The cliff "Les Vignobles" is the main cliff you encounter going downstream from Sy to Hamoir. It culminates about 70 m above the river Ourthe in a wooded area.
You will find there beautiful cracks.
You can access the top by a steep path with wooden stairs starting about 30 m left of the cliff . The path leads to the flank of the cliff where you can follow a easy climbing (fixed chain) to get to a first terrace on the ridge. Going down on the ridge you access to the different routes of the cliff.
Going left you climb a short dihedral with a crack (cable) and get access to the summit.
From the summit, follow the path that is first going up then going down on the right. You come down at the level of the information board at the end of the meadow.
Apart the main cliff, you can also climb "le rocher des Trous" (3 routes) just above the information board.
Another section is "le rocher du Tunnel" (3 old routes, old equipment, vegetation) that you can join (with difficulties as the path is very steep, muddy and vegetation) from the entrance of the cave going right then up in the first wide gully. The name comes from a natural tunnel that you find at the end of the routes.
The cave of les Vignobles is out of access during winter time to protect the rest of some bats. No fire and no biwak in the cave.
Climbing on "Rocher de la Vierge" (the first cliff just aside of the path 100 m after the railway bridge) is not officially authorized. This cliff is used by a local adventure organization for abseiling and can be quite muddy or slippery.
The first climbers to visit the area of Sy (upstream rochers de Vieuxvoille and downstream rochers des Vignobles) were King Albert 1st and Count Xavier de Grunne during summer 1930.
The name "Vignobles" comes from the use of the cave to store the grape harvest from the surrounding vineyards till begin of 20th century.
The cliff was the main "training site" for the climbers from Liège area from the end of the 30's. After WWII André Capel explored most of the cliffs of the Ourthe area and wrote the first "topo guide" of the belgian cliffs in 1956.
In the 60's and 70's climbing became more "democratic" and new climbers opened most of the cracks. A special mention for "La Pastorale" that was opened in free solo by Jacky Delderenne. Camille Piraprez and Christian Vondenhoff opened the beautiful pillar just left of la Pastorale ending to a big rock that was just maintained by its pointed base (from there the "Epée de Damoclès"). This "Epée de Damoclès" was secured by the CAB in 2015 with a concrete formwork and cables.
In the 80' most of the routes were opened and free climbed.
From 2014 to 2019, most of the old equipme,nt was replaced by bolts. The cliff is not overprotected even if there are more protection points that used to be in the 80's ...
The area is access sensitive!
This cliff is situated on private ground. The Belgian Alpine Club has a special convention with the owner to be allowed to climb on the cliff and has also received the necessary permits from the authorities. As for all the belgian cliffs, it is mandatory to be member of the Belgian Alpine Club or Klim en Bergsport Federatie to be allowed to climb. The members of the other Alpine Clubs member of UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation) are also allowed to climb under condition to have a valid membership and a valid liability insurance in case of accident.
No fire, no camping are allowed on the site.
Pedestrian access from the main parking in Sy following the path along the river Ourthe, going downstream. The path goes under the railway bridge, then aside small cliffs to arrive to a meadow. Just before the meadow "le Rocher de la Vierge" where climbing is not officially authorized by the authorities.
At the end of the meadow you see the cliff "Les Vignobles".
About 900 m from the parking.
The main cliff Les Vignobles is about 50 m after the end of the meadow, just right of the path. Just at the end of the meadow, you have a smaller cliff named "rocher des Trous" with 3 routes and between Les Vignobles and Les Trous, another small wand "Le Rocher du Tunnel" with 3 routes (difficult access and old equipment).