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- Written by: Paddy Maddison
France is a land of world-class wine, culinary delights, rich history and, last but not least, some of the most dramatic alpine landscapes in Europe. The highest mountains in France have served as a backdrop for the birth of modern mountaineering, enticing explorers and adventurers from all over the world for centuries to come and put their skills to the test.
But it’s not all crampons and ice axes – if you’re more into hiking boots and bangin' baguettes, you’ll also find incredible trails winding their way through the high alpine. Our guide to the best walking holidays in France should help get those hiking juices a'flowin'....
The country is famously home to Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in France and the highest mountain in Western Europe, and regarded by many as the home of mountaineering as we know it today. The highest peak in the Alps, it’s surrounded by no less than seven 4,000m peaks in the Mont Blanc Massif, including Mont Maudit and Aiguille Verte.
Some of these could be argued to count as standalone peaks, but for the purposes of this list we’re ranking mountains by their prominence – essentially how much they stand out from their surroundings.
Besides, there’s far more to France’s mountainous landscape than this iconic range. Elsewhere in the Alps, there are numerous peaks over 3,000 and even 4,000 metres, offering up serious adventure for anyone brave and skilled enough to take them on.
If you’ve ever wondered, “what are the highest mountains in France?”, here’s your answer – a high-altitude hit list of alpine icons. From steep ice climbs on the north face of Grande Casse to backcountry skiing on Pic Bayle’s remote ridgelines, here are highest peaks in France – and why they deserve a spot on your ticklist.
1. Mont Blanc, 4,808m
Mont Blanc is the tallest mountain in France, as well as the highest mountain peak in the Alps and the highest mountain in Western Europe. Its elevation is officially recorded as 4,805.6m as of 2023, though this changes slightly year to year due to glacial melt and snowfall.
The highest mountain in continental Europe is Russia’s Mount Elbrus, but Mont Blanc is by far the most iconic summit in the Alps.
Straddling the border between France and Italy (with the exact line still debated by geographers), it dominates the skyline around Chamonix - one of the world's best mountain towns - and the start point for the epic Tour du Mont Blanc, one of the best walking holidays in Europe. The first ascent in 1786 by Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard is widely seen as the birth of modern mountaineering.
Today, it draws thousands of climbers each year – from seasoned alpinists to hopeful amateurs. Tragically, it also sees a high fatality rate, largely due to underestimation and overcrowding. In fact, more people die on Mont Blanc annually than in any single decade in Alaska’s Denali range.
2. Barre des Ecrins, 4,102m
A jagged and dramatic peak deep in the Dauphiné Alps, Barre des Écrins is the highest peak in France that lies entirely within the country’s modern borders. Before the annexation of Savoy in 1860, it was considered the tallest mountain in France.
Barre des Écrins is surrounded by four glaciers – the Bonne Pierre, the Glacier Blanc, the Glacier Noir, and the Glacier du Vallon de la Pilatte – giving it a truly wild alpine feel. It’s also the subject of one of the longest lines of sight on Earth: in 2016, photographer Marc Bret captured the peak from 443km away in the Pyrenees. A brilliant fact to bring out at the refuge.
3. Grande Casse, 3,855m
The highest summit in the Vanoise Massif, Grande Casse rises dramatically above the Vanoise National Park in the Graian Alps. A worthy entry on any list of the highest mountains in France, it was first climbed in 1860, and now sees regular traffic from mountaineers looking to hone their alpine skills on its relatively non-technical normal route.
The mountain was first summited in 1860 by William Mathews and guides Michel Croz and E. Favre. Today, it’s also a spring hotspot for ski mountaineers, with the long descent from the summit drawing adventurous backcountry skiers.
4. Mont Pourri, 3,779m
At 3,779m, Mont Pourri is the second highest peak in the Vanoise Massif, standing sentinel over the ski resort of Les Arcs. Despite its name, which means "Rotten Mountain" in French, there's nothing decayed about the climbing here. In fact, the name is likely a misinterpretation – it may stem from the name of an early climber (Pury, Pourrit or Purry), who is said to have reached the summit centuries before the first recorded ascent in 1861.
Mont Pourri remains a year-round adventure peak, with spring bringing freeriders and splitboarders to its long, glaciated lines.
5. Dent Parrachée, 3,697m
A rugged spire of rock and ice, Dent Parrachée is a standout peak in the southern Vanoise Massif, overlooking the turquoise dams of Plan d’Aval and Plan d’Amont. Above the village of Aussois, the mountain is served by the Refuge de la Dent Parrachée, a welcoming 30-bed hut open year-round.
From here, you can attempt the summit or link up with multi-day glacier tours across the Vanoise. Feeling bold? Some mountaineers opt for a single-day push from Aussois to the top and back.
6. Aiguilles d’Arves, 3,514m
The Aiguilles d’Arves are a trio of spiky needles dominating the skyline of the Arves Massif. The highest – the Southern Needle – rises to 3,514m.
The striking Central Needle was first summited in 1839, but it wasn’t until 1874 that the highest peak was climbed by legendary Swiss guides Christian and Ulrich Almer with American mountaineer W. A. B. Coolidge. Coolidge spent years pioneering routes in the Dauphiné Alps, and these peaks remain a favourite for photographers and climbers alike.
7. Aiguille de Scolette, 3,506m
Straddling the France–Italy border in the Cottian Alps, Aiguille de Scolette is a snow-capped pyramid that’s visible from miles around. First climbed in 1875, it rises above the French region of Savoie and the Italian province of Turin.
The easiest route begins at Col de Pelouse, a pass linking Bardonecchia and Avrieux, and ascends via the southwest and northwest ridges. At 3,506m, it may not be the tallest mountain in France but it is right up there when it comes to delivering a remote, little-travelled, and gloriously scenic alpine experience.
8. Pic Bayle, 3,465m
Named after Joseph Bayle, the first to summit in 1874, Pic Bayle is the highest mountain in the Grandes Rousses Massif and towers above Alpe d’Huez. This area of the Dauphiné Alps is a hub for backcountry skiers, with Alpe d’Huez, Les Deux Alpes and La Grave forming a trio of freeride meccas.
The normal route up Pic Bayle is often used in spring ski touring missions and is one of the lesser-known high peaks of France – but no less worthy.
9. Pic de Rochebrune, 3,320m
Luc Santeramo)
Located in the Central Cottian Alps, Pic de Rochebrune stands tall at 3,320m. It’s one of the highest points in the southern Alps and boasts views across much of the Western Alps.
Depending on your chosen route, the summit can be an easy scramble or a challenging hike – best tackled in late summer once snow and ice have retreated. It’s a solid option for fit walkers looking to get high without needing ropes or technical kit.
10. Vignemale, 3,298m
The highest mountain in the French Pyrenees, Vignemale lies on the border between the Hautes-Pyrénées (Occitan: Nauts Pirenèus) and Aragon, Spain. Its summit (3,298m) is split between the two countries, and it's a mountain of drama: steep couloirs, glaciated valleys and a hulking north face that's been the scene of many bold ascents.
The route to the summit from the French side involves crossing the Ossoue Glacier, which has shrunk significantly in recent decades due to climate change. Ascent conditions can vary, and the glacier can be crevassed and exposed depending on the season – adding a serious alpine flavour to this Pyrenean giant.
********** The image of Aiguille de Scolette is provided under the creative commons licence 3.0. Image of Pic Bayle provided under the creative commons licence 4.0.
