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FONTAINEBLEAU

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D.Arnold · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 0

Me and a few of my buddies are going to Fotainebleau in June for a week and a half. Never been before and dont really know what to expect. One thing is certain though, we're going to have one hell of a time. If anyone has been before and can give a few pointers that would be awesome.

nhparker · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 45

don't necessarily need a car. I took a train from Paris and rented bikes in the town of Fontainbleau for pretty cheap. A friend and I flew one pad over from the US and just biked with it on our backs the mile or two to the boulders every morning from the motel in town. pretty comical, but works for sure and a lot cheaper than getting a car. great food in town.

D.Arnold · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 0

yeah we're plannin on taking the train then renting some bikes. i'm bringin one pad but would like to try some high ball problems and for that would need more than one. if there is anywhere u can rent pads that u know of that would be awesome. also where did you rent the bikes from?

nhparker · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 45

i dont know about pads, but the town is really small so you shouldnt have too much trouble finding the bike store. Just ask around, it is right in the middle of town. Make sure you guys check out the palace on a rest day, lots of cool history (although the tour is all in french of course). definitely jealous, enjoy the trip and have lots of wine and cheese!

D.Arnold · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 0

Thanks for the info bro, been most helpful.

Brad Caldwell · · Deep in the Jocassee Gorges · Joined May 2010 · Points: 1,400

Don't crap your trip up by not getting a car! Font is not 1 boulderfield...it is a collection of boulderfields within approximately an hours driving range. Its not like HP40 where you pull up your car, camp, and the boulders are right there...you always have to travel to get to the boulders. Sure you could bike to the same boulderfield everyday and see the same problems and have a good time, but you really wouldn't have seen Font! My favorite boulderfields were around 30 minutes from Font and were less crowded, and crooked, as the boulders closer to Font. If you guys can get a little more scratch together, I'd stay at Maisonbleau...we stayed for a week for around 120 euros (come on, that's less than $50 a person for an entire week!). And we could have slept 4 in the place, which was basically a 2 bedroom apartment with a small kitchen (save $$ on food by cooking in too). Its about 30-45 minutes from the city of Font, but its 5 minutes from plenty of great bouldering and a public swimming pool in Buthiers. Neil, the British owner of Maisonbleau, is an incredible boulderer and knows every square inch of every boulderfield...so you basically have an English speaking guide too! Check out Neil's "Dose of Font" videos on the web and a search for Maisonbleau will pop up the gites website. If you really want to enjoy it, spend just a little extra and see the whole thing in style, not just one boulderfield with that 1 classic problem. Don't try and dirtbag it up too much or you really wont enjoy your trip as much as you could've.

Brad Caldwell · · Deep in the Jocassee Gorges · Joined May 2010 · Points: 1,400

Forgot to mention that you can also rent pads from Maisonbleau, so you wouldn't even need to spend the extra $$ on oversized international baggage fees.

XOG · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2002 · Points: 245

Brad is right: Font is big and unfortunately you really will be doing more comical pad peddling than bouldering, or else bouldering in one tiny part of font, if you don't have a car. When I was there (90's, for a year), Font was chalk-free, and everyone went to the same store in Paris for the alternative that everyone used, pof. The store was called Au Vieux Campeur, had been there forever. Does anyone know have things changed at Font? Is it still like this? I hope so...be a shame imho if the vieux campeur closed and pof went away...

Brad Caldwell · · Deep in the Jocassee Gorges · Joined May 2010 · Points: 1,400

We were there in 2009 and pof seemed to be nonexistent and chalk has become more of a norm. Many folks just cleaned the rock, their shoes and hands, and then used as their "pad", a leftover denim leg from a cut off pair of blue jeans. I started carrying a scrap of fabric now when I boulder and use it to slap the rock clean after I saw how effective it was for cleaning there.

D.Arnold · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 0

That's awesome info bro. That's the best help I've gotten after months of research on the interenet. We actually know two guys that live in paris so we will have a car for a couple days that they come meet up with us, the rest we will be peddling. And will have to check out the pads for rent cause we have a lot of gear we'retakin for some sport and lead in spain. Thanks again for the info and if u have anything else the more the better.

Brooke Ferguson · · Krabi, Thailand · Joined May 2011 · Points: 40

Hey :) What dates will you guys be there? I fly in to Paris June 5 and will be heading down for a week or so. Looking at accommodation now and sorting out the details. Let me know if you guys will be there then, would be fun to hook up with other climbers.

JPVallone · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2004 · Points: 195

Was just there for the last two days, although fun and somewhat amusing, I have to agree with the above, you are throwing away the quality of your trip without a car. They are not that bad to rent, I live and work in France so have one and I personally think Font would suck without one. As far as pads, its a pretty social place and they are everywhere, I bouldered there the last days without one, hi and low ball, and there where always socially and friendly folks there to share a pad or two with. The scene is more friendly then any bouldering you might have done in the states, So get used to saying hello to everyone and anyone. So much internatinal friendlieness there for sure.

