Le Tourneau, the express climb to a viewpoint
The shortest outing in our notebook, and probably the best effort-to-panorama ratio: barely more than a kilometre of trail, steep but honest, to reach a balcony at nearly 1,900 metres on the eastern side of the massif.
| Distance | 1.2 km (ascent — return by the same trail) |
| Time up | 48 min |
| Elevation gain | +258 m |
| Altitude | from 1,647 m to 1,897 m |
| Best for | Anyone up for a short, sharp climb — it is steep |
Short, steep, rewarding
No warm-up here: the trail gains over 250 metres in barely 1.2 km. It is the kind of climb you do in the late afternoon or at sunrise, when the light skims the ridges.
At the top, the reward is immediate: the view stretches over the surrounding valleys and summits, with the feeling of having climbed very high in very few steps.
Our tips
Short as it is, the climb earns its name: bring water and proper shoes — the gradient is sustained from start to finish and shade is scarce.
Ideal as a add-on to a quiet day, or as a warm-up on the first day of your stay.
Elevation profile
The track
GPS track recorded on the way up.