A military road to Colle Bandia
Italy, europe
3.8 km
2,429 m
hard
Year-round
# Colle Bandia
Tucked away in Italy's northwestern corner, Colle Bandia sits at 2,429m (7,969ft) in the Province of Cuneo, perched right on the border between the Stura Valley and Maira Valley. This is seriously high-altitude terrain in the Cottian Alps of Piedmont, and you're practically touching the French border from up here.
The 3.8km (2.36-mile) route runs west to east, connecting Colle Margherina to Colle di Valcavera, and it's mostly unpaved—think rough mountain cart track rather than polished highway. The good news? It's totally doable in a regular passenger car when the weather cooperates. The bad news? It's narrow. Like, *really* narrow. Meeting another vehicle head-on isn't just inconvenient; it's a genuine puzzle you'll want to avoid.
The slope is pretty gentle for a mountain pass, which helps, but this is definitely a road that demands respect and patience. What makes it worthwhile are the incredible views and the fascinating military history scattered along the route. You'll spot abandoned military barracks dotting the landscape, including the Caserme della Bandia near the summit—remnants of Italy's defensive past that add real character to the drive.
Skip this one if you're nervous about tight spaces, but if you're up for an adventure with a side of Alpine history and panoramic mountain vistas, Colle Bandia delivers the goods.
Where is it?
A military road to Colle Bandia is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 43.1331, 13.9919
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 3.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,429 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 43.1331, 13.9919
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