Col de Prat-de-Bouc

{{Infobox mountain pass

| name = Col de Prat-de-Bouc

| photo = Col de Prat de Bouc depuis plomb Cantal.jpg

| photo_caption = The Col de Prat-de-Bouc.

| elevation_m = 1392

| elevation_ref =

| traversed = D39

| map = France

| map_caption =

| map_size =

| label = Prat-de-Bouc

| coords = {{coord|45|03|11|N|02|47|37|E|type:pass_region:FR|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| location = Cantal, France

| range = Mounts of Cantal (Massif Central)

| topo =

}}

The Col de Prat-de-Bouc is a mountain pass at an altitude of 1,392 meters located in the Mounts of Cantal, in the department of the same name, within the Massif Central. It is situated east of the Plomb du Cantal. At the foot of the pass lies the Lioran resort and the Prat de Bouc - Haute Planèze Nordic area.

Geography

The pass can be crossed by two slopes:IGN maps available on [http://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/accueil Géoportail]

from the south, coming from Paulhac (via the hamlet of Bélinay) or from Cézens (via the hamlet of la Sagnette) or from Brezons passing through the Col de la Griffoul;
from the north, coming from Murat and Albepierre-Bredons.

Activities

= Winter Sports =

The Col de Prat-de-Bouc serves as one of the gateways to the Lioran ski resort. It has its own ski lifts for alpine skiing: 1 chairlift and 5 ski tows for 14 slopes, providing access to the Plomb du Cantal and the rest of the Lioran resort.{{Cite web |title=Ski alpin |url=https://pratdebouc-cantal.fr/cours-de-ski-et-sorties-guidees/ski-alpin/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Domaine nordique de Prat de Bouc |language=fr-FR}}

It is part of the Prat de Bouc - Haute Planèze cross-country skiing area.{{Cite web |title=prat de bouc télésiège - Google Search |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=prat+de+bouc+t%C3%A9l%C3%A9si%C3%A8ge&sca_esv=ee5823111fbad417&rlz=1CABFSS_enFR1075&ei=zGAVZp6uIcyYkdUP68SR4AI&ved=0ahUKEwiexKSiu7WFAxVMTKQEHWtiBCwQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=prat+de+bouc+t%C3%A9l%C3%A9si%C3%A8ge&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGXByYXQgZGUgYm91YyB0w6lsw6lzacOoZ2UyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAFI-g5QAFj8DHAAeACQAQCYAc0BoAHuCKoBBTUuNC4xuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIKoALDCcICBRAAGIAEwgIKEAAYgAQYigUYQ8ICCxAuGK8BGMcBGIAEwgIFEC4YgATCAgsQLhiABBjHARivAcICBhAAGBYYHsICBxAhGAoYoAGYAwCSBwU1LjQuMaAH9yo&sclient=gws-wiz-serp |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=www.google.com}}

= Hiking =

Prat-de-Bouc is the starting point for numerous hiking opportunities: hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, ski touring, and trail running.{{Cite web |title=Balades et randonnées |url=http://pratdebouc-cantal.fr/les-activites/balades-et-randonnees/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Domaine nordique de Prat de Bouc |language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web |title=Circuits VTT et VTT à assistante électrique |url=http://pratdebouc-cantal.fr/les-activites/circuits-vtt-vttae/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Domaine nordique de Prat de Bouc |language=fr-FR}}

= Rock =

Climbing Several climbing routes are available at the Prés Marty rock, the Mouflon rock, the Montagnard rock, and the Chamalière rocks.{{Cite web |title=Site d'escalade Prat-de-Bouc - info, topo, localisation... |url=https://climbingaway.fr/fr/site-escalade/prat-de-bouc |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=climbingaway.fr}}

= Birdwatching =

The Col de Prat-de-Bouc is a key site for bird migration in Auvergne.{{Cite web |author1=David Hemery |author2=Christine Blaize |title=Migration postnuptiale des oiseaux au col de Prat de Bouc, Cantal : synthèse des années 2009, 2010 et 2012. années 2009, 2010 et 2012 |url=https://cdnfiles1.biolovision.net/www.faune-auvergne.org/userfiles/GDUC/Grand-Duc8171-82.pdf}} Thousands of birds fly over it in the autumn. 163 bird species have been observed there since 1972. It is a Community Interest Area for birds and a Zone naturelle d'intérêt écologique, faunistique et floristique.{{Cite web |title=www.migraction.net |url=https://www.migraction.net/index.php?m_id=1510&frmSite=30#:~:text=Le%20site%20de%20Prat-de,un%20suivi%20et%20du%20baguage. |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=www.migraction.net}}

Tour de France

It has been crossed 3 times by the Tour de France. It is classified as a Category 2 climb. Here are the riders who have been the first to reach the summit:{{Cite web |title=Le col du Prat de Bouc (Plomb du Cantal) dans le Tour de France |url=https://ledicodutour.com/cols/cols_p/prat_de_bouc.html |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=ledicodutour.com}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

!Year

!Stage

!Category

!Start

!Finish

!Leader at the summit

2011

|Issoire

|Saint-Flour

| align="left" |{{Flagathlete|Johnny Hoogerland|NED}}

2004