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Introduction - Sectors - The routes

Ceüse a crag for the summer

The best time of year to visit Ceüse is from April to August as it is situated at an altitude of almost 1800m. Perfect climbing conditions can be found not only during those rare sunny winter days with zero humidity and 100% friction, but also during summer heatwaves which render most cliffs in the South of France unclimbable. By changing sectors throughout the day it is infact possible to escape from the sun to the shade and a refreshingly cool breeze. No wonder therefore that Ceüse has become the number one holiday destination for so many climbers!

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Getting there

From Gap follow the signs to Veynes along the D994 to Fressinouse. From here take the D19 to Sigoyer. Drive through this village and turn right up towards Col du Guerins - continue until the road finishes at the parking lot. Two well-marked paths lead up to the base of the cliff. Either follow the path from the parking lot directly up or, far more pleasantly, gently stroll uphill on the path which starts from the curve below the bar. Both paths lead to the forest road at half-height and continue until they meet a path which runs perpendicular to the cliff. Turn right to get to Berlin or Demi Lune, or left to get to La Cascade.
This is reached by a path which winds its way through some boulders up to the waterfall.
The walk takes about 40 minutes; take your time, or you're bound to regret it the next day!

Food and accommodation

Most climbers stay in the Les Guerins campsite as it's the closest to the cliff, run by a friendly couple who own the little bar at the end of the road, and cheap (18FF) . More comfortable accommodation can be found either at the hotel Muret in Sigoyer (250FF bed and breakfast) or in one of the numerous "gites rureaux". Food can be bought in Sigoyer or in Gap (14km away).

Guidebooks

The most updated guidebook is "Grimpeur dans les Hautes Alpes". It covers not only Ceùse but also the other main cliffs of the area and can be bought in Sigoyer or the campsite for 110FF. The "Club Omnisports de Gap" is more detailed but slightly outdated and can possibly be bought at the climbing shop in Gap.

Rock

Superb quality French limestone. The climbing varies enormously from one sector to the next: climb up mega pumpy routes on huge pockets at La Cascade, get your arms blasted on the stamina routes at Berlin, or delight in the technical sequences at Demi Lune and Un pont sur l'infini. Ceüse has a reputation for the long run-outs between one bolt and the next, and these tend to incease the higher you get! Thankfully almost all the routes have recently been superbly re-equipped, so this "psychological factor" adds to the fun and excitement and makes the routes even more memorable!

The climbing sectors

1 - Golots à Gogo - Multi-pitch slab routes 5c/6a2 - Dalles du capeps - Slab 5b/6b

3 - La Cascade - long overhanging face with pockets

4 - Rumble Gish - steep, pocketed slab. Excellent for warm-ups - 6b/7a+

5 - Thorgal - new routes on a vertical face - 6a+/6c+

6 - Face de Rat - steep overhang

7 - Muro di Berlino - perhaps the most beautiful sector: extremely compact limestone

8 - Biographie - enormous overhang with extremely difficult routes - 6c/8c

9 - Demi lune - classic routes, some with long run-outs - 6a/8a+

10- Un point sur l'infini - technical routes, some with long run-outs - 6b+/7a+

11- Les maitres du monde

12- Grande face - Magnificent steep multi-pitch routes. Descend either by abseil or down the Via Ferrata (2 corde)

13- Nithsapa - two interesting 7b+

14- Natilik -