Climbing
ClimbingThekingdom
of verticality
In the Hautes-Alpes, climbing is more than just a sport. Rock climbing is an intense experience, with mythical cliffs that have left their mark on the history of climbing, and spots designed for gentle vertical climbing. Every move becomes a promise, every line an adventure to be told. Impossible to resist: welcome to the vertical kingdom.
Céüze
the blue myth
Céüze is a legend. Rising above the Gapençaisthe blue cliff imposes a demanding approach, rewarded by exceptional lines. Sculpted colonnettes, mythical overhangs, routes that have marked the history of the discipline: Céüze is an initiatory passage where every move is a challenge and every sequence a victory. A site as demanding as it is unforgettable.
Ailefroide
wild granite
At the foot of the ÉcrinsAilefroide breathes wilderness. The compact granite stretches out in endless slabs, clean cracks and boulders scattered under the pines. Climbing is done in a wild atmosphere, punctuated by torrents and shared bivouacs. Ailefroide is climbing on a grand scale, raw and unadorned, with a high mountain backdrop.
Orpierre
XXL school
Nestled in the heart of the Buëch, Orpierre is a unique village cliff. It’s all on foot, from the center to the wall. The hard limestone unrolls its lines from 4 to 8, with long routes, single pitches and impeccable equipment. The atmosphere is friendly, the terraces lively and climbers from all over the world gather here. An ideal destination not only for improving your skills, but also for tackling iconic pitches perched high above the Baronnies.
Briançon
and other spots
Beyond the star cliffs, the Hautes-Alpes has a wealth of places to climb. Briançon is the climbing capital of the world, with its international wall, one of the finest in the world, and the Bloc 15-9, its summer World Cup and dozens of surrounding crags. All over the Hautes-Alpes, indoor gyms complete the offer, ideal for training or just starting out. From the accessible 5th to the extreme 9th, the department offers an infinite range of possibilities.
When
ice takes over
In winter, the face of climbing changes. Waterfalls freeze, torrents become translucent columns and valleys are transformed into cathedrals of ice. Ice climbing combines physical intensity with fragile aesthetics. Every ice axe stroke makes the wall vibrate, and every pitch is a timeless adventure. In the Hautes-Alpes, verticality knows no season…
The pure verticality of the Hautes-Alpes
Climbing highlights
L’Argentière-La Bessée
Ice Climbing
More than just a festival, this benchmark event is a must for the discipline. Its success? Ice cubes, azure skies, all at the right temperature to welcome the discipline’s elite.
L’Argentière-La Bessée
Full steam ahead
The event, now a not-to-be-missed event in the climbing world, combines international bouldering competition, introductions for the curious, contests open to all, concerts and an Alpine festival atmosphere.
Briançon
Mondial de l’escalade
On the monumental wall of the Parc des Sports, the world’s best climbers battle it out in an atmosphere that’s both electric and friendly.
A native of Briançon, Salomé Romain has built up a solid record of achievement in international mountaineering and climbing competitions. A regular finalist in the Difficulty World Cup, she embodies the generation of French climbers who grew up clinging to the limestone of the Hautes-Alpes before shining in the spotlight. Lucidity, precision and a rare consistency on a merciless circuit: Salomé has established herself as one of the key figures in French climbing.
Practical notebook
- Dreaming of walls
- Learn and practice
- Supervised climbing
See also
Experiences
Mountaineering
