puy

Puy is a French term meaning a hill or peak, and it is commonly used to describe volcanic landforms in the Massif Central. The word derives from Occitan and French and is used in toponymy to indicate hills formed by volcanic activity, often of a dome or cone shape.

Geography and geology: In the Massif Central, puys are volcanic cones or domes created by eruptions in the Tertiary to Quaternary periods. The best-known example is the Chaîne des Puys, a 40-km-long chain of about 80 volcanic features including cones, craters, and lava domes near Clermont-Ferrand. The Chaîne des Puys, together with the Limagne fault, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018 for its well-preserved volcanic landscape and geologic significance.

Notable places: The term appears in many place names. Le Puy-en-Velay, a town in Haute-Loire, sits on a volcanic rock outcrop and is renowned for its cathedral and as a traditional starting point for pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela. Puy de Dôme, part of the Chaîne des Puys, is a prominent landmark in the region, and Puy de Sancy is the highest summit in the Massif Central.

Other uses: Beyond landforms, puy is used in toponymy and can appear as a surname. The plural puys is used when referring to multiple such features. The term remains a common descriptor in French geographic naming for volcanic hills and domes.