Arc'teryx, The Prises de la Bastille 2 - Climbing District

Arc’teryx, The Prises de la Bastille 2

A new way to climb. A new vision of the wall.

On June 11, 2025, Arc’teryx and Climbing District inaugurated the second edition of The Prises de la Bastille — a series of unique volumes designed to transform indoor climbing into a true vertical exploration.
Following a memorable debut in 2024, this new edition steps up the game, both in substance and style.

Shapes inspired by nature

In the climbing world, columns—whether natural or reimagined indoors—represent a deeply organic, sculptural, and immersive form of movement.

From towering giants like Devils Tower in Wyoming, a sacred monolith with perfect hexagonal lines, to the basalt organs of Arpa Gorge in Armenia, and the hanging tufas of Kyparissi in Greece, these formations tell the story of a shifting geology frozen in verticality.

Each type of column demands its own style: pure opposition, three-dimensional compression, or a delicate balance of finesse and power.

Les Prises de La Bastille - Climbing District - Arc'teryx - Ashima Shiraishi

These natural forms are now inspiring a new generation of indoor volumes: both playgrounds and canvases, where route setters reinvent movement and space to create complete climbing experiences—sensory, technical, and expressive.

Climbing a column is often less about ascending and more about a physical dialogue. A vertical dance where you embrace the wall, and every move tells a fragment of the landscape.

These volumes are not an evolution. They are a reinvention.
They echo the powerful lines, cracks, and pillars found outdoors—reimagined for the indoor climbing experience.

Every hold becomes a piece of urban cliff. A new kind of climbing experience with more opposition, subtlety, and commitment.

Les Prises de La Bastille - Climbing District - Arc'teryx et Hamish McArthur

Climb the art. Shape the unseen.

Route setters here are given a radical playground:

  • Complex shapes to invent entirely new sequences;
  • Modular volumes allowing for sculptural combinations;
  • A strong visual identity, where lines suggest movement before it even begins.

Each boulder becomes a canvas.
Each sequence tells a story through motion.

Art is no longer hanging on the walls — it lives in the way we climb.

Les Prises de La Bastille - Climbing District - Arc'teryx - Ashima Shiraishi, Clément Lechaptois, Hamish McArthur

Holds that demand a different reading of the body — movement that’s more instinctive, more primal, more free.

Les Prises de La Bastille - Climbing District - Arc'teryx - Ashima Shiraishi, Clément Lechaptois, Hamish McArthur
Les Prises de La Bastille - Climbing District - Arc'teryx - Ashima Shiraishi, Clément Lechaptois, Hamish McArthur
Les Prises de La Bastille - Climbing District - Arc'teryx - Ashima Shiraishi, Clément Lechaptois, Hamish McArthur

A launch night blending art, sport, and community

June 11: an evening to connect with the community, discover the new holds, climb, feel the music, and join an upcycling workshop with Artefact.

A truly unique evening with over 500 people gathered around Arc’teryx and Climbing District — marked by everyone’s energy and the shared drive to push limits.

  • 🎸 Live band & DJ set to raise the energy
  • 🎥 Screening of the latest film by Ashima Shiraishi
  • 🌟 Round table with Clément Lechaptois and Hamish McArthur
  • 🧗‍♀️ Discovery session on the brand-new volumes
  • 💪 Climbing contest
  • ♻️ Upcycling workshop with Artefact
  • 🍴 Local catering & unlimited drinks
  • 🏆 20-problem contest with Arc’teryx prizes up for grabs
Les Prises de La Bastille - Climbing District - Arc'teryx - Ashima Shiraishi, Clément Lechaptois, Hamish McArthur
Les Prises de La Bastille - Climbing District - Arc'teryx - Ashima Shiraishi, Clément Lechaptois, Hamish McArthur

Prestigious guests embodying a distinct vision of climbing and art.

Arc’teryx athletes Ashima Shiraishi, Clément Lechaptois, and Hamish McArthur were present to kick off this exceptional evening.

A special moment of climbing and connection with these extraordinary individuals — each revealing, in their own way, a unique facet of the sport.

Les Prises de La Bastille - Climbing District - Arc'teryx - Ashima Shiraishi, Clément Lechaptois, Hamish McArthur

Year-round programming to keep exploring further

Once again this year, Arc’teryx and Climbing District are offering a rich monthly program blending climbing culture, art, community gatherings, upcycling, outdoor trips, masterclasses, film screenings, and events like the Team Boulder Arena.

You can find the full lineup on the Social Club calendar, including:

  • Climbing intro sessions to get started with zero pressure
  • Masterclasses with Arc’teryx athletes
  • Photo exhibitions & film screenings
  • Outdoor trips to Fontainebleau with the Climbing Bus
  • ReBIRD & upcycling workshops
  • Community sessions and climbing challenges
  • The Team Boulder Arena, our flagship pro/am competition — back on November 15, 2025
  • … and more!

Highlights

A few snapshots from this truly one-of-a-kind evening with the community. Over 500 of you showed up… thank you!
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*The information presented in this article corresponds to the period of its publication - June 2025.
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