Via ferrata de la Roche Veyrand

Opened in 2004 above Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont on the Savoie side, the via ferrata de la Roche Veyrand comes in two stages. The first is graded AD (fairly difficult): starting at 970 m, finishing at 1,130 m, 160 m of ascent, 450 m of cable, with the 17 m 'Pas Loquace' footbridge and the Dolmen bridge. The second is graded TD (very difficult): 1,130 to 1,300 m, 170 m of ascent, 350 m of cable and the 'Pont des Balmes'. Together they form a 2.2 km loop with 319 m of ascent, preceded by roughly fifty minutes of walk-in from the school car park.

This is not a stroll, and the commune has written that down. A municipal decree of 31 December 2016 forbids the route 'to anyone not equipped' with a helmet, a harness 'with two lanyards compulsorily fitted with a shock absorber', certified safety karabiners and suitable footwear. It also forbids it 'to inexperienced adults not accompanied by a professional guide', 'to minors not accompanied by an experienced adult', and to anyone prone to vertigo. The tourist office adds: 'Supervision strongly advised.'

The official listing says 'all year round, every day, subject to favourable weather' — but the municipal decree is more precise and more restrictive: the route is forbidden 'in unfavourable weather: thunderstorms, after heavy rain, snow, frost and thaw', and it is up to each user to check the forecast before setting out. On Chartreuse limestone, that removes a good part of autumn and winter.