Vias Ferratas du Diable - Aussois, Via ferrata complex in Aussois, Savoie, France
This site features seven interconnected via ferrata routes spanning approximately 2.3 miles (3.8 kilometers) with varying difficulty levels from easy to demanding, equipped with steel cables, ladders, footbridges, and suspension bridges including the 272-foot (83-meter) Melchior footbridge, the longest in the world for via ferrata installations.
The via ferrata complex opened in 1995 near the historic Esseillon forts, five defensive structures built in 1832 to protect the French-Italian border at the strategic Mont-Cenis pass, creating a modern adventure site within a 19th-century military landscape.
The route names reflect religious themes with sections called Ascent to Heaven, Descent to Hell, and Crossing of Angels, while local climbing clubs organize regular expeditions and training sessions to teach young participants about mountain safety and environmental preservation in the Alpine region.
Access begins from Fort Victor-Emmanuel parking or Redoute Marie-Thérèse parking, with routes taking 45 minutes to eight hours depending on sections chosen, and equipment rental available on-site for participants aged six and older who meet weight requirements between 88 and 265 pounds (40 to 120 kilograms).
The Traversée des Anges section includes three remarkable footbridges named after the Three Wise Men, with the Balthazar bridge being a monkey bridge style that tests balance skills while suspended above the Arc river gorges at considerable height.
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