Pyramides Calcaires, Limestone summit in Val Veny, Italy

The Pyramides Calcaires are twin summits of 2,726 and 2,589 metres in the upper Val Veny, just above the Rifugio Elisabetta and before the Col de la Seigne, in the municipality of Courmayeur. Their limestone stands out in a massif dominated by granite.

The two limestone summits rise above the Elisabetta Soldini hut, just below the Col de la Seigne in the upper Val Veny, in the municipality of Courmayeur. Their rock stands out against the granite of the Mont Blanc massif. On their flanks are numerous small forts from the Second World War and barbed-wire entanglements.

The two peaks are named for their pale limestone, which stands out in a massif otherwise made of granite. From Rifugio Elisabetta, the hut just below the summits, a circuit around the Pyramides takes about three hours. The surrounding slopes hold numerous small fortifications and barbed-wire entanglements from the Second World War.

Climbing is possible from June through October, starting at Rifugio Elisabetta with approximately 600 meters of elevation gain through meadows and rocky terrain. The route passes over open alpine spaces and requires sure-footedness on steep sections.

The two summits stand at 2,726 and 2,589 metres, just above Rifugio Elisabetta and before Col de la Seigne. Their pale limestone rises in a massif otherwise dominated by granite, and Second World War bunkers and barbed-wire entanglements remain on their flanks.