Climbing
The Verdon is multi-pitch climbing country. On the Falaise de l’Escalès and kilometres of limestone, more than 1,500 routes unfold, according to Verdon Tourisme — often reached from the top, by rappel. It is “one of the birthplaces of sport climbing”, according to the FFCAM (the French federation of alpine and mountain clubs); people climb here from first-timers to the elite.
Here, you don’t always climb up from the bottom. Many multi-pitch routes are reached by rappelling down from the viewpoints along the Route des Crêtes — anywhere from a few minutes to nearly an hour of rappelling — before climbing back up the wall. A distinctive feature of the Verdon, which multiplies the famous “sense of exposure”.
The historic heart of climbing in the Verdon: up to 350 m of perfect grey limestone, more than 300 routes from 3b to 8c, edge-crimp slabs, small columns and water-drop pockets. Multi-pitch climbing at its finest, facing the void.
From the viewpoints along the Route des Crêtes, a host of single-pitch sectors: Belvédère de la Carelle (ideal for beginners), Dent d’Aire, Jardin des Écureuils, Golem, École buissonnière, Félines, Chasteuil. Climb on lead or top-rope, panorama included.
The south bank has its own cliffs too, around Aiguines: Falaise des Cavaliers (multi-pitch routes and a viewpoint over the Corniche Sublime), Falaise du Baou.
The founding route of l’Escalès — around 290 m of elevation gain over 11 pitches, opened on 28-29 October 1968 by Joël Coqueugniot and François Guillot. Re-equipped in 2022.
A cult route, an emblem of the golden age of free climbing.
A much-photographed multi-pitch route — it was here that Patrick Edlinger was once struck by lightning.
A sector popularised by Edlinger (Rêve de Fer, Alerte au Gaz, L’Ange en Décomposition).
The reference route for the very highest level, near Rougon — proposed by Edlinger, freed by J.-B. Tribout.
The La Ramirole sector — the hardest route ever opened in France, and one of the five 9c routes in the world. Climbed by Sébastien Bouin on 29 April 2022 after more than 250 attempts; repeated for the first time on 10 October 2026 by the Austrian Jakob Schubert, the first repeat of a 9c-graded route.
Between single-pitch introductions (Belvédère de la Carelle, École buissonnière) and the legendary routes above, there are real multi-pitch routes — several pitches, a real big-wall atmosphere — within reach of a lead climber who is comfortable up to 5c/6a:
Pont du Galetas sector, opened in 2002 by Bruno Clément — with a view over the pedalos and canoes heading up the gorge. 5 pitches (5b+, 6a, 5c, 5c+, 6a), slabs with little commitment, no approach walk. Descent in 3 rappels, or in one go on a 100 m static rope.
Col des Félines sector, ≈150 m — slab, corner and arête, at a consistent grade. Approach of ≈40-50 min from the Félines car park (Col de l’Âne road); descent on foot (≈45 min), no rappel needed.
The easiest route in the Dalles Grises sector, on l’Escalès — reached by 4 rappels from the Jardin des Écureuils. Very consistent and generously equipped: a good introduction to the big-wall atmosphere without the difficulty of the sector.
On 29 April 2022, at the La Ramirole sector, Sébastien Bouin redpointed “DNA” after more than 250 attempts and proposed the grade 9c — at the time only the world’s second route of this level ever announced, after Adam Ondra’s “Silence” (Norway, 2017). DNA remains the hardest route ever opened in France. On 10 October 2026, the Austrian Jakob Schubert made its first repeat, the first of a 9c-graded route anywhere in the world; the four other routes of this level had not been repeated at that date.
The Verdon is best discovered with an experienced guide. The Belvédère de la Carelle and École buissonnière sectors are suited to beginners, and around fifteen guide offices run introductory sessions, multi-pitch outings and via cordata trips. Find them in our directory.
The Verdon has no classic via ferrata (Alps-style continuous cable). What is practised here under that name are via cordata: adventure routes on natural rock, secured by a rope lifeline. Three levels, from beginner to expert:
A rappel, a ~45 m zip line, a pendulum swing: the perfect introduction. From age 12, ~3 hours.
