Paris, January 12 – The French Federation of Mountain and Climbing (FFME) has inaugurated Karma La Villette, a groundbreaking climbing gym in the capital. Opened to the public on January 8, 2026, this 1,000 m² facility is the first in Paris to feature all three Olympic climbing disciplines: bouldering, lead, and speed.
A New Landmark for Parisian Climbers
Situated within La Villette Park in the 19th arrondissement, the gym occupies a renovated building that previously housed the Cinaxe dynamic futuristic cinema until 2011. The initiative by the FFME aims to provide a comprehensive climbing experience for enthusiasts of all levels.
Lucas Brondy, project engineer for Karma La Villette, provided a tour of the facility. The main hall boasts climbing walls reaching up to 14 meters in height, equipped with 70 belay lines. Most of these are dedicated to ‘lead’ climbing, where climbers ascend with a rope, often making multiple attempts. The top floor features 45 linear meters of ‘bouldering’ walls, offering increasingly complex routes at lower heights.
The gym also includes ‘speed’ walls, typically two identical routes designed for climbers to race to the top. Brondy noted, “Everyone has seen the images from the Olympics, and now people will be able to try it out and see that the athletes are not being pulled up by the rope to reach the top.”
Positive Reception from the Climbing Community
The opening has been met with enthusiasm from the climbing community. Sara and Ludovic, who traveled from Montfort-l’Amaury (Yvelines) with their son Elyott, expressed their delight. Ludovic, an experienced climber, praised the “new holds” and the “very nice” atmosphere. Sara added, “What we look for is to have both bouldering and lead, so this place seems very good.” Elyott excitedly chimed in, “And speed!”
Loïc, a local resident from the Marx-Dormoy neighborhood, found Karma La Villette a welcome addition. Having previously traveled to larger gyms in Aubervilliers and Rosa-Parks, he stated, “It’s really good to have a gym like this in Paris where you can do both lead and bouldering. It could become a regular option for me.”
FFME’s Vision and Investment
Anne Grospeillet-Quintin, director of the FFME, explained that the federation seized the opportunity to open a commercial gym in Paris amidst the booming popularity of climbing and the proliferation of private gyms like Arkose, Climb Up, and Climbing District. This is the second federal gym in Île-de-France, following the one inaugurated in 2016 in Fontainebleau (Seine-et-Marne), a renowned climbing destination for Parisians.
The total cost of the renovation and construction amounted to 3.4 million euros. The estimated revenue, at the lower end, is one million euros per month. All proceeds, primarily from entry fees (priced competitively with other Parisian gyms), will fund the FFME’s operations and projects, as well as the salaries of the eight employees at the site.
Addressing recent concerns about working conditions in some private climbing gyms, Lucas Brondy acknowledged experiencing such difficulties in previous roles within private networks. However, he believes that “in any place where profit is the main goal, abuses can occur.”
Grospeillet-Quintin emphasized the FFME’s commitment to avoiding the management pitfalls seen in private gyms. She stated, “Here, employees are part of the wider federation, not just a single gym, and the philosophy is the same for everyone: opportunities for professional development, very fair remuneration levels, and strict adherence to labor law and collective agreements. We want to remain attentive.”
Community Outreach and Future Plans
The FFME plans to use Karma La Villette to introduce a wider audience to the various facets of climbing and to encourage participation in climbing clubs through license acquisition. Projects involving school groups and local communities are planned for the coming months.
Karma La Villette is open seven days a week, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. It is located at Quai de la Charente, 75019 Paris.
