Testa del Claus, Mountain summit in Maritime Alps, France and Italy.

Testa del Claus is a mountain summit in the Maritime Alps that straddles the border between France and Italy. The peak sits within a high alpine landscape filled with steep ridges and deep valleys.

The first documented ascent, also the first winter ascent, was made on 19 February 1898 by Victor de Cessole, A. Maria and Jean Plent via the north-west ridge. The summit lies on the border ridge between France and Italy, southeast of Mont Malinvern and east of the Isola 2000 ski resort, above the Lac du Claus on the Italian side.

The name comes from the Occitan word claus, meaning an enclosed or closed-off place; Italian sources trace it to the Latin clausus, since the mountain closes off the valley below. The summit cross stands on a stone cairn, in place from 2026.

Climbing this peak demands strong hiking skills and experience with steep, rocky terrain. Starting early and watching weather patterns carefully are important since conditions can change rapidly at this elevation.

The summit carries a cross set on a stone cairn from 2026, a detail most maps and route descriptions omit. The first documented ascent, also the first winter ascent, was made on 19 February 1898 by Victor de Cessole, A. Maria and Jean Plent via the north-west ridge.