A great paved road to Col de la Faucille in the Jura Mountains

A great paved road to Col de la Faucille in the Jura Mountains

France, europe

Length

48.4 km

Elevation

1,323 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Col de la Faucille is a legendary mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,323m (4,341ft) in the Ain department of France, just north of Geneva near the Swiss border. This fully paved beauty—known as RN5-D1005—stretches an impressive 48.4km (30 miles) from the charming town of Gex up to Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux, taking you through the stunning Jura Mountains.

What makes this pass special? It's been a Tour de France favorite since 1951, and for good reason. The road winds through countless curves with a handful of thrilling hairpin turns that'll keep you alert and entertained. It's a cyclist's dream and a gear-head's playground, drawing enthusiasts from all over.

Fair warning though: traffic can be pretty heavy here, especially on weekdays when trucks treat this route like their personal shortcut to Dijon. If you want a more relaxed drive with better scenery appreciation, aim for weekends. The mountain scenery is absolutely worth the trip whenever you decide to tackle it—it's one of the Jura's most celebrated climbs for a reason.

Where is it?

A great paved road to Col de la Faucille in the Jura Mountains is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.0601, 1.5884

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
48.4 km
Max Elevation
1,323 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
46.0601, 1.5884

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