Faux Col de Restefond is one of the highest paved roads in France

Faux Col de Restefond is one of the highest paved roads in France

France, europe

Length

N/A

Elevation

2,656 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

# Faux Col de Restefond

Want to experience one of France's highest mountain roads? Head to the Faux Col de Restefond, sitting pretty at 2,656m (8,713ft) in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. This stunning pass is tucked away in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, right in the heart of the Mercantour National Park, surrounded by other epic peaks like Col de la Bonette and Cime de la Bonette.

Getting up there is pretty straightforward—the C4 (Route de Nice) is mostly paved all the way. Here's the thing though: technically, Faux Col de Restefond isn't directly on the main route to Col de la Bonette, but most people who visit swear they've been here. In reality, you might not venture the extra 50 meters down the gravel road below, but that doesn't stop anyone from claiming the victory!

A heads-up if you're planning a visit: this pass is only accessible from June through September. Winter snows close it down from October to May, so plan accordingly if you're dreaming of tackling this alpine gem.

Where is it?

Faux Col de Restefond is one of the highest paved roads in France is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.1433, 1.5397

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Max Elevation
2,656 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
46.1433, 1.5397

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