
A steep road to Crêt de l'Oeillon
France, europe
1.4 km
1,364 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: Crêt de l'Oeillon, a killer peak in central France's Loire department, chilling at 1,364 meters high. You'll find it smack-dab in the Pilat massif, part of the beautiful Pilat Natural Regional Park.
The road up, known as D63.1, is paved, so no worries there. Just keep in mind, winter brings the snow, so plan accordingly. But trust me, the views from the top are SO worth it – on a clear day, you can see the Vercors, the Écrins, and even Mont Blanc!
Oh, and the summit is home to this massive TV antenna, like 80 meters tall. It's been there since 1955 and is one of the biggest broadcasting spots in France. Park your car just below the transmitter, and get ready for a short, steep climb.
Speaking of steep, the final 1.4 km stretch gains 127 meters, averaging about a 9% gradient. It's a leg burner, but hey, even the Tour de France riders have tackled it! Get ready for some seriously stunning scenery.
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 1.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,364 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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