France Locations

So, over the winter. Anything in the Cote D’Azure then, basically between Marseille and Nice. 

Corsica would be pretty awesome. But also: Aix, Grenoble, Lyon, Nice, Montpelier. Lots of property crime in the south FYI.

I'm going to France on April 1st and have very similar desires: learn French and climb, however, both my climbing and French level are below yours. I'd like to stay for longer but didn't apply for the long term visa and will probably miss my dog too much. I'm going to Fountainebleau, then Millau (Gorge du Tarn). After that I'll be in Grenoble for a couple of weeks and then planning on spending the whole month of May/ possibly longer in Orpierre. From what people are saying that might be too long to spend in Orpierre though??? I have a very reasonable priced place to stay from someone I climbed with last Fall. If you, or anyone else, wants to meet up to climb, please message me. I'd like to keep speaking French as much as possible while there.  I went to Buis last Fall and loved it. I would have loved to climb there  but I had no partner so just did the via ferrata. Best of luck on your journey. 

PS. I can certainly belay people on hard climbs, as I've belayed many partners on hard projects etc. I'm just a bit older now and prefer to climb moderates. In the 6's....

Having spent about 2 weeks in Orpierre in May, I would agree with those who say that a month is too long there, especially at your grades. Also, while you can often chase the shade, May is getting quite warms there and quite a few of the sectors are in the sun pretty much all day, so further limiting your potential route choices. Still it is a very pleasant area, with the climbing very accessible from the village. Given the traveling that you described, I'm assuming that you will have a car while in France, so that increases your options. There are several other areas within a reasonable drive from Orpierre that are worth visiting--Ceuse is a bit over an hour drive ( and a similar amount of time for the walk-up) and is very well worth the trip---and it isn't all F7s and above---there are several sectors with easier routes--even some multi-pitches.

Also traveling from the Tarn towards Orpierre, I recommend stopping to climb at Seyenes. While not as well known as some other areas, it is a wonderful crag---one of my favorites in France, with good climbs of all grades.

FYI some Grenoble crags to look at

for:

Oct-April, up to 5.13c:

St. Nizier/Rocher de l'ane

Le desert de l'écureuil (chossy but fun. Only one 13c for you)

Narbonne

Goupil

Mur de Satan (ALL hard)

L'Abbatoir 

Les Saillants

St. Ange

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April, 6's:

Le desert de l'écureuil 

Jardin suspendu (big chunk might have just fallen off)

Coup de Sabre

St. Nizier/Rocher de l'ane

St Paul de Varces

Les Saillants

The Vercors is a different (better) story but some places to look are: Auberge Espagnole, Ombleze, la Crique, le Degueloir,  Goulandiere, Precipice de Corbiere. Once it gets wet, it generally takes ages to dry though because of seeping rock. A car is pretty much required for the Vercors if you are in Grenoble. 

Easyjet has really cheap flights from Milan (4ish hour drive from Grenoble) to Athens (most of the year) and Kos (July-end of Aug) -- just sayin :)