17 Tournants de Chevreuse, an iconic drive south of Paris

17 Tournants de Chevreuse, an iconic drive south of Paris

France, europe

Length

2.1 km

Elevation

N/A

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

# 17 Turns of Chevreuse

Ever heard of the road that makes motorcyclists' hearts race? Welcome to 17 Turns of Chevreuse, a winding masterpiece tucked in the Yvelines department, just south of Paris in north-central France. Nestled in the charming town of Saint-Forget within the Chevreuse valley, this legendary stretch has earned serious bragging rights among the French riding community.

The Route des 17 Tournants—part of the departmental road D91—is deceptively short at just 2.1 km, but don't let that fool you. This compact section packs an incredible number of turns into a surprisingly tight space, which is exactly what gives it that jaw-dropping reputation. The road got a fresh coat of asphalt in 2018, so the pavement is in great shape.

Cyclists know this climb well—it's a regular feature on the Tour de France route, which tells you something about how iconic this section really is. Starting from the D58 road, you're looking at a 2.1 km ascent with 68 meters of elevation gain. The average gradient sits at a manageable 3.23%, but don't get too comfortable—it hits a max slope of 9% at its steepest points. So whether you're carving on two wheels or four, 17 Turns of Chevreuse delivers the kind of technical, engaging ride that gets riders coming back for more.

Where is it?

17 Tournants de Chevreuse, an iconic drive south of Paris is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.6600, 2.9615

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
2.1 km
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
46.6600, 2.9615

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