Col de la Traversette was Hannibal's route across the Alps
France, europe
2.5 km
2,369 m
hard
Year-round
# Col de la Traversette
Tucked away in the Savoie department of southeastern France near the Italian border, Col de la Traversette sits at a breathtaking 2,369m (7,772ft) and comes with some seriously legendary bragging rights. This is allegedly where Hannibal and his entire army—including 37 elephants—made their famous crossing into Italy back in 218 BC. Pretty wild, right?
The road itself is pure adventure: a completely unpaved military track that's basically begging for a 4x4 or enduro bike. Starting from the D1090, you're looking at a gnarly 2.5km climb that packs in 324m of elevation gain and averages a steep 12.96% gradient, with some sections hitting a jaw-dropping 30%. But here's the thing—despite the brutality, it's actually rideable and rewards you with absolutely stunning alpine views.
Nestled in the Cottian Alps, this high-altitude gem sits just south of the Little St Bernard Pass and gets you close to Le Fort de la Redoute, a 17th-century fortress built by the House of Savoy in 1630 (though you can't actually visit it anymore due to structural concerns).
Fair warning: winter makes this place completely impassable, so plan your adventure accordingly. If you're up for a challenging, history-soaked drive with epic scenery, this legendary pass delivers on all fronts.
Where is it?
Col de la Traversette was Hannibal's route across the Alps is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 45.5805, 2.8248
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 2.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,369 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 45.5805, 2.8248
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