
Col de Vaumale
France, europe
11.64 km
1,202 m
hard
Year-round
# Col de Vaumale
Tucked away in the Var department of southeastern France's Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, Col de Vaumale sits at a respectable 1,202 meters (3,943 feet) above sea level. This is one of those passes that rewards you for the effort!
The D71 is your ticket up, and it's properly paved the whole way—though "steep" is definitely the operative word here. Starting from where the D957 and D19 intersect, you're looking at an 11.64 km climb that'll gain you 739 meters of elevation. The average gradient hovers around 6.3%, but don't be caught off guard by those sections that kick up to 9%—they'll definitely get your heart pumping.
The scenery in this corner of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur makes the work worthwhile though. Near the summit, you'll spot the Fort de Roche la Croix, adding a bit of historical intrigue to your mountain adventure. It's the kind of road that makes for a satisfying day out, whether you're tackling it by car or on two wheels.
Where is it?
Col de Vaumale is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.4358, 2.6435
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 11.64 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,202 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 46.4358, 2.6435
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