FONTAINEBLEAU

They say that in Fontainebleau there Is a difference between 1-, 1 and 1+.
That it's a laboratory of moves.
And it's fun.

The Roche Hercule with its 8m height (more than 25ft.) is a test rock with good landings that one does not wish to try out.
Climbs should be successful and down climbing is part of the game.

The easiest route must be a 1, and some lines have not yet been climbed.
Roche Hercule has 4 faces, each of which offers at least 3 routes (with alternates).

The Petite Hercule rock which is right next to Hercules also attracts climbers of all capacities.
A small children's circuit (marked in white) was conceived on lower blocks to the E of Roche Hercule.

Other very close by sectors are the Mont Ussy chaos and the Mont Calvaire chaos.

Climbing guides only mention the Mont Ussy area and the Roche Hercule.
It is the bouldering sector that is the closest to the city of Fontainebleau, therefore attracting local kids, but I also remember seeing Rene Desmaisons around there in the 1960's.

Bleau, Fontainebleau Bouldering by Stepen Gough (an "on the edge Guidebook", Greenshires Publishing Ltd, July '97) is a reference book in English for the entire Forest.
Other Topos are mentioned on the SP Fontainebleau Range page.

GETTING THERE
The Roche Hercule (and the Petite Hercule rock) is situated 50m NE (visible) of the Carrefour du Mont Ussy parking lot.
By car:
By clicking the coordinates in the primary info (above) and then enlarging or diminishing, one easily finds the roads leading to the Roche Hercule.
The prolongation of the Route Louise road directly leads to the Carrefour du Mont Ussy (crossroad) -large parking lot-
By train:
Local trains (Ter) stop at the Fontainebleau-Avon station, leaving Paris (Gare de Lyon station) every hour starting at 6 AM (40 min. ride) - similar schedules for the return trip; bicycles are admissable in the train (additional costs) -
The forest is right next to the train station (+ restaurants and cafes).
The "Route de la Bonne Dame" road is at the edge of the forest. We follow it westward, eventually crossing the large RN 6 (D 606) road, and continue along the forest trail (slightly righthand after the intersection) - 30 min from the station to the rock which lies right hand at the Carrefour du Mont Ussy parking lot -
Map:
1:25000 IGN (Institut Geographique National) map Nr.2417 OT (Foret de Fontainebleau)

RED TAPE
Wild camping is not allowed in the Fontainebleau forest.
Fires are not allowed.
Cars are allowed along the asfalted roads (dirt roads are blocked with posts and signs).
The asfalted road (Route forestiere de la Butte aux Aires) between the Carrefour du Mont Ussy and the road D 606 (RN 6) is blocked by a barrier.
The Mont Ussy is a wildlife and flora conservation area (this part of the forest is not maintained; it is left to its genuine way of growing).
Bicycles are permitted along the dirt roads.

CAMPING & ACCOMODATIONS
Nearby camping info
Cheap hotel (motel)
If planning a longer stay, it might be a good idea to base oneself in Fontainebleau and drop in to Paris now and then (f.i. by train and bike) - instead of the opposite.

Petite Hercule

Getting there

Red tape

Calvaire

Mont Ussy

Images



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