Questions & Answers about En haut de la colline, on voit la mer.
En haut de means at the top of, high up on, or up at the top of something.
So in en haut de la colline, the idea is that the viewpoint is high on the hill, especially near the top.
A useful contrast:
- en haut = up high / at the top
- en haut de la colline = at the top of the hill
So de is needed because you are specifying the thing whose top you mean.
Because colline is a feminine singular noun, so it takes la.
After de:
- de + le → du
- de + les → des
- de + la stays de la
- de + l’ stays de l’
So:
- de la colline = correct
- du colline = not possible
Examples:
- en haut du château because château is masculine
- en haut de la colline because colline is feminine