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Vulcania, a unique enlightening Earth
Science site
François-Dominique de Larouzière* and Antoine Bouvier
Vulcania is unique because it is the only
centre of scientific discovery located in a
rural area, although the city of Clermont-
Ferrand is only 15 kilometres away. The
site provides many facilities attractive to
tourists: documentation service, a library
offering 5,000 books, various audiovisual
resources (picture bank, videos, CD ROM,
DVD), restaurants and cafeteria, shopping
facilities offering products linked to
the natural sciences, pedagogy, reception
rooms for groups and centres dedicated to
conferences and colloquia.
Figure 1: Vulcania site.
The scientific exploration park,
VULCANIA, which belongs to
the Auvergne regional Council, is
located about 15 kilometres to the west of
the city of Clermont-Ferrand at an altitude
of 1,000 metres. The 57 hectare site is nestled
in a beautiful natural landscape within
the young volcanoes (6,000 years old) of the
Chaîne des Puys volcanic area.
Created in 2002 and open each year from
March to November, the Park is not only
dedicated to volcanism but to the Earth Sciences
as a whole. It also deals with environmental
themes and Natural Sciences (i.e.
Botany, Physics, Astronomy).
To attract a large public and introduce
them to the fascinating world of volcanoes,
a moving scenography harmonizes the necessary
scientific detail from the data display
equipment and the efficient and modern
communication system.
The themes and information are controlled
by an international scientific Council made
up of 15 members, all experts in their fields.
* Director of Science Vulcania.
The permanent scientific team of Vulcania,
including five geologists, is reinforced
during the summer by some 20 students
(Masters level) specializing in geology,
geography, geophysics, biology and environment.
Sensitization and communication missions
outside the Park resulted in 66 weekly
newspaper pages (1.2 million readers each
week), but also interviews and articles for
different media, radio programmes, newspapers,
as well as commenting on topical
geo-news items...
Thus Vulcania is neither a museum nor
an attraction park and has been designed
as a scientific exploration site where the
need for amusement and pedagogy are
closely associated to meet the wishes of a
large public.
In August 2012, the Park welcomed its
four millionth visitor. The impact of the
park, with its task force of over 50 full-time
employees, on tourism and the economy of
this mountainous area, is also greatly appreciated
by the regional authorities.
The visitor is not left alone and can be
accompanied during his discovery circuit
by a geologist focusing on oral communication
and spread of scientific themes, thereby
contributing to the excellence of the visitor
experience. All the information provided on
the site is available in six languages: French,
English, Spanish, Dutch, German and Italian,
while a synchronized audio-guidance
system allows the non-French-speaking
visitors to benefit from the visit.
This cultural site, built mainly underground
into recent lava (30,000 years old),
Figure 2: Ash clouds.
Figure 3: The unveiled planet.
European Geologist 34 | November 2012
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