Mont Aiguille is a giant rock structure, with vertical walls and a flat top located in the Vercours Alps 36 miles southwest of  of Grenoble. It was first climbed in 1492 by Antoine de Ville de Dompjulien, a servant of Charles VIII, under orders from his master. De Ville and his party made the ascent over the course of several days using ladders and other artificial aids, thus making Mont Aiguille the site of the world’s first Alpine rock climb. The route was not repeated until 1834 …342 years later!  I climbed the route solo in August 1993. The route lies on the shaded face on the right. ‘Fun route, not hard, but very adventurous (especially in 1492).   Great views out over the mountains and farmland.

If you navigate carefully and  are  are willing to follow dirt tracks it is possible to circumnavigate the mountain. The Vercours Alps, affording many hideouts, was the seat of French resistance during WWII.

The summit plateau comprises several acres.  In the the 1950’s a small plane landed and took off from here.  Many spaceships have done the same….undoubtedly.