Aiguilles

Aiguilles is the plural form of aiguille in French, meaning needle. The term is used in several contexts to describe slender, pointed shapes that resemble a needle. In geography and mountaineering, an aiguille denotes a tall, narrow rock spire or pinnacle that stands out in a landscape and often serves as a landmark or climbing objective. In geology and crystallography, aiguilles can refer to needle-like crystals or crystal aggregates. In architectural terminology, an aiguille is a slender spire crowning a tower or roof, a feature common in Gothic and other medieval church architecture.

Notable geographic uses of the name occur in the French Alps and Corsica. The Aiguille du Midi is a prominent peak in the Mont Blanc massif, well known for its cable car access from Chamonix. The Aiguille du Goûter is another significant summit in the same massif. The Aiguilles Rouges form a compact massif opposite Mont Blanc near Chamonix. In Corsica, the Aiguilles de Bavella are a dramatic group of granite spires in the Alta Rocca region. The Aiguille d'Arves is a well-known peak in the Maurienne valley.

The term’s continued use in toponymy reflects a descriptive tradition in French geography, where steep, needle-like features are named for their distinctive appearance. Beyond geography, aiguilles also appear in technical vocabulary in geology and architecture, carrying a consistent sense of slender, pointed form.