Le Taillefer, Mountain peak in Isère, France

Le Taillefer is the highest summit of the Taillefer Massif in the Dauphiné Alps, reaching 2,857 m south-east of Grenoble. Its rounded, rocky top plateau is tinted red by iron-rich rock, in contrast to the steep, often snow-covered northern slope. Two summits joined by a high rocky saddle overlook scree gullies and grassy ridges, with a scree channel running down from the saddle.

The name Taillefer comes from the iron that reddens much of the mountain's rock, giving the impression of a heap of ferruginous stone. An old lead mine, now abandoned, gave its name to the Pas de la Mine, the pass used to reach the Sergent Pinelli ridge and then the summit. On 3 April 1998 soldiers of the 7th Matériel Regiment (2nd Company) from Varces installed a statue of Saint Eloi at the top.

The summit carries a statue of Saint Eloi, patron of blacksmiths, made in Besançon from old tank armour. Soldiers of the 7th Materiel Regiment's 2nd Company hauled the 110-kilo body up on foot, relaying every 100 metres, and assembled it on 3 April 1998. The anvil remains, but the hammer and explanatory plaque have been damaged.

The usual route leaves from the hamlet of La Morte or the Combe Oursière sector at around 1,670 m, passes Lake Poursollet and then climbs the steep northern slopes, which often keep snow until late spring. The final ridge is reached via the Pas de la Mine, named after an old lead mine, and leads onto the Sergent Pinelli ridge. Allow a full day and carry equipment for snow and rock.

The summit statue of Saint Eloi, patron of blacksmiths, was made in Besançon from old tank armour; the 110-kilo body was carried up by four soldiers taking turns every 100 metres. Sand and cement went up on foot, and bad weather forced the team to return the following week to assemble it. A buried cable protects the statue from lightning; the anvil remains, but the hammer and the explanatory plaque have been damaged.