France’s best Via Ferrata routes
Via ferrata is an exciting mix of mountain hiking and rock climbing. Meaning “iron road” in Italian, you are secured via your climbing harness to a steel cable that is anchored to the mountainside. You can experience the thrill and the exposure of rock climbing without the danger of falling. Routes snake up the mountain using suspended ladders, bridges and the natural features of the rock to allow you to scale to great heights and access places normally reserved for serious climbers.
Although you need some basic climbing equipment, a good head for heights and basic technique, via ferrata is a great group or family activity. As routes are graded using a scale of easy to extremely difficult, it’s easy to select a course that everyone will enjoy. Routes can take anything from one hour to a full day to complete and in some parts of the Alps, you can even link routes together for an unforgettable multi-day, high-altitude experience. Check out our pick of the best via ferrata routes across France:
© Chamonix Sport Aventure
Via Ferrata in the French Alps | Go >
The Via Ferrata season in the French Alps begins as soon as the snow melts, which means that from about the end of April to the beginning of November you can experience the thrill of climbing in the high mountains. From Chamonix to the Portes du Soleil and from the Tarentaise to L’Oisans, there are loads of via ferrata routes to choose from, and each is graded according its difficulty level.
© blumountain.it
Via Ferrata in the South of France | Go >
The south of France, with its vertical limestone slabs, has loads of excellent via ferrata routes. And many of those at lower altitudes are accessible year round. Via Ferrata routes in the South of France are known for their huge fun-factor of the routes. Just a few kilometres inland from the Mediterranean coast and you can scale the overhanging ladders of Peille. Head further inland to step up the adventure in the high altitude peaks of the Mercantour National Park.
Book a Via Ferrata Trip in France
Our France via ferrata partners employ experienced guides who are all fully qualified so you can have fun and stay safe. Although if you have the right gear, you can go it alone, if you take a guide you’ll be safer and you’ll have a lot more fun!
