Hiking - Entre Crevant et Laveine
The alluvial forests of Creux Bérau
The natural site of Creux Bérau boasts remarkable natural heritage with its alluvial forests interspersed with meadows and oxbow lakes of the Allier river. Once a hub of significant activity, like any waterway (transport of goods, timber rafting), the banks of the river at Creux Bérau were where the local population would bring their herds to graze or cut firewood. Gradually, the river ceased to be a place for social gatherings and life.
Between 1800 and 1850, the Allier shifted course, and the dwellings of the time were rebuilt away from the river. Today, construction is prohibited within the flood plain to prevent any deterioration from seasonal floods. A particularly rich biodiversity can be observed on the alluvial plain, due to the incessant ebb and flow of the river, which also causes bank erosion. This phenomenon, known as "fluvial dynamics," makes the Allier one of Europe's last wild rivers. It is also responsible for the quality of the water table, which is pumped from this location for the region's drinking water supply. A marked trail leads you to discover this natural site. You may see the Great Egret in winter, the Black Kite and the Squacco Heron in summer, as well as the European Beaver and the Little Egret year-round. This site is designated as a Sensitive Natural Area by the Departmental Council of Puy-de-Dôme.
The natural site of Creux Bérau boasts remarkable natural heritage with its alluvial forests interspersed with meadows and oxbow lakes of the Allier river. Once a hub of significant activity, like any waterway (transport of goods, timber rafting), the banks of the river at Creux Bérau were where the local population would bring their herds to graze or cut firewood. Gradually, the river ceased to be a place for social gatherings and life.
Between 1800 and 1850, the Allier shifted course, and the dwellings of the time were rebuilt away from the river. Today, construction is prohibited within the flood plain to prevent any deterioration from seasonal floods. A particularly rich biodiversity can be observed on the alluvial plain, due to the incessant ebb and flow of the river, which also causes bank erosion. This phenomenon, known as "fluvial dynamics," makes the Allier one of Europe's last wild rivers. It is also responsible for the quality of the water table, which is pumped from this location for the region's drinking water supply. A marked trail leads you to discover this natural site. You may see the Great Egret in winter, the Black Kite and the Squacco Heron in summer, as well as the European Beaver and the Little Egret year-round. This site is designated as a Sensitive Natural Area by the Departmental Council of Puy-de-Dôme.