The pass Chamaroux

Anzat-le-Luguet

2395896-diaporama

Description

The Col de Chamaroux at 1291m marks the boundary between the communes of Anzat le Luguet and Saint Alyre ès Montagne. This is where the Couze d'Ardes rises! From the top of Mont Chamaroux, a magnificent panorama awaits hikers!

Near the summit of Chamaroux (altitude 1476m), reddish-brown patches appear here and there: legend has it that this ancient volcano is still so hot that in some places the snow doesn't last through the winter and the grass doesn't grow. These are simply outcrops of lava slag, the topsoil having failed to resist erosion. The Cézallier is a Hawaiian-type volcanic formation, and Mont Chamaroux is one of the peaks of this domed volcanic plateau.
Access from the Col du Chamaroux: take care in winter when the road is open; don't cross the summer pastures to reach the top of the mountain, so dogs are not recommended from April to October.
It is interesting to note that the departmental boundary between Puy-de-Dôme and Cantal lies a good kilometer to the west towards Montgreleix: the authorities have also been reluctant to draw a common dividing line!

  • Entity information:Office de Tourisme Auvergne Pays d'Issoire

Categories

  • Volcano
  • Mountain pass

Prices

Free access.

Opening

All year round.

Spoken languages