The Mont Aiguille, which used to be called the Unreachable Mount is situated in Dauphiné between Vercors and Trièves, and owes its name to its particular and amazing shape. It is an advanced bastion of the Eastern cliff of the Vercors, to which it geographically belongs.

It is one of the Seven Wonders of Dauphiné where the alpinism and climbing is practised, in particular on the Northern-Western side.


History of the climb:

Louis XI, king de France from 1461 to 1483, entrusts to his son Charles (the future Charles VIII) the government of Dauphiné. Become king de France with died his father in 1483, Charles VIII had travelled up and down and appreciated this region. Hunting ground of his father, he knew well the place, and particulary the "Unreachable Mount".
This is why he gave his officer, Captain from Montélimar Antoine de Ville lord of Dompjulien and Beaupré, the order to climb the "rock".

Antoine de Ville achieved the climb on the 26th of June 1492.

He was then accompanied by his chaplain, a lackey, S. de Caret, master in theology, J. Lobret living in Die (a city) and probably some servants. He was helped with "specialists": a ladderer (to use ladders), a master carpenter, a stone-cutter, charged to arrange the way.

Thanks to them, they used ladders, footbridges, rings, ropes, etc… ; a note of expenses mentionned that 5 km of ladders were asked before the climb (certainly less were used...).

The built way was a real boulevard, because Antoine de Ville will be rejoined at the top of the Mont Aiguille by many nobles and notables of the area. The bivouac will last an about eight days.

A bailiff certified report the climb and consigned the registers of the "Court of Grenoble". It is written in this official report that they found a large "field", “many birds which we do not know”, “a great number of flowers”… (certificate of F. of Bosco, apostolic notary, priest of the lord of Dompjulien).


Text from the website www.mont-aiguille.fr.st