
An epic mountain road to Signal de Bisanne
France, europe
14.4 km
1,930 m
moderate
Year-round
# Signal de Bisanne: France's Ultimate Alpine Challenge
Ready to tackle one of France's most legendary climbs? Signal de Bisanne, also known as Mont Bisanne, sits pretty at 1,930m (6,332ft) in the heart of the Savoie department. This beauty holds a special distinction—it's one of only two climbs in the entire country classified by the ASO as "Epic," putting it right up there with the most brutal Hors Catégorie (HC) challenges.
Nestled in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France, this peak commands serious respect from cyclists and road warriors alike. The Tour de France has featured this climb multiple times, and for good reason.
The most popular assault starts from Villard-sur-Doron at 705m elevation. You're looking at 14.4 km (8.95 miles) of pure climbing with 1,225 meters (4,019 feet) of elevation gain. That works out to an average gradient of 8.5%, but here's the kicker—those final two kilometers? They absolutely punish you with gradients regularly exceeding 10% and hitting 13.0% in stretches. The good news? The road is fully paved throughout, and helpfully marked every kilometer to keep you motivated.
Once you summit this beast, you'll find chairlifts, communication towers, and the fantastic Restaurant d'Altitude Panoramique 2000 Les Saisies waiting to celebrate your achievement. Grab a table and soak in the 360º panoramic views, with the stunning Mont Blanc dominating the horizon. You've earned it!
Where is it?
An epic mountain road to Signal de Bisanne is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 45.2961, 2.9571
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 14.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,930 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 45.2961, 2.9571
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