A dry canyon, multiple rappels, a zip line, a suspended garden. From age 14, ~5 hours.
180 m of cumulative rappelling, passages 150 m up, a 60 m pendulum rappel, through the former structures of an abandoned dam. From age 16, ~6 hours.
The Verdon is home to a protected population of griffon vultures. Every year, the LPO lists the sensitive routes to avoid during nesting season (from January to August; from June to August for some, depending on how close the nests are): a single passage can cause a brood to fail. Check the up-to-date list before you climb. Safety & regulations →
The best conditions are in spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October); early and in the shade in summer, in the sun in winter. For topo guides, the reference is “Escalade au Verdon” (OmegaRoc) — more than 450 multi-pitch routes and around thirty single-pitch sectors — complemented by ClimbingAway, theCrag and UKClimbing. Plan your trip with When to visit and Getting there.
No: the Grand Canyon of the Verdon has no classic via ferrata (continuous cable, metal rungs and monkey bridges like those found in the Alps). What operators offer under that name are via cordata — adventure routes equipped with a rope lifeline, on natural rock (Trou du Renard, Mainmorte, Couloir Samson). It’s a choice made to preserve the cliffs.
Yes. Despite its reputation as committing terrain, the Verdon has beginner-friendly sectors accessed from the top — notably the Belvédère de la Carelle and the École buissonnière — and around fifteen guide offices run introductory sessions, multi-pitch outings and via cordata trips. For a first real multi-pitch route (several pitches), Adieu Zidane, l’Arête de la Patte de Chèvre or Chlorochose remain within reach of a climber who is comfortable up to 5c/6a. Starting out with a professional is strongly recommended.
It’s the Verdon’s distinctive feature: many multi-pitch routes are reached from the top, rappelling down from the viewpoints along the Route des Crêtes (anywhere from a few minutes to nearly an hour of rappelling). This cuts down the approach walk… but means you have to be able to climb back up the route you just descended. A guaranteed sense of exposure.
Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) offer the best conditions. In summer, climb early and in the shade (intense heat, possible afternoon storms); in winter, stick to sunny sectors. Note: the LPO asks climbers to avoid, from January to August, the routes close to vulture nests; the list is drawn up every year and relayed by the Verdon regional park.
La Palud-sur-Verdon is the climbers’ base camp: most of the sites are within ten minutes, and the village combines accommodation, shops, a guide office and a climbing shop. Find accommodation options in our directory.
“DNA”, at the La Ramirole sector, graded 9c. Sébastien Bouin redpointed it on 29 April 2022 after more than 250 attempts and proposed this extreme grade — at the time the world’s second announced 9c route, after Adam Ondra’s “Silence” in Norway. No harder route has been opened in France since. On 10 October 2026, the Austrian Jakob Schubert made its first repeat: it is the first time a 9c-graded route has been repeated anywhere in the world.
The external sources this page relies on, one click away. We would rather you be able to contradict us than ask you to take our word for it.
Federation holding the state delegation for climbing in France: site access agreements, rules of practice and safety on crags.
Scheme run by the Park and the LPO setting a framework for climbing during raptor nesting. ⚠️ It is a GOOD PRACTICE CHARTER, not a prefectural order — we never present it as a regulatory obligation.
Bird protection association in charge of monitoring the vultures in the Verdon, which initiated the climbing restriction periods for the nesting season.
Reference database of climbing sites (topos, aspect, grades, number of routes), widely used by climbers to plan an outing.
Article from the Austrian media outlet Der Standard. The Tyrolean Jakob Schubert, aged 35, redpointed DNA in the Gorges du Verdon. He is the first climber to have repeated a 9c route and the first to have climbed two of them. Five climbers in the world have climbed this grade.
Article presenting Jakob Schubert as the first climber to repeat a 9c-graded route, DNA at La Ramirole, in the Verdon.
All 6 links responded during our last automated check, on 11 October 2026. A broken link is removed, never left in place.
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