Pic De Jalouvre (Pointe Blanche) is the highest mountain in the Bornes Massif, in France, rising to 2,438 m in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. It sits in the Western Alps, within the broader chain of the Savoy Prealps, and is the highest of 108 named peaks in its massif.
The summit belongs to the Bargy ridge system in Upper Savoy, in the municipality of Bonneville. It is a limestone Alpine peak with steep slopes, ridges and passes around it, and it is a well-known objective for hikers and mountaineers moving through the Col de la Colombière area.
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Pic De Jalouvre (Pointe Blanche) lies in the Bornes Massif, part of the Savoy Prealps in the Northwestern Alps of France. Administratively it is in Bonneville, in Upper Savoy, within Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. At 2,438 m, it is the highest point of the massif and the highest of its 108 named peaks.
The mountain rises above a rugged pre-Alpine landscape of ridges, cols and rocky slopes. It sits in the centre of the Bargy chain, with passes on several sides and neighbouring summits close by. The terrain is typical of the French Prealps: exposed limestone, broken ridgelines and open alpine ground above the treeline.
The summit is surrounded by a compact group of peaks and passes that define the Bargy ridge system. The closest features are:
Pic De Jalouvre (Pointe Blanche) is higher than all of these nearby summits and stands above the main pass on the southeast side, making it the dominant point in this local ridge landscape.
Within 25 km, the highest surrounding peaks give a good sense of the wider Alpine setting. To the southeast lies Pointe Percée at 2,750 m, 8.8 km away. Farther east are La Grande Torchère at 2,616 m and Tête du Colonney at 2,692 m. Also in range are Tête à l'Ane at 2,804 m to the east, Pointe D'ayeres Sud at 2,610 m to the east, and Pointe de Platé at 2,554 m to the east.
These peaks show that the summit looks out toward a higher Alpine skyline beyond the Bornes Massif. The view combines nearby pre-Alpine ridges with more elevated summits of the surrounding mountain country.
Pic De Jalouvre (Pointe Blanche) belongs to the Bornes Massif, which is the highest point of that range. The massif is part of the Savoy Prealps, themselves within the Western Alps and the broader Alps of Central Europe. In the massif, this summit ranks first by elevation among 108 named peaks.
The Bornes Massif is a French mountain group rather than a transnational range, so its setting is entirely within France. Pic De Jalouvre (Pointe Blanche) is therefore both a local high point and the reference summit for the massif’s highest terrain.
The mountain is commonly approached from Le Chinaillon or the Col de la Colombière side. A normal route is described from Le Chinaillon via the pass and the south to southwest slopes, with alpine hiking and scrambling depending on the exact line and conditions. In good summer conditions, the ascent is often around 3 to 5 hours from the road or a nearby start.
In snow conditions, ridge and couloir variants may be used, but the terrain remains serious enough to require route-finding and mountain judgement. The nearby Refuge de la Colombière can serve as a seasonal base for the area.
The usual access points are Le Grand-Bornand and Le Chinaillon, with approaches also linked to the Col de la Colombière. The summit is reached from the Bargy ridge area rather than from a major valley town, so the final part of the approach is typically on mountain paths, tracks or alpine terrain.
For visitors, the practical starting area is the road and pass network around the col, then the upper slopes toward the ridge. In season, the area is used by hikers and mountaineers moving between the Grand-Bornand side and the Colombière side.
These are estimates from NASA POWER climate data adjusted to summit elevation. At 2,438 m, the summit is cold for much of the year: the warmest months are about July at 9 °C and August at 8 °C, while the coldest are about January at -6 °C and February and December at -5 °C. Around the mountain, precipitation is about 1,100 mm a year, with wetter months near May and December and drier periods around February and September.
Typical hazards include rapid weather changes, fog on the ridges, wet rock after rain, lingering snow patches and strong wind exposure on the crest. Even in summer, conditions can shift quickly above the passes.
At summit level, the months with a mean temperature above freezing are about April through October. That makes late spring to early autumn the main period for a non-winter ascent, with the most comfortable conditions usually in summer. Earlier in the season, snowfields and frozen sections can remain on shaded slopes and in couloirs.
For drier weather, the relatively lower-precipitation months around February and September are useful reference points, though mountain storms can still develop quickly. In practice, stable weather windows matter more than the calendar on this exposed ridge.
The mountain sits in a pre-Alpine limestone environment with open grass slopes, rocky ribs, scree and alpine turf above the treeline. Lower down, the slopes support mountain pasture and subalpine vegetation, while the upper ridges are sparse and exposed. In this part of the Alps, common wildlife can include chamois, marmots, alpine birds and birds of prey.
Because the terrain is steep and rocky, plant cover becomes thin near the summit. The landscape changes quickly with altitude, from wooded lower slopes to open high-mountain ground where snow can linger well into the warm season.
For this height and terrain, a certified mountain guide is sensible if you are unsure on exposed scrambling, snow travel or route-finding. In France, the main professional body is the French National Mountain Guides Union (Syndicat National des Guides de Montagne, SNGM), which is an IFMGA/UIAGM member. The national alpine federation is the Fédération Française des Clubs Alpins et de Montagne (FFCAM). Visitors also commonly look to established guiding companies such as the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix for mountain travel in the region.
A guided ascent usually depends on the route, group size, season, hut use and equipment needs. For local planning, tourist offices in places such as Le Grand-Bornand and the Col de la Colombière area are practical starting points for current access and conditions.
This is a high Alpine-prealpine peak with exposed ridges, loose rock in places and weather that can change quickly. Good boots, navigation skills, layers, gloves and enough food and water are important, and snow or ice can make the route much more serious than a summer hike. Parties should be ready to turn back if cloud, wind or wet rock increases the risk.
For mountain rescue in France, call 112. In the mountains, this is routed to the competent rescue service, usually the gendarmerie PGHM or CRS Montagne.
The summit is part of the Bargy ridge system above the Col de la Colombière. The name Jalouvre is associated with the mountain above that pass, while Pointe Blanche is the prominent summit of the same ridge line. In the local geography, the peak also forms a quadripoint where the limits of Mont-Saxonnex, Le Reposoir, Grand-Bornand and Glières-Val-de-Borne meet.
This gives the mountain a clear place in the local topography: it is both a named summit and a boundary point in the Bargy chain.
Pic De Jalouvre (Pointe Blanche) is the highest of 108 named peaks in the Bornes Massif and the massif’s high point. Its nearest higher major summit within 25 km is Tête à l'Ane, 2,804 m, 24.7 km to the east. The summit also sits close to the important Col de la Colombière, only 1.4 km away to the southeast.
Another notable feature is its quadripoint position, where four communes meet. That makes it a geographic marker as well as a climbing objective.
How high is Pic De Jalouvre (Pointe Blanche)? It reaches 2,438 m.
Where is Pic De Jalouvre (Pointe Blanche) located? It is in Bonneville, Upper Savoy, in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.
What range does it belong to? It is part of the Bornes Massif, within the Savoy Prealps and the Western Alps.
What are the nearest peaks and passes? The closest are Pic de Jallouvre, Pointe du Midi and Col de la Colombière, all within about 1.4 km.
Is there water on the way to Pic De Jalouvre (Pointe Blanche)? On this kind of exposed alpine terrain, do not rely on water sources on the route; carry about 1.5 to 3 litres for a day, more in hot weather or on a long outing.
When is the best time to go? The main season is generally from April to October, with summer offering the most settled conditions.
Do I need a guide? A guide is advisable if you are not comfortable with exposed scrambling, snow patches or route-finding on alpine ground.
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