| Puy de Peyre-Arse | |
| Elevation M: | 1806 |
| Range: | Mounts of Cantal (Massif Central) |
| Location: | Cantal departement, France |
| Map: | France |
| Label Position: | left |
| Coordinates: | 45.11°N 2.7108°W |
The Puy de Peyre-Arse is a peak in the volcanic massif of Cantal (Massif Central), separating the valleys of the, Impradine, and . 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 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]