On the other hand however, it was fun, but to come to France and go to FOnt is a waste of a climbing trip to France. They are pretty cool pebbles, but a very distant second to the climbing that is in France. Ceuse, Verdon, Calanque, and Buoux, host some of the best limestone anywhere in the world, but that still doesn't touch the Alpine Granite to be found in the Ecrin National Park and Chamonix. If you really want to climb some of the best granite in France and in the mountains, Like really big mountains, then I suggest leaving the pads at home and going for a real climbing trip. Nonetheless France is fun , might seem expensive on the Euro, but your getting some good beta here, If you really want to save money though and have a high quality trip, RENT A CAR.

Sometimes time is more precious then money. It will more then comfort the cost. Especially if your traveling with a group.

Bon Chance Y Bon Voyage

PS, more useful then the topo might be the Map of the forest, It's a blue topo map I forget the number, but can be bought in most Gas stations or book stores in the area, Definetly worth every Cent. about 10 or 11 euros, but the roads are marked well and if you go on long circuits can be very useful if you know how to read a map.

D.Arnold · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 0

We arrive in london on the may 28th and will be heading to paris on the may 30th, then jumping straight on the the train to fontainebleau station to meet more friends. Will be leaving back for paris on the june 4th. If you see a group of seven loud americans that will be us.

m.qaden.everett · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 0

dont listen to 'jpvallone', lots of bleausards are NOT friendly climbers. they will give you dirty looks and act rude if you try to climb on the same bloc as them let alone on the same line as them. but pay no mind to them. now, if you meet other internationals im sure they will be friendly.

and "font is a waste of a climbing trip" ???? riiiight.

JPVallone · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2004 · Points: 195
lenoir wrote: i find the french and french climbers to be plenty friendly. generally its those who are unfriendly themselves who report bad behavior on the part of the french. surely you'd be an asshole if a large group of loud aggro out-of-towners showed up at your crag and started fucking around while you were trying to climb. dont act like an ass and you'll find plenty of friendly locals to show you around.
couldn't agree more, Everyone I met there was super stoked, and super friendly, I don't remember walking past anyone that didn't say hello or share space.

Now maybe we know why mqe had a different opinon
m.qaden.everett · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 0

while you thought they were being friendly, they were probably making fun of you in french.
key advice: know the language so you can talk shit back and surprise them.

JPVallone · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2004 · Points: 195
mqe wrote:while you thought they were being friendly, they were probably making fun of you in french. key advice: know the language so you can talk shit back and surprise them.
Je parle français mqe I live and work there and have a visa to stay there. Maybe you just think they are not friendly because you made no attempt to speak their language and expected everyone to speak English with you in their country?
m.qaden.everett · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 0

uhhhhhh not sure how you misconstrued my last message... usually when someone gives advice, they have experience on said advice..... which implied that i speak french.... tu comprends ???????

Christopher McArthur · · Venice · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 0

I am in Paris now after a INCREDIBLE week in Fontainbleau..

I stayed at the Gite listed above run by Steph: bonadresse.com/ile-de-franc…

I cannot reccomend it enough. He rented out crashpads for 10$, gave all the rundown and local info, showed us where to go on the map, etc etc. There is also a great bouldering spot within walking distance. Definitely stay there!

I also highly recommend a car. I made the mistake though of renting a car in Paris and driving it out there. Do NOT do this. Driving in Paris is a nightmare. Instead rent the car in the city of Fountainbleau and just take the train to and from Paris.

The french climbers we met were very friendly, and we spoke little french. However, make sure you stay on their goodside by following the local customs. The main one in fountainbleau is to wipe your feet before getting on the rock *every single time*. Locals will get quite angry with people putting sandy feet on the rock.

Also, I saw everyone, even the french, using chalk there now.

kendra F · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 0

My husband and I are in Paris (near the Eiffel tower) from the US (Utah) and want to go climb at Fountainbleau this Friday 4/13/2012. We looked at the price for renting cars and also how long it would take by bus, train, etc. This is a bit spur of the moment, but we are wondering if anyone knows anyone who lives in Paris and would like to take us. We can pay for gas. We only have our shoes (no chalk, pad, etc.) but it would be much appreciated if someone who wanted to go would take us or someone knows someone who might. If not, no problem. It would be helpful if they know English and know the climbing at Fountainbleau pretty well.

Thanks!

Kendra
gymbabe10@hotmail.com

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

kendra,

just take the train. it is fast & cheap.
takes you right to font. from there you can
walk to one or two areas near town. the other
areas you will need a ride. we had a cab driver
take us farther out, then pick us up at the end
of the day. also make sure to tour the royal
palace place. that was pretty cool. font was the
royal hunting grounds.

in font go to the cheese store, the bread store, and the
wine store... only then will you be ready for bouldering!

if you surf online, i did see a place that rented crash
pads, but i forget the name, or where...

hope this helps!
cory

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Bouldering
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