We, here at The Earful Tower, pride ourselves on having our fingers on the pulse of the trends in Paris. And today, you might even say that we have our chalked fingers on the pulse of this newest trend, which seems to be taking over the city.
Meet Daniel Christensen, an avid boulderer in Paris. On today’s episode, he talks of how the trend of climbing – aka bouldering – is captivating people’s attention in Paris, and how the worldwide sport actually started in the town of Fontainebleau, near Paris.
And if you’re not into sport, please note this isn’t a discussion only for die-hard rock climbers. It makes for an interesting chat about Paris and how sporting hobbies are changing.
Find out more about Daniel on his Instagram page here.
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Listen to the episode below, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
What’s going on in Fontainebleau
Daniel, originally from Denmark, moved to Paris in 2023 specifically to have access to outdoor climbing, primarily in Fontainebleau.
“Fontainebleau is one of the best places in the world to go climbing,” Daniel explains. Coming from a country as flat as Denmark, Daniel had been consistently drawn to the vast array of boulders that Fontainebleau offers. Finally, he took the plunge and moved to Paris, not only to have access to this climber’s paradise, but the hustle and bustle that the city offers.
How to get to Fontainebleau’s famed boulders
A mere 38 minute train ride from the Gare de Lyon will bring you to the edge of the forest of Fontainebleau.
“You could just take the train, walk into the forest and just start climbing,” Daniel says.
However, if bouldering doesn’t appeal to you, Daniel still recommends heading out to visit the town, which is also home to a beautiful chateau. “You can take a day trip there and go for a hike in the forest. It’s super beautiful.”
Where to climb in Paris
If outdoor climbing isn’t your thing, fear not! In response to the sudden interest in bouldering, Climbing District has quickly opened five indoor spaces, conveniently located across Paris – Bastille, Batignolles, Buttes-Chaumont, Saint Lazare and Neuilly.
How to go climbing in a Paris church
There’s even a climbing hall INSIDE a church! This place is high on Daniel’s to do list and it’s not difficult to see why. Hands down, it has to be the coolest Climbing District location and speaks volumes about the ever-increasing popularity of bouldering in Paris.
Bonus: Great Paris cafes
Not only is Daniel the go-to guy for all things bouldering, he has also become very knowledgeable about the coffee scene here, thanks to working at Café Caractère in the 11th arrondissement. We asked him to share his top Paris coffee shop recommendations.
Café Caractère
Clove Coffee Shop
Kabane Café
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