Mountain Climbing in Grenoble: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You

Resting in the southeast of France at the foot of the French Alps is the city of Grenoble. It is located in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, and nicknames itself as the Capital of the Alps, given its size and location. The medieval village transformed into an industrial powerhouse and are now grown into an important center for research and technology. The city is surrounded by mountains, with the Belledonne range standing to the east, and the Vercors massif to the west.

Striking mountains

The city of Grenoble is just north of the prominent Mont Aiguille, whose limestone cliffs soar to 2,085 meters before reaching an abrupt end. The flat mesa summit stands within the Vercors Regional Natural Park, and is a prime spot for top-class mountain climbing. The steep cliffs are actually quite easy to ascend as it doesn’t pose much technical difficulty, yet the views are captivating.

Medieval ascent

The first recorded ascent of many mountains were generally written down between the 1800s and 1900s. Yet some peaks were conquered much earlier. One extreme example is Mont Aiguille, which was the first recorded climb of any difficulty all the way back in 1492, making it the birthplace of mountaineering. It was climbed by a servant of Charles VIII, who ordered the ascent.

Place of legends

The striking nature of Mont Aiguille has made it susceptible to a whole host of myths and legends over the centuries. The Romans believed that it was torn away from the Vercors massif when a hunter gazed at a goddess who was on the mountain. In medieval times the mountain was called Mount Inaccessible due to its steep and vertical walls. It became one of the seven wonders of Dauphine.

The city of Grenoble receives an oceanic climate, while the mountainous regions feature cooler temperatures.

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Visit in the warmer months between June and October for ideal mountain climbing conditions.