The Face

The Face, a famous limestone climbing route in Germany's Frankenjura, was first climbed by British climber Jerry Moffatt in 1983. Moffatt was one of the strongest sport climbers of his era. His ascent of The Face cemented the route as an internationally recognized testpiece.

The Face is graded 8a+ (5.13c) in the French grading system, which was extremely hard for the time of its first ascent. It is renowned for its physical and technical demands on the steep limestone. The route remains a classic objective for highly advanced sport climbers visiting the region.

The Face is located in the Krottenseer Turm area of the Frankenjura, a famous climbing region in southern Germany. The Frankenjura is characterized by its pocketed limestone cliffs scattered across a forested landscape. The specific crag features a striking, steep wall that hosts several classic hard routes.

The Face was significant because it was one of the first routes outside of established areas like Verdon or Buoux to reach such a high standard of difficulty. Jerry Moffatt's ascent in 1983 demonstrated that world-class hard climbing existed in Germany. The route's sustained nature and powerful moves on pockets set a new benchmark for sport climbing in the 1980s.