A Delightful Yet Challenging Paved Road to Col du Soulor in the Pyrenees
France, europe
45 km
1,474 m
moderate
Year-round
# Col du Soulor: A Pyrénéan Classic
Nestled in the Hautes-Pyrénées region of southwestern France, Col du Soulor sits pretty at 1,474m (4,835ft) and delivers one heck of a scenic drive. This high-altitude mountain pass is part of the legendary Route des Cols des Pyrénées—basically the ultimate collection of spine-tingling alpine roads cutting through the Franco-Spanish border.
The D918 Road stretches about 45km (28 miles) from Argelès Gazost to Eaux-Bonnes, and it's 100% paved. But don't let that fool you—this isn't your typical highway. Expect some seriously narrow sections and a few tunnels thrown in for good measure. The views? Absolutely stunning. This is bonafide Balcony Road territory, with sweeping vistas that'll have you pulling over constantly to snap photos.
Now, let's talk about the climb itself. From Argelès Gazost, you're looking at 19.48km of climbing with 1,019 meters of elevation gain (averaging 5.2%). From the Eaux-Bonnes side, it's 22km with 1,074 meters of gain (averaging 4.9%). Here's the kicker—some sections hit 11% gradient, making this a beast of a climb. Professional cyclists know it well: the Tour de France regularly tackles this pass, usually pairing it with its neighbor, Col d'Aubisque.
Whether you're a road cyclist, a motorcycle enthusiast, or just someone who loves epic mountain scenery, Col du Soulor won't disappoint.
Where is it?
A Delightful Yet Challenging Paved Road to Col du Soulor in the Pyrenees is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.1101, 2.1483
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 45 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,474 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 46.1101, 2.1483
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