• Steve and Paul exploring the entrance to old show-cave

  • The rogues at the end of the holiday enjoying a coffee beneath one of the dolomitic limestones towers in the Cirque Dolomitique

  • Pete on the delicate Encore un Petit Cafe

  • The off-road approach to Vissou - our little hire Ka coped admirably!

  • Paul and Steve modelling the latest headwear!

  • Paul tackling steep starting moves at Clape

  • Keith and Maddie studying the routes at Clape

  • Approaching the lovely Clape crags, these walls had a wonderful outlook towards the Mediterranean

  • Keith welcoming us to the fantastic Thaurac!

  • On the return journey we stopped at the "Site Paleontologique de la Lieude" to look at the impressions of dinosaur footprints. The footprints weren't easy to make out! Partly due to poor signing. :-(

  • Climbing rogues - Paul, Steve, Pete, Paul, and Keith

  • Steve on the pocketed walls of the Secteur Soleil Couchant

  • Pete on Les Visiteurs at Caussanel

  • St Beuges Castle

  • Pete on the three pitch Le Coup de Grisou

  • Later Steve managed to get his foot stuck fast in a crack, removal was tricky, and caused much laughter for those witnessing the goings on!

  • Keith on the steep and jug covered Voie Pages

  • Steve climbing at one of the regions major crags, Thaurac, a super scenic venue with rafting, canoeing, etc. in the river below

  • Pete, Keith, Paul, Paul, and Steve in the Joncas gorge on our first day

  • Steve pasted on to Couscous, Table et Chaises on the sun washed walls of the Joncas gorge

  • Keith following the tough variation of Couscous, Table et Chaises

Seven Days of Languedoc Sport Climbing

Keith had invited a small gang to the Languedoc region of southern France to sample some of his favourite local sport climbing … So after easily booking some budget flights from Leeds/Bradford airport to Montpellier and a cheap hire car for the week, we’d reached our base of operations – St Jean de la Blaquière. From here we drove out each day to seven of Keith’s carefully selected sunny, super attractive, and fun climbing venues itemised in the following table and map.

A great website that can help provide more detail on all of these venues is Climb Away. The site can also help with sourcing local guidebooks to these venues. An important factor to consider as these locally produced guidebooks, often sold in local bars and caf̩s, provide the revenue to support development and maintenance of these small climbing destinations. Without these initiatives, and the tourism they generate for the local areas, this kind of climbing would likely vanish. In short Рdo not buy commercial guidebooks Рsupport the locals!

Anyway, here are some pictures and tales from our week…

Day 1, Joncas

We kicked off the week with a relatively short drive to the Joncas gorge. A sunny and sheltered location with a fun approach down the water sculpted gorge, often assisted by various via-ferrata on the steep [dry] waterfalls.

Pete, Keith, Paul, Paul, and Steve in the Joncas gorge on our first day
Pete, Keith, Paul, Paul, and Steve in the Joncas gorge on our first day – photo by Pete
Steve pasted on to Couscous, Table et Chaises on the sun washed walls of the Joncas gorge
Steve pasted on to Couscous, Table et Chaises on the sun washed walls of the Joncas gorge – photo by Keith
Keith following the tough variation of Couscous, Table et Chaises
Keith following the tough variation of Couscous, Table et Chaises – photo by Paul S

Day 2, Thaurac, sector Romane

Thaurac is perhaps the biggest and most well known climbing venue in the Languedoc region, offering everything from multi-pitch monster routes with aid and traditional pitches. The deep and wide gorge also hosts a fast flowing clear watered river with a range of water-sports on offer.

Steve climbing at one of the regions major crags, Thaurac, a super scenic venue with rafting, canoeing, etc. in the river below
Steve climbing at one of the regions major crags, Thaurac, a super scenic venue with rafting, canoeing, etc. in the river below – photo by Paul H
Later Steve managed to get his foot stuck fast in a crack, removal was tricky, and caused much laughter for those witnessing the goings on!
Later Steve managed to get his foot stuck fast in a crack, removal was tricky, and caused much laughter for those witnessing the goings on! Photo by Pete
Keith on the steep and jug covered Ca a Fait Hop
Keith on the steep and juggy Voie Pages – photo by Pete

Day 3, St Jean de Bueges

The lovely village of St Jean de Bueges sits below these impressive crags. Paul and I opted for a mini-adventure on a three-pitch route, Le Coup de Grisou. When we got back to the base of the route we met another team looking to start the same route and tried to start a conversation with our poor French. We soon realised they were English speakers too – and then that they were Keith’s friends John and Dee.

