Rochemelon (or Roche Melon), Rocciamelone in Italian, is a 11607 ft / 3538 m high mountain on the Italy-France border, 50 km (30 mi) west of Turin. This was the first high mountain of the Alps (and the world) to have an historically undisputed first ascent date.

Bonifacius Rotarius (of Asti) made the first ascent of Rochemelon in Sept. 1,^*, to bring a small metal image of the Holy Virgin as a gesture of gratitude to have survived captivity in the Holy Lands during the Crusade.

The summit of Rochemelon is the aim of a traditional pilgrimage, every year, on August 5. A three m high statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was erected there in 1899.

As an oddity, the international border does not exactly follow the watershed in this sector. The summit of Rochemelon is fully Italian, as is the upper first kilometre of glacier de Rochemelon, this area of about 4 square kilometres constitutes the only Italian territory portion of the Rhône River basin.

Because of its easy access (the start of the summit trail can be reached in a 90 minute drive from Turin), its considerable height and the renowned panorama, this mountain is one of the most frequented of the western part of the Alps.

External link

• Roche Melon at SummitPost

Mountains of FranceMountains of Italy | Mountains of the Alps

Rocciamelone | Rochemelon | Rocciamelone