Puy de Peyre-Arse | |
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The South face of Puy de Peyre-Arse. | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 1,806 m (5,925 ft) |
Coordinates | 45°06′36″N 2°42′39″E / 45.11000°N 2.71083°E |
Geography | |
Location | Cantal departement, France |
Parent range | Mounts of Cantal ( Massif Central) |
The Puy de Peyre-Arse is a peak in the volcanic massif of Cantal ( Massif Central), separating the valleys of the Jordanne , Impradine, and Santoire . It reaches an altitude of 1,806 meters.
Pèira arsa means "burnt stone" in Auvergnat, the name evoking the rocky chaos and small cliffs that form the summit. [1]
The Peyre-Arse is formed by two trachyandesite flows dated at 7.8 million years ago, which form a "cliff" at the summit (visible in the photo). These flows overlay lahars composed of ash and pumice. [2]
The easiest ascent route is the GR 4 to the west, which follows the ridge line between Puy Mary and Peyre-Arse. Access is also possible from the southeast (Col de Cabre), but the ascent is significantly more strenuous. [3]
The painter Théodore Rousseau traveled to Cantal in 1830 and produced numerous studies, including that of the Saint-Vincent-de-Salers valley. The valley is crossed by the Mars River and is home to many villages. Puy Mary is at the center, with the small peak of Puy de Peyre-Arse to its left, and below the sharp peak to the right is the Col du Redondet. [4]