The puy de Dôme, the emblematic volcano of the puy chain, rises to an altitude of 1,464 metres. Its summit is home to the ruins of a colossal temple dedicated to the god Mercury, the main deity of the Arverne people in Roman times. Since its discovery in the 19th century, the Temple of Mercury has been the subject of numerous excavation campaigns.

Recent research, led by Dominique Tardy and Jean-Louis Paillet (CNRS - IRAA), provides an insight into the techniques used during the construction of this unusual sanctuary, considered to be one of the most important in the Roman West.