
Where is Col de l’Hysope?
France, europe
26.9 km
1,236 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: Col de l’Hysope, a seriously epic mountain pass nestled high in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region of France! We're talking Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur vibes, in the southeastern corner of the country.
The D3 road? Paved, yes, but hold on tight. It's a twisty-turny adventure, super narrow in places, with some seriously steep sections cranking up to almost 15%! If you're not a fan of tight squeezes and hairpin heaven, maybe give this one a miss. Reversing skills are definitely a plus.
This scenic route stretches for about 27 kilometers (or 17 miles for you imperial folks) between Authon and Champtercier. And the reward? A breathtaking natural viewpoint at the summit with a cute, tiny parking spot. Trust me, the views of Lac de Cema and Gorges de la Blanche are totally worth the white-knuckle drive! You won't forget this one.
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 26.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,236 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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