Roche de Solutre Climb

The Roche de Solutre climb is a short, steep walk to a limestone escarpment in the Maconnais, in the commune of Solutre-Pouilly in the Saone-et-Loire department, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region of France, about an hour from Lyon. The trailhead is the Parking Roche de Solutre in Solutre-Pouilly. From Lyon, drivers take the A6 motorway, a trip of about 1 hour 15 minutes; by train, a TER runs to Macon-Loche, followed by a taxi. No permit is needed. The round trip is about 5 km and takes 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, with a climb of about 300 m to a summit at about 493 m. Although distance is short, the steady gradient and rocky final section place it in the moderate class. The surface is a mix of vineyard tracks, forest path and bare limestone, with loose stones that can be slippery, especially when wet. Exposure is moderate on the escarpment, where drops are close to the path in places, and shade is limited on the open upper slopes. Landmarks include the vineyards of the Pouilly-Fuisse area on the lower slopes, the limestone cliff, and the summit viewpoint, which looks over the vines, the Saone plain and, in clear weather, toward the Alps. At the foot of the rock is the museum of prehistory, which presents the archaeological site of Solutre, and visitors often combine the two. The summit is the natural turn-around point. Water is not available on the climb, so it should be carried, and there are no refuge huts, although the village of Solutre-Pouilly has cafes and shops. Sturdy shoes are advised for the rocky final section, and children and dogs should be supervised near the cliff edges. The best season is April to October.