Sainte Victoire  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  3,317' Lat, Long:  43.5366, 5.6114 Map Page Views:  697. Good page? (1 like)    Administrators:  Euan Cameron, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Brian in SLC on Dec 15, 2012 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 64° | 45° 68° | 45° 68° | 50° 66° | 52° 66° | 45°

Hiking in to Sainte Victoire

Description 

Montagne Sainte-Victoire is an 18 kilometer long limestone mountain in the south of France, with a 7 kilometer long summit plateau, east of Aix-en-Provence. Resembling a long ridge, the high point is the Pic des mouches at 1,011 metres (3,317 ft). The Croix de Provence is a 19 meter high cross and is a popular hiking destination which looms large on a slightly lower point on the massif.

Anyone familiar with the works of the father of Cubism, Paul Cézanne, will know Mont Sainte Victoire from especially the run of paintings from his Constructive Period. Sainte Victoire is commonly referred to as, "Cézanne's mountain."

Of interest to the grimpeur, the rock climbing destination at Sainte Victoire is the south face, which is much sheerer than the gentler slope of the northern side of the massif.

With around 1000 routes, 29 or more sectors and 7 separate parking lots, there’s a bewildering gob of climbing to be done. The rock is surprisingly sticky, even the more popular routes. Slab to steep slab with very little past vertical terrain. The area has a reputation for heady routes, especially those routes established in the heyday of the 70’s. Technical footwork and a strong constitution might well win the day on especially the test pieces here.

The popular climbing is concentrated at the base of the mountain along a long ribbon of cliff. This accessible terrain contains great rock and offers an immense number of routes especially in the one to three pitch ranges.

The more popular sectors are accessible from the parking lot for Deux Aiguilles:

• Plates Dalles: 20 routes with an emphasis on easier grades. Several two and one three pitch routes. Maximum route length 35m. 4a to 7b.

• Aiguille Bertine: Home to the popular Secteur Grand Parcours as well as Sectuer Commandos. 35 or so routes from 4b to 6a+. THEE popular long route is the 14 pitch Les Grandes Parcours with climbing up to 5c+ in the final pitches to the top of the massif.

• Les Boulons: nearly 40 routes from single to multi pitch (and some long pitches to 50m!) with grades ranging from 4b to 7c+.

• Le Grand Mur: Sectuer’s Ovni, Des Medius, Les Fagots and Tamanrasset. Hard for the grades with some runout spice. 3c to 7c. Longer pitches to 40m. The test piece classic here is Le Medius, established in 1974. Some classic easier multi pitch as well.

• Aiguille Eglan’nard - La Reposante: 14 one to three pitch routes from 5b to 7a with the highlights being the two side-by-side three pitch routes La Reposante 6a and L’extra Dalle 6b.

Getting There 

The easiest option for folks across the puddle is to fly to Marseille or Nice and rent a car.

Sainte Victoire is 35km from Marseille and 180km from Nice.

The A8 autoroute runs south of Sainte Victoire and Aix-en-Provence. From Aix, seek ye the Route de Cézanne, the D17, which traverses under the south side of the massif from Aix to Puyloubier.

If coming from the Nice direction, exit the A8 onto the RN 7 in the direction of Aix, and, turn to Puyloubier.

Trails to the crags are well marked and well maintained.

The Classics

Featured Route For Sainte Victoire

Fastoch 5.7  International : France : ... : Le Labo

A fun pitch starting right of a blocky corner chimney/crack.Face climb up a steepish wall with fine features. Improbably easy for how smooth it initially looks. The good holds just keep on coming......[more]   Browse More Classics in International

Photos of Sainte Victoire Slideshow

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Sainte Victoire: Cézanne's mountain	Croix de Provence atop Sainte Victoire	Back to Des Deux Aiguilles parking lot at Sainte V...
The local wine cave wouldn't fill our empty water ...