and educational activities.

The Vulcania adventure

Puy de Côme dans la chaîne des Puy d'Auvergne
architecture vulcania cône
Entrée Vulcania vue sur le cône
Vue aérienne parc Vulcania
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).

 

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.

 

20 février 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:

  • 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.

Vulcania in numbers…

325 862

number of visitors in 2019

 

+ 6 million

number of visitors since the opening in 2002

 

80%

share of visitors from outside of Auvergne

 

10 millions €

turnover achieved in 2018