Charade circuit Saint-Genès-Champanelle 63122 France

A jewel of French motorsport
Located in the heart of Auvergne, a few kilometers from Clermont-Ferrand, the Charade circuit is one of the most legendary road circuits in France. Nicknamed the "French Nürburgring" due to its winding and hilly layout, it has made its mark on the history of international motorsport since its creation in the second half of the 20th century.

A birth in the heart of the volcanoes
The idea of a permanent racing circuit in Auvergne germinated in the 1950s, under the leadership of Jean Auchatraire, president of the Automobile Club d’Auvergne, and Auvergne driver Louis Rosier, winner of the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans. Their ambition: to provide the region with a track worthy of its rich automotive history, particularly the 1905 Gordon Bennett Cup, which had already been contested on the roads of Auvergne.

The projet
venue for major competitions
Since its opening, Charade has hosted national and international races, including rounds of the Formula One World Championship in 1965, 1969, 1970, and 1972. The circuit is particularly feared by drivers due to its lack of run-off areas and its natural pitfalls: stones on the track, significant elevation changes, reduced visibility, and poorly protected kerbs. Big names in Formula One such as Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Jochen Rindt, and Graham Hill have distinguished themselves at Charade, often describing the track as demanding and dangerous as Germany's Nürburgring.

A redesigned route and a preserved heritage
Due to safety reasons and organizational costs associated with the use of open roads, the historic circuit was closed to high-level competitions in the early 1980s. In 1989, a new, permanent, secure 3.975-kilometer track was inaugurated on the same site, allowing for the continuation of sports and motorsports activities. Today, the Charade circuit remains an iconic site for car and motorcycle enthusiasts. Part of the original track is still visible and accessible on foot or by bicycle, and numerous historical events are organized there to celebrate its rich past.

The circuit of Charade and Saint-Genès-Champanelle: A Historical Anchor
As with the 1905 Gordon Bennett Cup, the municipality of Saint-Genès-Champanelle occupies an important place in the history of the circuit, with part of its territory hosting sections and bends of the historic Charade track. This territorial continuity makes this municipality a true cradle of motorsport in Auvergne, linking the pioneers of the early 20th century to the Formula 1 legends of the 1960s and 1970s.

listed crosses	59
old postcards of the commune	156
old postcards except commune	47
old postcards of the volcano Puy de Dôme	118
associations listed on the commune	216
Gordon-Bennett Cup	78