The ascent of the Roche de Solutré

The Roche de Solutré is a famous rocky escarpment located in Southern Burgundy.

The Roche de Solutré is visible from far away because it overhangs the whole plain. You cannot miss it. The hike starts at the parking lot to climb to the top of the Roche de Solutré. The ascent is done by the least sloping part and takes 1/2 hour. The path is very well maintained at the beginning then the climb becomes more difficult.

The official site

Interest: ratinggood (2 users)
Difficulty: difficulty
Duration: 2 h.
Departure point (Google Maps)

The Roche de Solutré seen from afar

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The Roche de Solutré seen from afar
The site was occupied by prehistoric man around 20,000 years ago during the Upper Palaeolithic. Archaeological excavations have revealed flint tools, animal remains and traces of human activity, testifying to the ancient presence of hunter-gatherer communities in the region.

Le parking

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Le parking
The parking is free, the Museum of Prehistory and the stores are located a few hundred meters away.

View on the surrounding area

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View on the surrounding area

The trail

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The trail
At the beginning the trail is very well maintained but it doesn't last.

The start

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The start

The rise

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The rise
The ascent is relatively long because one makes the turn of the Rock on foot to go up by the less abrupt side.

Rock of Vergisson

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Rock of Vergisson
Going up to the top of the rock, we can see another rocky escarpment which looks very much like the Roche de Solutré: the Roche de Vergisson. It does not have the same tourist success.

The Rock of Solutré

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The Rock of Solutré
The Roche de Solutré is best known for the excavations carried out by the French prehistorian Henri-Martin, who uncovered important prehistoric remains, including thousands of horse bones. These discoveries revealed that prehistoric man used the rock as a vantage point from which to hunt the wild horses that lived in the area.

The arrival at the top of the Roche de Solutré

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The arrival at the top of the Roche de Solutré
The view from the top of the Roche de Solutré is nothing short of spectacular. Visitors can admire a breathtaking panorama of the Saône valley and the surrounding green hills. The view stretches as far as the eye can see, offering a breathtaking spectacle of the Burgundy countryside.

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