A memorable road trip to Col de Montgenevre in the Cottian Alps
France, europe
20.6 km
1,854 m
moderate
Year-round
Col de Montgenèvre is a high mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,854 meters (6,083 feet) in the Hautes-Alpes department of France's Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, right near the Italian border in the southeastern part of the country.
Named after the charming village of Montgenèvre nearby, this pass—also known as Passo del Monginevro—punches above its weight as a crucial link between France and Italy. What makes it special? It's actually the lowest of the major Alpine crossings between the two countries, which is why historians think it might've been Hannibal's route when he famously crossed the Alps back in the day.
The 20.6-kilometer (12.8-mile) drive runs from Briançon in southeastern France down to Cesana Torinese in Italy's Piedmont region. The entire route is nicely paved as the N94 road, with stunning views looking back toward Briançon as you climb. Fair warning though: you'll tackle some seriously steep sections with gradients hitting 11.7% at their steepest—challenging enough to attract the Tour de France cyclists who've raced here.
Set high in the Cottian Alps, this pass is impressively kept open during winter, making it a year-round crossing. Just be prepared for heavy traffic during peak travel times, especially in summer.
Where is it?
A memorable road trip to Col de Montgenevre in the Cottian Alps is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 44.7994, 1.3950
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 20.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,854 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 44.7994, 1.3950
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