Pleistocene tectonic activity, volcanism, glaciation, fluvial terraces, and periglacial phenomena of the upper Loire basin and the middle and upper Allier basins (France) are discussed. Subsidence, uplift, hydrographic modifications, and restriction of the basins are all the result of Villafranchian tectonism. Volcanic deposits from eruptions involving Velay, eastern Cantal, Cezallier, Mont-Dore, Limagne, Clermont-Ferrand, and the Puys chain are described. Both the tectonic and volcanic activities contributed to the uplift of Velay, Margeride and other parts of the Central Massif, causing them to be glaciated and subjected to periglacial forces. In the region studied, only the higher altitudes show evidence of glaciation attributed to the Wuerm. Traces of older glaciation are rare or dubious. The difficulties involved in interpreting the fluvial terraces are discussed. The relative ages of the terraces can be determined by the effects of the tectonic activity which twice disrupted their deposition. Periglacial deposits in the area are the result of the phenomena of cryoturbation and eolian forces. The Central Massif seems to have been an anticyclonic area, dispensing violent winds which would explain the noticeable effects of eolian forces and the absence of loess deposits.