Cros between the Artense landscape and history

Cros lies in the Artense’s peatland region. Dry-stone walls, wetlands and protected peat bogs shape the landscape. Hiking trails and the Sainte-Madeleine Church offer different focal points: you can get to know the area through its nature, architectural history and cultural events.

Compare hikes and routes

La cascade de Gerbaut is described as an easy 7.6-kilometre circular hike, taking about three hours. The route starts in the centre of Cros and offers the opportunity to visit the Sainte-Madeleine Church. Along the way, it passes through hamlets and meadows, along riverbanks and through the forest. This gives you concrete information for planning, including the distance, approximate time required and nature of the hike.

There is also a 10.0-kilometre mountain biking route with the same name. The two descriptions refer to different ways of travelling: a hike of about three hours and a longer mountain biking route. Choosing your activity therefore helps you decide which route description suits your plans, without treating the hiking route and mountain biking route as the same tour.

Le bois de Rochemave and Les Quatre Hameaux offer further landscape highlights. Le bois de Rochemave runs alongside the Tourbière de Lacoste and offers views of the Monts du Cantal. The paths there cross heathland and deciduous forests over dry-stone walls. Les Quatre Hameaux passes through the Artense’s varied natural landscapes and offers open views of the Sancy and Cantal massifs. When choosing between these routes, you can take your cue from the landscapes and views mentioned for each one.

The Artense landscape and gentle mobility

Cros’s landscapes combine visible traces of human activity, such as dry-stone walls, with wetlands and protected peat bogs. These contrasts also feature in the route descriptions: Le bois de Rochemave includes walls, heathland, deciduous forest and the peat bog among its sights; La cascade de Gerbaut alternates between hamlets, meadows, riverbanks and forest. This gives you a range of specific nature and landscape themes to consider when planning an outing, rather than viewing Cros only as the starting point for a single hike.

Cros’s hamlets can also be reached on foot or by bicycle. Both are gentle ways to get around if you want to include the hamlets as part of exploring the area.

Sainte-Madeleine and the history of Cros

The Sainte-Madeleine Church brings together several architectural features: a Romanesque choir, a nave dating from the 14th century and a later-added north chapel. The church also houses a 13th-century reliquary, which is listed as a historic monument. Gothic stone holy-water stoups are also part of its furnishings. Together, these details offer more than a single view of the building: as you explore Cros, you can focus on the church’s different architectural and artistic influences.

Cros is also historically associated with cloth merchants. This local history adds another cultural connection to the impressions of its architecture and landscape. If you want to explore the area through several themes, you will find not only descriptions of nature but also a history linked to local trade.

Cultural events and local produce

Forums and conferences are held in Cros several times a year. As the programme may change, it is advisable to check the event dates before travelling. This lets you include possible cultural events in your plans without relying on a particular date.

There are also outlets selling farm produce in Cros. Individual outlets may change, so if you are looking for a particular one, it is advisable to check in advance for current information. Together with the hiking trails, church and cultural events, these offer further ways to explore the area, without assuming that particular products or opening hours are available.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Just, Cunlhat, Thuret, Beaumont, Buxières-Sous-Montaigut, Saint-Flour, Vollore-Ville, Aubusson-D'auvergne

See the overview of the wider area: Puy-De-Dôme.