A scenic road to Col de Saint-Barnabé in the French Alps

A scenic road to Col de Saint-Barnabé in the French Alps

France, europe

Length

8.2 km

Elevation

1,368 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, buckle up, road trippers, because Col de Saint-Barnabé in southeastern France is calling your name! Nestled in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence within the stunning Verdon Regional Nature Park, this mountain pass tops out at a cool 1,368 meters (or 4,488 feet for you imperial system fans).

The route, running 8.2 kilometers (that's about 5 miles) from Demandolx to Soleilhas, is paved all the way, though things can get a little narrow in spots. Expect some seriously steep sections too, with gradients hitting up to 11% – you'll definitely feel it!

This road is totally immersed in the Verdon river valley. Picture this: mountains and forests all around. Just a heads up, though: this area's known for some wild electrical storms in the summer, so keep an eye on the sky!

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
8.2 km
Max Elevation
1,368 m
Difficulty
hard

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