Col de la Bataille

Col de la Bataille

France, europe

Length

30.3 km

Elevation

1.336 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

# Col de la Bataille: A Thrilling Alpine Climb

Tucked away in the Drôme department of southeastern France, Col de la Bataille is a mountain pass that'll get your adrenaline pumping. Sitting at 1,313 meters (4,307 feet), this beauty is all asphalt—you'll be cruising on the D199—but don't let that fool you. The road is seriously steep with plenty of hairpin bends to keep things interesting. Fun fact: the actual highest point hits 1,336 meters right inside the Tunnel du Col de la Bataille, so you'll literally reach the peak while driving through!

Ready to tackle it? You've got options depending on where you're starting from:

**From Saint Jean en Royans**: This is the long game—30.3 km of climbing with 1,063 meters of elevation gain. You're looking at a mellow 3.5% average gradient, perfect if you want to take it easy and soak in the scenery.

**From Oriol en Royans**: A solid middle-ground route at 23.7 km with 1,028 meters of elevation gain and a 4.3% average grade. Still challenging but more manageable than the first option.

**From Leoncel**: The hardcore route. Just 8.3 km but absolutely punchy—400 meters of climbing with a steep 4.8% average grade. This one'll test your nerve.

**From Les Trois Routes**: The gentle approach at 16.6 km and only 1.2% average gradient—basically a warm-up compared to the others.

However you approach it, Col de la Bataille delivers an unforgettable Alpine experience.

Where is it?

Col de la Bataille is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 47.2344, 3.9847

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
30.3 km
Max Elevation
1.336 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
47.2344, 3.9847

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