Bouldering, the sport in which you climb on boulders without tools, is gaining popularity, that bouldering halls open everywhere. But in the open air, it could be even more fun. In these places you can do it in your own country and neighboring countries, outside of nature.
“Boulder” literally means boulder. When bouldering, you climb on boulders, but you don’t use ropes and other tools. This sounds very dangerous, but it is usually not. Finally, you climb at a much lower altitude and use so-called “crash pads”: thick mats that you put on the floor so you don’t fall hard.
You always have to figure out where to put your feet and hands down so it’s a kind of puzzle you have to solve. The routes start with very simple that anyone can travel. It is also a fun activity for children. The pros, on the other hand, pull off complicated, breakneck tours that look spectacular. In short, there is something for everyone. An overview of the bouldering and climbing rooms in Belgium can be found on the website of the Climbing and Mountaineering Association.
It is best to train first in a bouldering and climbing room. Everywhere on the ground there are thick mats and the routes are clearly marked according to the disadvantages of the degree of difficulty. In some bouldering rooms you can also climb outside. In the Netherlands you can’t boulder anywhere in nature, but in some rooms you can do it outdoors. This can be done, for example, in the Bossche Boulders in Den Bosch, Fliegerhorst in Venlo and Rock Steady in Bussum. For more places to boulder in the Netherlands, see Bouldest.
Also in Belgium there are not many places in nature where you can boulder. Izier in Luxembourg, Belgium, is the most suitable place. You will find about 40 boulders and you can easily enjoy it for a day or two. Ideal if you don’t have much time and don’t want to drive too far.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE_gEKwMcZQ
Bouldering in France
Fontainebleau
Fontainbleau is located 70 kilometers southwest of Paris and is one of the best places in the world for bouldering. Here you will find thousands of routes of all levels: from absolute beginners to real experts. Children can also climb the rocks.
The forest at Fontainbleau is about 250 square kilometers in size and the rocks are made of soft sandstone, so you don’t hurt your hands. The blocks are up to four metres high. As in bouldering halls, the route is indicated with arrows in a certain color.
There are several campsites where you can stay overnight, including one with tractor cabins and where you can rent crashpads.
Targasun
Targasonne is much further away: in the Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France on the border with Spain. The rocks here are made of granite and therefore much harder than those in Fontainebleau. For almost every boulder, you have to use a different technique that makes all boulder lovers a challenge.
You can camp nearby and rent crash pads.
Le Prieure
The climbing area in Le Prieure is not so large, but very varied and, as in Fontainebleau, the rocks here are also made of sandstone. Le Prieure is located near Lodéve near Montpellier in southeastern France. The approximately two hundred boulders lie in a beautiful oak forest. The routes are also marked here in different colors and there are routes for all types of climbers. The boulders are two to six metres high.
Kerlouan
Kerlouan in Brittany is a special place to boulder, as the boulders are located here on the beach. Over a length of more than twenty kilometers, there are boulders on which you can loosen about 400 boulders. You can combine a bouldering tour with a refreshing dip in the sea.
Bouldering in Germany
Avalonia
Avalonia is located in a place that one would not expect to be there, namely in the middle of the Ruhr area, the industrial centre of Germany. Nevertheless, you will find here a beautiful and original bouldering area: it is a combination of climbing on the rocks and art.
Avalonia is the initiative of Daniel Pohl, who has single-handedly created a country art park here in the forests between Essen, Wuppertal and Dortmund. He cleared the rocks and passable, so you can now choose between 150 boulders in all possible levels of difficulty. Avalonia is one of the Boulder Club Ruhrtal.
Glees
A special feature of this area between Koblenz and Nürburg in the Eifel is that one climbs here on volcanic rock, on Basait. Currently, you can choose from about 300 routes, but each time new ones are added because boulders are cleaned so you can safely climb on them. Basaniet is quite sharp and therefore stressful for your hands.
Please note that in summer, you are not allowed to boulder in Glees for nature conservation reasons between June and September.
Allgäu
For the Allgäu in the south of Germany you have to drive a bit further, but then you are in a beautiful expanse in the Alps, where you have endless possibilities for bouldering: about 2000 routes in 26 different areas.
Since the area is so large, you can also climb on different rocks: sandstone, limestone, dolomite…. The landscapes also differ considerably: from forests in the lower parts to rocky Alpine landscapes higher in the mountains.
Odenwald
The Odenwald could therefore be depicted in a fairy tale book: it is dense, the stones are covered with moss and there are some old fallen trees on the ground. In this mountain range on the border between the three federal states of Hesse, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, the Giant Stone is known above all to climbers. On this sandstone rock you can travel different routes, from simple to very difficult. In addition, there are also scattered through the forest all kinds of granite rocks that you can enjoy on.
