A Nice Road to Col de Valberg in the Alpes Maritimes

A Nice Road to Col de Valberg in the Alpes Maritimes

France, europe

Length

19.7 km

Elevation

1,669 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

# Col de Valberg

Nestled at 1,672 meters (5,475 feet) in the Alpes-Maritimes region of southeastern France, Col de Valberg is a stunning mountain pass that sits right within the Mercantour National Park. This is proper alpine scenery—the kind that makes you want to pull over and just soak it all in.

The route, known as D28, stretches 19.7 km (12.24 miles) between Guillaumes and Beuil, with a fully paved road that makes for a smooth drive (well, mostly smooth). Fair warning though: summer months get busy here, so don't expect total solitude if you're planning a peak-season visit.

Here's where it gets interesting for the driving enthusiasts—the pass has earned its stripes as a Tour de France stage, which should tell you something about the climb. The road gets properly steep in places, hitting gradients of up to 11%. If you're coming from the Guillaumes side via St. Brès, you're looking at a 13.2 km slog uphill gaining 880 meters with an average gradient of 6.7%. Coming from Beuil is the easier option—just 6.1 km and 231 meters of elevation at a mellow 3.8% average gradient.

Whether you're a cyclist, a road-trip fanatic, or just someone who appreciates a good mountain pass, Col de Valberg delivers the goods. Incredible scenery, legitimate curves, and that satisfying feeling when you finally crest the summit.

Where is it?

A Nice Road to Col de Valberg in the Alpes Maritimes is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 45.1088, 2.2167

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
19.7 km
Max Elevation
1,669 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
45.1088, 2.2167

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