Source de la Creuse (Chirat, plateau de Millevaches)

Le Mas-d'Artige

The Creuse rises on the Millevaches plateau, in the commune of Le Mas-d'Artige, at the place called Chirat, beside the D 8. Wikipedia gives an altitude of 811 m, whereas the English version indicates 932 m: the discrepancy remains to be checked. The sources consulted describe no development, no legend and no debate over the location of the spring. On the other hand, the river's name is well documented. The hydronym appears in the forms Crosa in the 8th century, Chrosa in 730, Crosa in 936, then Croza in 1310. These medieval spellings are cited by Wikipedia. The first stretch, from the source to the Combes reservoir, is classed as being in good ecological and chemical condition according to the 2013 assessment cited by Wikipedia, and placed on list 1, which restricts the construction of structures that would impede ecological continuity. The chemin des Sources de la Creuse, at Artiges, appears on OpenStreetMap.

Getting there: Place called Chirat, beside the D 8. Coordinates: OpenStreetMap node ‘Source de la Creuse’ (chemin des Sources de la Creuse, Artiges); the current condition of the site is not described by any source consulted.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound