With an estimated 17 million visits each year, the Fontainebleau Forest stands as the most visited natural site in France. To put that into perspective, the Dune du Pilat, Europe’s tallest sand dune, attracts around 2.5 million visitors annually. In Fontainebleau, roughly 4 million of those visits are dedicated to climbing alone. Over the past decade, those numbers have surged—especially in the post-COVID years. The Easter holidays in particular have become a peak moment, when the forest fills with climbers drawn to the legendary sandstone blocs.
As this annual wave approaches and boulderers from across Europe make their way to Fontainebleau, it’s worth taking a closer look at the consequences of this growing popularity. The reflections that follow come from interviews conducted by Romain Poisot of Hulotte Productions during the latest Climbing Expo, held in Paris in early 2026.
