An old military road to Col de Mallemort

# Col de Mallemort: A High-Alpine Adventure

Tucked away in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Col de Mallemort sits at a breathtaking 2,543m (8,343ft) and serves up one of the most thrilling drives in southeastern France. Perched just west of Col de Viraysse near the Italian border, this mountain pass is crowned with a military fortress that's been standing guard for over a century.

The road itself? Pure adrenaline. This completely unpaved route follows an old military path that's definitely not for the faint-hearted. We're talking narrow—like, barely-room-for-one-vehicle narrow—winding through the Cottian Alps with gut-dropping cliff faces plunging hundreds of meters straight down. No guardrails. No escape route if you decide you've had enough.

The real challenge? Those 34 insanely tight hairpin turns. They're so sharp you'll actually need to reverse to gather enough space before hitting the next one. It's white-knuckle driving at its finest, with military fortresses dotting the landscape as you climb.

Starting from the paved D900 Road, you're looking at 9.9 km (6.15 miles) to the summit, gaining nearly 1,000 meters in elevation. The views from the top? Absolutely worth it—sweeping vistas of Italy, the Mercantour, and the stunning Ubaye valley spread out below. Just keep in mind: this route is only passable between July and August, so plan accordingly.