France

Briançon: from fortified city to capital of sport climbing

Nestled in the French Alps, the city of Briançon is known for its distinctive array of fortified walls built on the orders of Louis XIV’s engineering mastermind, Vauban. Located on the edge of the former Duchy of Savoy, the city possesses a rich heritage of military architecture due to its strategic defensive position in the Alps. Today, Briançon has undertaken a revitalisation programme, driven by a brand-new ambition: to become an attractive centre for rock climbing and to strengthen the city’s reputation as an essential destination for mountain sports. As part of its project to redevelop the local sports park, the city of Briançon recently built a new climbing wall dubbed the ‘Nid’ — French for nest — which hosted the French stage of the IFSC World Cup for lead climbing, as part of the 34th edition of the Climbing World Championships.

The Nest, an ambitious design for a visionary project

The development of the Nest was actually the product of a nearly decade-old project, led by a few local climbing enthusiasts. Built in the Serre Chevalier Vallée Briançon sports park, just a few minutes’ drive from the Briançon train station, the new climbing wall takes the form of a massive, 18-metre-high tower designed for outdoor climbing across all four of its faces.

Developed by architect Grégory Poles and his studio 6B Architecture, the Nest provides more than 1,000 sqm of climbing area, and 130 routes for the three disciplines in competition climbing — lead, speed and bouldering.

The building consists of a single central metal pylon, supporting the various climbing faces. The design is crowned by a wooden roof structure topped with a Serge Ferrari Group STFE membrane. This system allows climbers to practice regardless of the weather.

A STFE Roof to Protect Climbers

Part of what makes Briançon’s new climbing wall so special is its roof, manufactured and installed by SMC2, and covered with Serge Ferrari Group’s STFE 50 membrane. This 450-sqm lightweight structure offers optimal protection from the elements, while also allowing the flow of natural light. STFE is a range of next-generation architectural membranes offering excellent visibility to outside, to reduce feelings of being enclosed. Its high structural resistance and light weight mean it can be used over wide spans, reducing reliance on secondary support structures. The STFE roof gives climbers the chance to experience outdoor climbing all year round, which further increases the appeal of this exceptional site.

The city’s new climbing wall is much more than a mere sporting venue. It symbolizes Briançon’s aspiration of becoming an essential hub for sport climbing, hosting climbers of all levels and providing them with modern facilities for practice and international competitions.

Project Participants