A beautiful road through a scenic valley to Col de Peyresourde
France, europe
23 km
1,569 m
moderate
Year-round
# Col de Peyresourde
Nestled at 1,569 meters in the heart of France's Occitanie region, Col de Peyresourde is a stunning mountain pass that straddles the border between Haute-Garonne and Hautes-Pyrénées, just a stone's throw from Spain. You'll find a handy parking area and a cozy little bar at the summit—perfect for catching your breath and soaking in the views.
The 23-kilometer stretch of D618 that connects Bagnères-de-Luchon to Loudenvielle is an absolute gem. The road is well-maintained and fully paved, winding through a gorgeous mountain valley with sweeping vistas of the surrounding peaks the entire way up. But here's where it gets really fun: those final couple of kilometers feature some absolutely brilliant hairpin turns that'll get your adrenaline pumping.
What makes this pass particularly friendly for road trippers is that it's actually one of the easier Pyrenees climbs—the grades mostly stay under 8%, with some flatter sections under 3% mixed in to give you a breather. Coming from Bagnères-de-Luchon, it's a 15.27km ascent with about 939 meters of elevation gain (averaging 6.1%), while the Loudenvielle side is a shorter 8.3km push gaining 629 meters (averaging 7.6%).
The Tour de France has tackled this beauty multiple times, and it's easy to see why. Thanks to its central Pyrenees location, the road typically stays open year-round, linking the charming Aure and Louron valleys. It's the kind of drive you'll want to tackle again and again.
Where is it?
A beautiful road through a scenic valley to Col de Peyresourde is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 45.9488, 1.2108
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 23 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,569 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 45.9488, 1.2108
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