Dent d'Oche, Limestone mountain in Haute-Savoie, France.
The Dent d'Oche is a limestone mountain in Haute-Savoie rising to 2,221 m, with two summits joined by a saddle. Its upper part is pale grey and white rock broken into jagged ridges and stepped faces, with snow in the gullies. Dense conifer forest covers the lower flanks, and a grassy field slopes below the mountain.
A statue of the Virgin was placed on the summit in 1949; struck by lightning, it was replaced on 17 October 1981 by an wrought-iron cross made by a Bernex craftsman. Pierre Mercier carried the cross up from la Fétiuère, and Father Dohu blessed it on 4 September 1982. The north face was first climbed on 6 June 1925 by Joseph Ravanel, his siblings Arthur and Camille, and François Jacquier.
The name derives from 'Oche', a local term for a notch or gap, referring to the Col de Planchamp between the Dent d'Oche and the Château d'Oche. Older residents of Bernex also link it to the Italian 'Dente d'Occhi', meaning 'tooth of the eyes'. The mountain was once called dent d'Houche.
A mountain refuge operated by the French Alpine Club provides overnight accommodation and meals during the hiking season at higher elevation. Visitors should prepare for steep ascents and variable weather conditions that can change quickly.
The north face presents a demanding technical climb that requires advanced mountaineering skills and experience. This route ranks among the most challenging in the Chablais Alps and attracts experienced climbers seeking serious rock work.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,345 contributors worldwide.