“Boulder” literally means boulder. When bouldering, you climb on boulders, but you don’t use ropes and other tools. This sounds very dangerous, but it is usually not. Finally, you climb at a much lower altitude and use so-called “crash pads”: thick mats that you put on the floor so you don’t fall hard. You always have to figure out where to put your feet and hands down so it’s a kind of puzzle you have to solve. The routes start with very simple that anyone can travel. It is also a fun activity for children. The pros, on the other hand, pull off complicated, breakneck tours that look spectacular. In short, there is something for everyone. An overview of the bouldering and climbing rooms in Belgium can be found on the website of the Climbing and Mountaineering Association. It is best to train first in a bouldering and climbing room. Everywhere on the ground there are thick mats and the routes are clearly marked according to the disadvantages of the degree of difficulty. In some bouldering rooms you can also climb outside. In the Netherlands you can’t boulder anywhere in nature, but in some rooms you can do it outdoors. This can be done, for example, in the Bossche Boulders in Den Bosch, Air Base in Venlo and Rock Steady in Bussum. More places where you can find bouldering in the Netherlands can be found on Bouldest. Also in Belgium there are not many places in nature where you can boulder. Izier in Luxembourg, Belgium, is the most suitable place. You will find about 40 boulders and you can easily enjoy it for a day or two. Ideal if you don’t have much time and don’t want to drive too far. Bouldering in FranceFontainebleauFontainbleau is located seventy kilometers southwest of Paris and is one of the best places in the world for bouldering. Here you will find thousands of routes of all levels: from absolute beginners to real experts. Children can also climb the rocks. The forest at Fontainbleau is about 250 square kilometers in size and the rocks are made of soft sandstone, so you don’t hurt your hands. The blocks are up to four metres high. As in bouldering halls, the route is indicated with arrows in a certain color. There are several campsites where you can stay overnight, including one with tractor cabins and where you can rent crashpads. TargasonneTargasonne is much further away: in the Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France on the border with Spain. The rocks here are made of granite and therefore much harder than those in Fontainebleau. For almost every boulder, you have to use a different technique that makes all boulder lovers a challenge. You can camp nearby and rent crash pads. Le PrieureThe climbing area in Le Prieure is not so large, but very varied and, as in Fontainebleau, the rocks here are also made of sandstone. Le Prieure is located near Lodéve near Montpellier in southeastern France. The approximately two hundred boulders lie in a beautiful oak forest. The routes are also here in deprastised there are routes for all types of climbers. The boulders are two to six metres high. KerlouanKerlouan in Brittany is a special place to boulder, as the boulders are located here on the beach. Over a length of more than twenty kilometers, there are boulders on which you can loosen about 400 boulders. You can combine a bouldering tour with a refreshing dip in the sea. Bouldering in GermanyAvaloniaAvalonia is in a place that one would not expect to boulder there, namely in the middle of the Ruhr area, the industrial center of Germany. Nevertheless, you will find here a beautiful and original bouldering area: it is a combination of climbing on the rocks and art. Avalonia is the initiative of Daniel Pohl, who has single-handedly created a country art park here in the forests between Essen, Wuppertal and Dortmund. He cleared the rocks and passable, so you can now choose between 150 boulders in all possible levels of difficulty. Avalonia is part of the Boulder Club Ruhrtal. GleesSpecial area between Koblenz and Nürburg in the Eifel is that one climbs here on volcanic rock, on Basait. Currently, you can choose from about 300 routes, but each time new ones are added because boulders are cleaned so you can safely climb on them. Basaniet is quite sharp and therefore stressful for your hands. Remember that in the summer, between June and September, you are not allowed to boulder in Glees for nature conservation reasons. AllgäuFor the Allgäu in southern Germany you have to drive a bit further, but then you are in a beautiful expanse in the Alps, where you have endless possibilities for bouldering: about 2000 routes in 26 different areas. Since the area is so large, you can also climb on different rocks: sandstone, limestone, dolomite…. The landscapes also differ considerably: from forests in the lower parts to rocky Alpine landscapes higher in the mountains. OdenwaldThe Odenwald could therefore be depicted in a fairy tale book: it is dense, the stones are covered with moss and there are some old fallen trees on the ground. In this mountain range on the border between the three federal states of Hesse, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, the Giant Stone is known above all to climbers. On this sandstone rock you can travel different routes, from simple to very difficult. In addition, there are also scattered through the forest all kinds of granite rocks that you can enjoy on.