Call 2022 | Horizons “Arts-Nature” en Sancy 2023 (Fr)

The Tourist Office of Sancy organizes the event Horizons “Arts-Nature” with the objective of sublimating the territory through the creation of contemporary works while raising public awareness of art.

The Community of Municipalities of the Massif du Sancy was created in 2000 and included until 2016, 16 municipalities: La Bourboule, Chambon-sur-lac, Chastreix, Egliseneuve-d’Entraigues, Le Mont-Dore, Murat-le-Quaire, Murol, Picherande, Saint-Diery, Besse Saint-Anastaise/Super-Besse, Saint-Nectaire, Compains, Espinchal, Saint-Pierre Colamine, Saint-Victor-la-Rivière, Valbeleix. 

In January 2017, 4 new municipalities joined the territorial entity and extend the new creation perimeter: La Godivelle, Le Vernet Sainte Marguerite, Montgreleix and Saint Genès Champespe. The Sancy Tourist Office is responsible for community events.

Public partners

• La Communauté de Communes du Massif du Sancy.
• La Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles d’Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
• Le Conseil Régional Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
• Le Conseil Départemental du Puy-de-Dôme.
• Le Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne provides moral support and expertise in the preservation of the environment from the choice of natural sites to artistic projects.

Private partners

• La CCAS – Les activités sociales de l’énergie
  For the fourteenth consecutive year, the CCAS – the social activities of energy is a partner of Horizons “Arts-Nature” in Sancy as part of its cultural action policy, particularly in the direction of Plastic and Visual Arts.
• TÉLÉRAMA
  Télérama is also one of the event’s loyal partners since this sponsorship has existed for several years. It concerns distribution and communication in the Télérama Nationale edition, the Télérama events calendar, the guide to summer festivals on telerama.fr, the daily Télérama L’Espresso newsletter.

Located within the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park in the heart of Auvergne, the Massif du Sancy region (in the department of Puy-de-Dôme) has a strong geological, human and touristic identity. The Puy de Sancy (1,886m), the highest point in the Massif Central, towers over this vast natural region full of springs and sources, waterfalls, lakes and rivers.

Born from intense volcanic activity, this mid-altitude region has successfully showcased its water resources and mountainous contours through the development of spa centres and ski resorts. Up until the 18th century, people had no idea where volcanoes came from, although it was frequent to give them names that conjured hellish images of fire and flames, like “Cheminée du Diable” (Devil’s Chimney) and “Val d’Enfer” (Hell Valley).

The entire area is rich in sediments and minerals that were exploited by mountain dwellers very early on. They built houses from heavy lava stone and covered their roofs with stone slates (phonolite rock, from phonolite lava).

Here in this unspoilt region is where the Dordogne River takes its source, 1,350 metres above sea level. The Sancy massif is home to multiple wildlife species typically found in mid-mountain areas, including mouflons, chamois, marmottes, stoats and martens, not forgetting the Arctic char and signal crayfish found in Pavin Lake.

The entire mountain range is festooned with flowers: Martagon lily, yellow gentian (used to make spirits), wild pansy, narcissus and even a few carnivorous plants like the drosera and butterworts that grow in the peat bogs.

Climate

The climate can be harsh at times in the Sancy mountains, because of the altitude influence. Winters are long and cold. Snow frequently arrives in November and continues to fall until mid spring (May). The summer season is short and can bring heavy rain.

This mid-mountain geographical zone is the continent’s first natural barrier from the Atlantic Ocean in the West, which explains the strong winds and heavy rainfall. The wind can sometimes reach severe gale force.