We have visited this beautiful spot several times within the years of 2004 and 2006. This area touched my feelings deeply therefore I would like to introduce it to the audience.

The massif de la Clape is around Narbonne.

There are six different sectors:


-1- La Couleuvre
-2- La Chandelle
-3- Pierre-Droite
-4- Les Caunes
-5- La Crouzade
-6- les Cretes de Vires

This area contains 331 routes from the French fourth grade up to the eighth grade, but the majority of routes are between 5a and 7b, and which are mostly less than twenty five meters. The climbing areas are mainly in the sun and so it's even good to climb there in the spring or autumn. For the summer holidays are also rocks which are in the shadow in the morning, or in the afternoon. But you can climb nearly in all sectors because there is always a breeze that makes it also possible to climb in the sun.


Le Clape consists of many interesting sectors in the picture 
photo by © Michael Wohlleben

The next village is Gruissan where there are three camps: Camping les Aygades, Camping Municipal  and Aires Camping-Cars at the Etang de Mateille. From all cliffs you can see the sea and the very nice landscape round Gruissan, with the big salt lakes and the Pyrenees. Here more than elsewhere, you will be swept away by the flamingos flying over the lakes, and hypnotized by the dazzling colours at dusk. Sport and nature blend well. In the summer the Funboarders "hanging out" at the famous Etang de Mateille.



photo by © Michael Wohlleben




How to get there:
This area is situated near the Mediteranian coast close to Narbonne city. The whole area belongs to Languedoc-Rousillion district and its straight on the way from France to Spain (Barcelona). See the map.


The whole Le Clape area
drawn by © Michael Wohlleben


A situ of subarea Les Caunes
nákres by © Michael Wohlleben



A situ of subarea La Couleuvre
drawn by © Michael Wohlleben


A situ of subarea La Candelle
drawn by © Michael Wohlleben


A situ of subarea Les Cretes de Vires 
drawn by © Michael Wohlleben

Tourist office:

Gruissan                                                                                            Tel: 68490325

Narbonne                                                                                            Tel: 68651560

Carcassonne                                                                                      Tel: 68250704

Physicians:

Cabinet Medical, Place du Chebek at the Harbour in Gruissan    Tel: 68491716

Chemist(pharmacy):

Lapizack, Quai du Levant at the Harbour of Gruissan        Tel: 68490084                                                                                                   



Sektor Les Cannes
foto by © Michi Wohlleben

La Couleuvre

The area La Couleuvre is a nice part of the Massif de la Clape. With 51 routes, from 12 to 27 meters high, and with difficulties from 3b to 6b the sectors Etorki and Zizi Raider are good for beginners. Pipistrelle and Passages Clouté, with routes from 5c to 7a, are the sectors for better climbers.

Les Caunes

Les Caunes- with 66 routes- is one of the biggest and one of the easiest sector of the massif. The difficulties are from 4b to 7a, so is it very good for beginners.

Les Cretes de Vires

The sector Les Cretes de Vires is a nice sector with 57 routes from 6 meters till 20 meters. The difficulties are between 4b and 7b. The orientation of les Cretes de Vires is south, south-west so it's nice to go climbing there in the afternoon because of the shade. Be careful,  climbers shouldn't leave anything in their cars because of thieves in the parking lot. Also the area below the rocks is a little bit steep so it isn't very good to spend there a lot of time with  children.

La Crouzade

La Crouzade is one of the best sectors of la Clape. There are 60 routes from 4b to 7c+ and the walls are from 12 meters to 20 meters. The sector Diédre Roux is very good for hard climbers, all routes are very nice. The orientation is south-west. The rocks are in forest and so there is also a little bit of shade while climbing.


Michi is climbing 7b+
drawn by © Michael Wohlleben

Camp:
The best choice is to stay at some camp.
Basically there are three places available:

Camping Municipal                                                                          Tel: 68490722

Camping Les Ayguades                                                                    Tel: 68498159

Aires Camping-Cars: Etang de Mateille:                                              Tel: 68490900



Sector La Couleuvre – there is a climber on lower wall
foto by © Michael Wohlleben


La Crouzade 
foto by © Michael Wohlleben

Climat:
Climate is very mild in winter, it could happen that a ,tramontane, a terrible nort-west wind occurs. The climate could be also extremely hot in summer, but you can always find faces protected from the sunshine. Moreover, the sea is only at a few kilometers and has nice beaches.

Guidebook, navigation, maps:
A recently released guidebook describes the area well. The Topo Guide of the Massif de la Clape:
Escalade la Clape of André Berché 16 € in the Tourist office in Gruissan.

Map: Michelin : No. 86, folder 10 & 83, folder 14c
Map: IGN 1:25000 : 2546-OT


Older guidebook


The newer one

Other areas:
To the west there is a small crag Fontjoncouse which offers about 20 more or less easy routes.


Hints:

The best one is a intermarché in Gruissan there you can buy everything and there is also a fish market. In Narbonne there is a Decatlon with a little bit of climbing things. And the beaches are very nice! I have been at a lot of beaches but there are no quallen, no stones, and it's very far before it gets deep.

Statistics:


3: 8
4: 32
5: 87
6a/a+: 78
6b/b+: 40
6c/c+: 40
7a/a+: 25
7b/b+: 5
7c/c+: 3
8a/8a+: 1

Sources:
Pano view of the area Pano Le Clape

Short info concerning the area Cosiroc

Authors web page Michi’s personal webpage


Detailed map of the area:

in pdf format (0,5Mb)  Le Clape - detailed_map