The Plomb du Cantal: On Europe's Largest Stratovolcano
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
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Cantal Rim
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300
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+100 France
= 400 total
1 day
The Plomb du Cantal: On Europe's Largest Stratovolcano
300 + 100 XP
The Monts du Cantal are what is left of the largest stratovolcano visible in Europe, an ellipse 70km by 50km that began about 13 million years ago and last erupted about two million years back. The Plomb du Cantal is its high point at 1,855m, second in the Massif Central only to the Sancy, and it stands on a triple watershed: the Cère runs to the Dordogne, the Brezons to the Garonne and the Alagnon to the Loire. The massif has ten summits over 1,700 metres, and it gave its name to a cheese, a department and the white horse Napoleon rode at Austerlitz.
Required Activities
1
of 4
Walk up the east flank from Prat de Bouc - Haute Planèze at 1,392 m, about 450 m of climb and two hours to the top at 1,855 m
2
of 4
Walk a hundred metres south of the summit to the triple point and work out the three sides: the Cère to the west going to the Dordogne, the Brezons to the south going to the Garonne, the Alagnon to the north-east going to the Loire
3
of 4
Work round the summit panorama on a clear day: north over the Cézallier to the Monts Dore with the chaîne des Puys and the puy de Dôme behind them, then south-east over the Aubrac to the mont Lozère and, furthest of all, the mont Aigoual more than 100 km away
4
of 4
Walk the crest line that divides the Cère, Alagnon and Brezons valleys, and from it name the summits standing across the Cère to the west — the cone of the puy Griou at 1,690 m, the puy de Peyre-Arse at 1,806 m and the puy Mary at 1,783 m
Walk up the east flank from Prat de Bouc - Haute Planèze at 1,392 m, about 450 m of climb and two hours to the top at 1,855 m
Walk a hundred metres south of the summit to the triple point and work out the three sides: the Cère to the west going to the Dordogne, the Brezons to the south going to the Garonne, the Alagnon to the north-east going to the Loire
Work round the summit panorama on a clear day: north over the Cézallier to the Monts Dore with the chaîne des Puys and the puy de Dôme behind them, then south-east over the Aubrac to the mont Lozère and, furthest of all, the mont Aigoual more than 100 km away
Walk the crest line that divides the Cère, Alagnon and Brezons valleys, and from it name the summits standing across the Cère to the west — the cone of the puy Griou at 1,690 m, the puy de Peyre-Arse at 1,806 m and the puy Mary at 1,783 m
Before you go
If the two-hour climb from Prat de Bouc is too much, the Super Lioran cable car runs to within 500 m of the summit — ten minutes up, then ten minutes on a path whose last 250 m are easy steps. It runs to the ski station's own season, so check it is turning before driving to Le Lioran. The summit is exposed and the panorama only works in clear weather.
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
300 XP
France country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
400 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in France.
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