Puy de Peyre-Arse

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 [fr] 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]