French rock climbing powerhouse Sébastien (Seb) Bouin has done it again. Continuing his phenomenal streak of world-class first ascents, Bouin has successfully established a new testpiece in his home country: Le Champ des Muses, carrying a proposed grade of 9b (5.15b).

The Route and Location

Located at the Romeyer crag in the Drôme region of southeastern France (near the town of Die), Le Champ des Muses was originally bolted by local climber and developer Quentin Chastaigner. Recognizing the line's immense potential and extreme difficulty, Chastaigner pointed the unclimbed project out to Bouin. The route features an obvious, physical prow that demands absolute power and stamina.

The Style and The Grade: 9b

Known globally for his mastery of extreme endurance routes, Bouin found Le Champ des Muses to be the perfect fit for his climbing style. The route is characterized by continuous, powerful climbing where managing fatigue is the central challenge. The final crux requires executing incredibly difficult moves while heavily pumped.

Regarding the grade, Bouin was characteristically thoughtful. He stated that the route could be considered a "very hard 9a+" or a "soft 9b." However, because the resistance-heavy style suited his strengths so perfectly, he leaned toward proposing 9b (5.15b). Future repeaters will ultimately confirm the exact difficulty.

The Process

Bouin's journey with Le Champ des Muses was a tale of persistence. He began working on the line before a climbing trip to China, taking several frustrating falls at the final crux. The route stayed in the back of his mind during his travels. Upon returning to France in early April 2026, he refined his beta, caught a day with favorable wind conditions, and finally clipped the chains after just a few more attempts.

A Bittersweet Send

While sending a 9b is always a monumental achievement, Bouin expressed mixed emotions about finishing the project. Beyond the physical challenge, he fell in love with the area.

"I am really happy to finish such a beautiful project. At the same time, I am a bit sad to lose the excuse to return to this little paradise. Every moment there was incredible: the village atmosphere, the environment, the people... it was always a pleasure to come back." — Sébastien Bouin

Adding to an Impressive Legacy

Le Champ des Muses adds another jewel to Seb Bouin's already legendary crown of extreme first ascents. He remains one of the most prolific hard sport climbers in history, with recent milestones including:

  • DNA (9c) in the Verdon Gorge, France
  • Suprême Jumbo Love (9b+) in California, USA
  • Wolf Kingdom (9b+) in France
  • Vidra La Vida (9b/+) in Croatia
  • El Gran Cabrón (9b) in China

With Le Champ des Muses, Bouin proves once again that his vision for hard, beautiful lines in France is far from over, and he continues to push the limits of the sport.