The volcanic site of the Chaîne des Puys – Faille de Limagne, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2018, has reached a new significant milestone. An international evaluation conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has awarded the site the 'good' rating, its most favorable, thus recognizing the quality of its management and its good state of conservation.
This assessment, carried out in 2025 as part of the IUCN World Heritage Outlook report, places the Chaîne des Puys – Faille de Limagne among the 17% of global sites to achieve this highest classification. The French site stands out for its progress towards this category, alongside Australian and Chinese sites, and is the only French natural property to reach it.
The local UNESCO commission, which met on September 22, 2026, chaired by the Prefect of Puy-de-Dôme and attended by the President of the Departmental Council, reviewed the actions undertaken. These collaborative efforts aim to sustainably preserve this exceptional landscape, notably through work on the Vache and Lassolas puys, visitor awareness campaigns, and the deployment of an architectural and landscape charter.
Site visitation also relies on the commitment of private landowners and the mediation efforts of site ambassadors, who ensure conciliation between visitors and farmers. Regular patrols by law enforcement and the presence of the Republican Guard during the summer also contribute to safety.
The next major step will be the renewal of the Grand Site de France label in 2027, led by the Departmental Council and the Regional Natural Park of the Volcanoes of Auvergne. This initiative aims to extend the label to the Montagne de la Serre, currently undergoing a classification procedure, to coordinate protections across the entire World Heritage site.
