Is the road to Les Fonds paved?
France, europe
11.8 km
2,040 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, so you wanna get off the beaten path? Head east of the famous Col d'Izoard to Les Fonds, a seriously remote mountain town in the French Alps. We're talking Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, way up at 2,040m (that's almost 6,700 feet!).
The road in, the D89T, from the village of Cervières is only about 11.8 km (7.3 miles). Don't let the short distance fool you, though. This is a narrow, technical little beast! It's paved, thankfully, but there are no center lines and many places are barely wide enough for two cars. You'll be hugging the curves of the Cervièrette torrent as you snake through this wild, glacial valley.
The climb is consistent, with gradients hitting 7.5% in spots. As you gain altitude, you'll be treated to killer views of high-altitude pastures and larch forests. Keep in mind that because of the elevation, this road is usually snowed in during the winter, so plan your trip for late spring to autumn. The road ends in town, a dead end, so you'll get to do it twice! Double the views of those massive peaks that surround the valley. Worth it!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 11.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,040 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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