Driving Through the Iconic Tunnel du Galibier

# Tunnel du Galibier

Tucked away in the French Alps at a breathtaking 2,576m (8,451ft), the Tunnel du Galibier is a historic passage that sits roughly 1 kilometre from the actual Col du Galibier summit. Straddling the border between Savoie and Hautes-Alpes in southeastern France, this fully paved route has quite the story to tell.

Built back in 1890 and opened in 1891, this tunnel was *the* way over the summit until the 1970s—for nearly 85 years, every vehicle that wanted to cross had to squeeze through its oak doors. Then in 1976, deterioration forced a closure, and during the 26-year restoration period, traffic rerouted over the exposed summit via the D902B. When it finally reopened in summer 2002, fresh and restored, drivers got the option to either brave the tunnel or tackle the dramatic alpine route overhead.

The tunnel's quirky detail? It's supposedly 365 metres long—one metre for each day of the year. At just 4 metres wide (with a 3.2m roadway), it operates as a single-lane passage controlled by traffic lights for alternating traffic flow. It ranks among Europe's highest tunnels, which means summer snowstorms are totally possible, and the route closes from late October through May or early June.

The tunnel's famous too—the Tour de France has rolled through here multiple times, and there's a poignant memorial to Henri Desgrange, the race's founder, right at the south entrance. Desgrange absolutely loved this spot, once writing: "In front of this giant, we can do nothing but take our hats off and bow."

Fair warning: bicycles, caravans, and trucks over 19 tonnes aren't permitted, but you'll find a welcoming bar-restaurant just before the tunnel entrance to fuel up before your alpine adventure.