After joining the others at the single-pitch sector we later headed down for a beer (coffee for the drivers) in the quaint village where we also caught up again with John and Dee, who planned to come out with his friends Maddie and Rachel to join us climbing elsewhere later in the week.

St Beuges Castle
The castle above St Jean de Bueges – photo by Paul H
Pete on the three pitch Le Coup de Grisou
Pete on the excellent three-pitch Le Coup de Grisou – photo by Paul H

Day 4, Caussanel

Caussanel is a brilliant little venue with pocketed steep limestone where we climbed – probably – the funnest route of the week Mais où Sont Passés les Nains, a long (35m) pitch up a vertical sea of jugs and pockets 😛 …

Climbing rogues - Paul, Steve, Pete, Paul, and Keith
Climbing rogues – Paul, Steve, Pete, Paul, and Keith – in front of the Caussanel crag. Photo by Keith
Steve on the pocketed walls of the Secteur Soleil Couchant
Steve on the pocketed walls of the Secteur Soleil Couchant – photo by Keith
Pete on Les Visiteurs at Caussanel
Pete on Les Visiteurs at Caussanel – photo by Steve
On the return journey we stopped at the "Site Paleontologique de la Lieude" to look at the impressions of dinosaur footprints.  The footprints weren't easy to make out!  Partly due to poor signing.  :-(
On the return journey we stopped at the “Site Paleontologique de la Lieude” to look at the impressions of dinosaur footprints. The footprints weren’t easy to make out! Partly due to poor signing. 🙁 Photo by Pete

Day 5, Thaurac

We returned to the regions major venue Thaurac in search of shade from the fierce heat of the sun. Unfortunately we didn’t find much shade or cool. So after just a few routes (perhaps our arms were in need of a little rest anyhow) we retreated to a café for after tea (read beer)!

Keith welcoming us to the fantastic Thaurac!
Keith welcoming us to the fantastic Thaurac! Photo by Steve
Steve and Paul exploring the entrance to an old show-cave
Steve and Paul exploring the entrance to an old show-cave – photo by Pete

Day 6, Clape

It’s quite a long drive to Clape but the views out towards the Mediterranean were worth it!

Passing a field of vines while approaching the lovely Clape crags, these walls had a wonderful outlook towards the Mediterranean
Passing a field of vines while approaching the lovely Clape crags, these walls had a wonderful outlook towards the Mediterranean – photo by Steve
Keith and Maddie studying the routes at Clape
Keith and Maddie study the routes at Clape – photo by Steve
Paul tackling steep starting moves at Clape
Paul tackling steep starting moves at Clape – photo by Pete
Paul and Steve modelling the latest headwear!
Paul and Steve modelling the latest headwear! Photo by Pete

Day 7, Vissou

The rock at Vissou is unlike any limestone I’ve come across before. It’s more like a conglomerate. What this means is that combined with our tiring arms we didn’t do very well! However, it was our last day, and a short day too before we headed off to the airport and wet and windy Britain… 🙁

The off-road approach to Vissou - our little hire Ka coped admirably!
The off-road approach to Vissou – our little hire Ka coped admirably! Photo by Steve
Pete on the delicate Encore un Petit Cafe
Pete on the delicate Encore un Petit Cafe – photo by Keith
The rogues at the end of the holiday enjoying a coffee beneath one of the dolomitic limestones towers in the Cirque Dolomitique
The rogues at the end of the holiday enjoying a coffee beneath one of the dolomitic limestones towers in the Cirque Dolomitique – photo by Pete

Friends and The Climbers’ Club

The Climbers’ Club – an institution, club, organisation, whatever you want to call it – is truly amazing! Most of my closest friends are thanks to the Club. And where else could one hope to meet such a diverse group of people, let alone get to go on such fun climbing trips? However, the final thanks must go to Keith, the best networker and friend-maker I’ve ever known. Thanks for having us over Keith!

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