A paved curvy road to Col de Castellaras

A paved curvy road to Col de Castellaras

France, europe

Length

3.7 km

Elevation

1,248 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

# Col de Castellaras

Nestled in the Alpes-Maritimes of southeastern France, Col de Castellaras sits pretty at 1,248 meters (4,094 feet) above sea level. This is a solid climbing destination that rewards you with some genuine Alpine vibes.

The paved D5 Road gets you there, and yeah, it's no gentle cruise—this one's legitimately steep. If you're starting from Pont du Loup, you're looking at a 3.7 km push uphill with 178 meters of elevation gain. That works out to an average gradient of 4.8%, which means your legs will definitely know you've done something. Alternatively, if you're coming from the D2 approach, it's a shorter but still punchy 1.8 km climb with 84 meters of gain (averaging 4.7%). Either way, you're getting a proper workout.

The whole route is tarmacked, so at least you've got solid pavement beneath your wheels. It's the kind of pass that feels achievable but demands respect—perfect for cyclists looking to test themselves or drivers wanting to experience some quality Alpine scenery without going completely off the deep end.

Where is it?

A paved curvy road to Col de Castellaras is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.0267, 3.1904

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
3.7 km
Max Elevation
1,248 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
46.0267, 3.1904

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