Céüse (French: Montagne de Céüse) is a limestone mountain in the Hautes-AlpesdépartementofFrance near Gap and Sigoyer. The『Pic de Céüse』is at an elevation of 2,016 metres (6,614 ft), and the whole massif is included in the Natura 2000 protected area.[1] The mountain has a distinctive large horseshoe-shaped cliff (the Corniche de Céûse) which contains some of the most extreme sport climbing routes in the world. It is also the site of a ski resort.[2]
The northern end of the mountain is the location of a small ski resort, called Ceüze 2000 [fr] (or also the Gap Ceuse Ski Resort 2000);[5] it was built after the Second World War and updated in the 1990s, and contains 8 lifts serving 35-kilometers of green, blue, red and black runs, from an elevation of 1,550 metres (5,090 ft) to the peak itself at 2,016 metres (6,614 ft).[5]
Its south-facing cliffs have a distinctive blue and ochre colouring, and the climbing is via pocket-marks in the limestone rather than via cracks.[7] The Corniche has over 600 climbing routes from 4a (5.4) to the highest grades in rock climbing, and is situated at an elevation of 1,800 metres (5,900 ft).[7][2] Most of the climbs are single-pitch 25 to 40-metre climbs, with long-run outs often between bolts, however, there are also 200-metre sections with multi-pitch routes.[2]
