Driving the Sensational Road to Col de Guery

Driving the Sensational Road to Col de Guery

France, europe

Length

21.6 km

Elevation

1,268 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Col de Guéry is a mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,268 m (4,160 ft) in France's Puy-de-Dôme department, smack in the heart of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

The 21.6 km (13.42 miles) stretch of Route Départementale 983 (D983) connects Randanne on the N-89 to the charming village of Mont-Dore, and it's completely paved—so no surprises there. But don't let that fool you into thinking it's a leisurely cruise. This road climbs with some serious attitude, hitting gradients of up to 8.8% in places, so your calves (and your car) will definitely feel it.

What makes this pass truly special? The views are absolutely incredible. You're winding through some genuinely spectacular scenery, and if you time it right, you can park at the summit's generous parking lot and explore Lac de Guéry—the highest lake in the entire Auvergne region, sitting right at the pass's elevation. It's the kind of place that screams Instagram moment.

Oh, and here's a fun fact: this road is famous enough to have been featured in the Tour de France. Professional cyclists have tackled these curves, and now so can you (though hopefully at a more leisurely pace). It's the perfect blend of challenging driving and breathtaking Alpine scenery.

Where is it?

Driving the Sensational Road to Col de Guery is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.6506, 2.0902

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
21.6 km
Max Elevation
1,268 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
46.6506, 2.0902

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