Livradois

The Livradois is a natural region in France located in the center of the Massif Central, within the departments of Puy-de-Dôme and Haute-Loire. It consists of a mountainous massif, the Livradois mountains, and a plain, the Livradois plain. Together, they form a coherent and recognized human, cultural, and economic entity, though they do not constitute a specific political entity. The Livradois is part of the Livradois-Forez [Regional Natural Park].
The name of this natural region is Liuradés in the Occitan language.

Geology

The Livradois is an ancient massif from the Hercynian period, composed of granitic rocks and granulites in the north, and gneiss and mica schists in the south.

Regional Natural Park

The Livradois mountains are part of the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park. Indeed, as early as the 1960s, the idea emerged to create a national park modeled after the Cévennes National Park. To achieve a sufficient size, it was suggested to combine the Livradois mountains with those of Forez. The park was officially created in 1986 and includes 162 communes.