Clip on and climb into some of the most spectacular mountain terrain in Europe on 66 via ferrata routes across the French Alps, from the lakeside crags above Geneva and the dramatic gorges of the Chartreuse to the high alpine routes of the Vanoise, Écrins, and Queyras massifs near Briançon. The French Alps offer one of the most varied and rewarding via ferrata destinations in the world.

Suitable for a wide range of abilities, this comprehensive Cicerone guide describes 66 via ferrata routes across six distinct areas of the French Alps between Geneva and Briançon. Routes can be enjoyed in 1 to 9 hours and are graded for technical difficulty, exposure, and the seriousness of the environment, from easy protected routes ideal for children and beginners to massively exposed technical challenges for experienced ferratists only.

• Choose from 66 via ferrata routes across six areas of the French Alps, covering Geneva and the Northern Alps, Chambéry, the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys, Grenoble, and Briançon, with routes taking in some of the finest alpine scenery in France.
• Discover highlights including routes on or near the Mont Blanc massif, the Beaufortain and Vanoise massifs, the Chartreuse and Écrins massifs, and the dramatic Queyras range near the Italian border, with many routes offering spectacular views across the surrounding alpine landscape.
• Prepare thoroughly with a full introduction covering equipment, moving safely on via ferratas, climbing with children, dangers, accidents and mountain rescue, and insurance, giving you everything you need to tackle the routes safely and confidently.
• Plan your French Alps via ferrata trip with practical information on getting to and around the Alps, accommodation in key centres including Geneva, Chambéry, Grenoble, and Briançon, and a full glossary of via ferrata terminology in French and English.
• Navigate each route with confidence using sketch maps and topos included for every via ferrata, alongside a full appendix listing all 66 routes in order of difficulty to help you plan a programme of routes suited to your experience and ambition.
• Plan your visit for the best conditions on the via ferratas of the French Alps, with the bulk of routes open from early summer to mid-autumn and a good number accessible from early spring to early winter depending on local weather, making this one of the most flexible via ferrata destinations in the Alps.

Take on the via ferratas of the French Alps with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guidebook. From beginner-friendly protected routes above the shores of Lac Bourget to the exposed technical challenges of the Écrins and Queyras, this is the essential companion for via ferrata in the French Alps.

Via Ferratas of the French Alps – Quick Facts

Location: France – French Alps, from Geneva and the Northern Alps south to Briançon
Routes covered: 66 via ferrata routes across six areas
Typical duration: 1–9 hours per route
Difficulty: Graded for technical difficulty, exposure, and seriousness; from easy protected routes suitable for children and beginners to highly strenuous, massively exposed routes for experienced ferratists only
Areas covered: Geneva and the Northern Alps; Chambéry; Tarentaise; Maurienne; Grenoble; Briançon
Key centres: Geneva, Chambéry, St Jean de Maurienne, Grenoble, Briançon, and numerous mountain resorts throughout the region
Highlights: Routes on or near the Mont Blanc massif, Beaufortain massif, Vanoise massif, Chartreuse massif, Écrins massif, Queyras massif, and Lac Bourget
Navigation/mapping: Sketch maps and topos included for every route; IGN Carte de Randonnée TOP25 series recommended for longer mountain routes
Best time to go: The bulk of routes are open from early summer to mid-autumn; some routes are accessible from early spring to early winter depending on local conditions
Companion titles: Via Ferratas of the Italian Dolomites Volume 1 and Volume 2 (also available from Cicerone)
 

Author Highlight

"The sheer beauty and variety of the French Alps are compelling reasons to visit and explore some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe. Much visited for winter sports and mountaineeering (and a favourite destination for skiers), the region also offers great opportunities for summer mountaineering activity, hill walking and now via ferratas. Experienced users of via ferratas, looking for a new region to explore, will find plenty of inspiration in this book.” 

- Richard Miller, author of Via Ferratas of the French Alps

Mountain safety 

Map key 

Route listing 

Overview map

Introduction

When to go 

Getting to the Alps 

Getting around 

Language 

Costs 

Accommodation 

Maps 

Route grading 

Equipment 

Moving safely 

Climbing with children 

Dangers 

Accidents and mountain rescue 

Insurance 

Using this guide

Routes and bases

Geneva and the Northern Alps 

Chambéry 

Tarentaise 

Maurienne 

Grenoble 

Briançon

Appendix A Routes listed in order of difficulty 

Appendix B Glossary of via ferrata terminology 

Appendix C Useful French words and phrases 

Appendix D Useful contacts

Seasons

the bulk of the routes are open from early summer to mid-autumn, with a fair number being open from early spring to early winter depending on local weather conditions

Centres

Geneva, Chambéry, St Jean de Maurienne, Grenoble, Briançon as well as numerous mountain resorts

Difficulty

a wide range of routes from straightforward protected walks ideal for beginners to highly strenuous, massively exposed endeavours suitable only for the most daring. All routes graded for difficulty, exposure and the seriousness of the environment. A full explanation of the techniques and equipment required is given

Must See

Routes on or near the Mont Blanc Massif, Lac Bourget, the Beaufortain Massif, the Vanoise Massif, the Chartreuse Massif, the Écrins Massif, the Queyras Massif and many other scenic highlights of the French Alps

It is likely that the majority of readers will visit these routes by car; to that end a good, up-to-date, road atlas is highly recommended. Most of the routes cover a small area and make use of their own purpose-built approach and descent paths. For this reason, a topographical map will be of limited use.

However, for a handful of longer mountain routes such as the Via Ferrata d’Ugine (Route 11) or Via Ferrata l’Aiguillette du Lauzet (Route 51), one may come in handy. In any event, if you plan to extend your outing beyond the via ferrata or just wish to have a better appreciation of the surrounding landscape, a topographical map will be useful. The Institut Géographique National (IGN) produces the standard range of French topographic maps, which are of a similar quality to British Ordnance Survey maps. The most suitable series is the IGN Carte de Randonnée TOP25 series, which has a blue cover. These are widely available from newsagents and tourist offices throughout France and can also be ordered online. The IGN website (www.geoportail.fr), which features scalable topographical and satellite maps, is also extremely useful.

April 2016

Route Updates and corrections

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