| Mont Aiguille | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 2,085 m (6,841 ft) |
| Location | |
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Mont Aiguille
|
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| Range | Vercors Plateau |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1492 by Antoine de Ville |
| Easiest route | basic rock climb |
Mont Aiguille (el. 2085 m./6841 ft.) is a mountain in the Vercors Plateau of the French Prealps, located 58 km (36 mi) south of Grenoble. It has a flat top, on which a small plane once landed, but is surrounded by steep cliffs on all sides. The mountain is most noted for its first ascent in 1492. Charles VIII ordered that the peak be climbed, so one of his servants, Antoine de Ville, made the ascent using a combination of ladders and other artificial aids. The ascent is described by François Rabelais in his Quart Livre. This was the first recorded climb of any technicality, and has been said to mark the beginning of mountaineering.[1]