Is Col du Grand Ballon paved?
France, europe
28.7 km
1,343 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the Grand Est region of France, specifically the Haut-Rhin department, and you decide to tackle the Col du Grand Ballon. This fully paved pass, also known as D431G and part of the famous Route des Crêtes, sits pretty at 1,343m (4,406ft) above sea level in the Vosges Mountains.
The road has an interesting story, originally built during WWI to move troops quickly, hugging the western side of the mountain to avoid those pesky German artillery shells.
The whole shebang runs for 28.7 km (17.83 miles) between Cernay in the south and the Le Markstein ski resort up north. Once you hit the top, you're rewarded with a parking lot, hotel, restaurants, and some seriously epic views. The road’s in great shape, though it can get a bit busy.
But hold on tight, because this isn't a casual Sunday drive! Some sections of the climb get pretty steep, with gradients hitting up to 10.7%. Expect lots of hairpin turns, constant changes in gradient, and the occasional cobblestone corner that can get a little slick when wet. Oh, and did I mention the Tour de France has raced here? Get ready for an unforgettable ride!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 28.7 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,343 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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