Where is Col de la Croix de Coeur in Switzerland?
Switzerland, europe
43 km
2,178 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: You're in Switzerland, ready for an adventure. Buckle up, because Route de la Croix-de-Coeur, or Col de la Croix de Coeur, is calling your name! This high mountain pass, sitting pretty at 2,178m (7,145ft), straddles the Entremont and Martigny districts.
This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. The road is a bit of a beast, known for being challenging. You'll find a mix of paved sections and hard-pack gravel as you climb. Get ready for some seriously steep sections, hitting gradients of up to 12%! And hold on tight through the 38 hairpin turns—many without guardrails. Oh, and did I mention the 5 tunnels?
Starting in Sembrancher and winding up in Riddes, this 43 km (26 miles) stretch is an experience. Trust me, it’s worth it. At the top, you'll find Restaurant La Croix-de-Coeur and a parking area. But the real reward? Jaw-dropping views of the Combins and Mont Blanc to the south, and the Bernese Alps to the north. Get your camera ready!
Road Details
- Country
- Switzerland
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 43 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,178 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
moderateWhy is Olerdola Castle Famous?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, adventure seekers, let's talk about Castell d'Olerdola! Perched high in Catalonia, Spain, this mountain castle sits pretty at 314 meters (that's a cool 1,033 feet) in the Alt Penedès region. Why is it famous? Imagine a spot continuously inhabited since Neolithic times. You'll wander through Iberian and Roman relics before stumbling upon the medieval castle ruins. History buff heaven! Plus, there's a sweet parking lot at the top. The road to get there? Totally paved and known as BV-2443. Just be warned, it's a bit of a climb! From the C15 road, it's a 1.9km (just over a mile) jaunt upwards, gaining 137 meters in elevation. Expect some sections to hit a 10% gradient—your car might feel it! Is it worth the drive? Absolutely! Picture this: stunning views of the Penedes vineyards rolling out before you, all the way to the sparkling sea. The scenery is so epic that it's even been used in TV commercials (like for the Seat Leon). Trust me, your camera will thank you.
extremeVia Provinciale Anacapri is a narrow coastal road on Capri
🇮🇹 Italy
# Via Provinciale Anacapri If you're looking for a white-knuckle adventure on Italy's stunning island of Capri, this is your road. Tucked in the Bay of Naples south of the city itself, Capri sits near the tip of the famous Amalfi Peninsula in Campania. This tiny 2.4km (1.49 miles) route is the main connector between the island's two towns—linking the harbor at Marina Grande up to Anacapri, the higher of the two settlements. Fair warning: this isn't your leisurely Sunday drive. Via Provinciale Anacapri throws four gnarly hairpin turns at you and gets so narrow in spots that traffic lights control one-way traffic just to squeeze vehicles through. The road is properly paved, sure, but that doesn't make the experience any less intense when you've got towering cliffs rising above on one side and a seriously steep drop to the Mediterranean on the other. The views? Absolutely breathtaking. You'll get stunning panoramas of Capri's northern coastline and Marina Grande as you climb. But honestly, you might be too busy gripping the wheel to fully appreciate them. This drive demands respect, confidence, and a driver you can trust completely. Not for the faint of heart, but definitely unforgettable.
hardColl de Finestres
🇪🇸 Spain
# Coll de Finestres: A Wild Ride at the Top of Andorra Tucked right on the border between Andorra's Sant Julià de Lòria and Spain's Lleida province, the Coll de Finestres sits pretty at 2,392 meters (7,847 feet) above sea level. Yep, this is one seriously high mountain pass—and one of the loftiest roads you'll find in the country. Here's the real talk: this isn't your typical Sunday drive. Nestled in the heart of the Pyrenees, the route to the summit is basically an unpaved adventure—gravel, rocks, ruts, and all. The road gets bumpy and tippy in spots, and winter basically shuts this place down completely. Think of it as a true mountain trail that demands respect and skill. This one's absolutely for experienced off-roaders only. If unpaved mountain roads make you nervous, skip it. You'll genuinely need 4x4 capability, and honestly, a healthy comfort level with heights is essential. The climb is steep and unforgiving, especially when things get wet and muddy—conditions that can turn the whole experience into a serious test of your driving chops. It's the kind of road that separates the wheat from the chaff when it comes to mountain driving. Stunning Pyrenees scenery awaits those bold enough to tackle it, but only if you know what you're doing.
hardWhere is Dursey Island?
🌍 Ireland
Okay, picture this: you're on Dursey Island, just off the southwestern tip of Ireland's Beara Peninsula. To get there, you hop on Ireland's *only* cable car (how cool is that?!). Once on the island, you'll discover this rugged, totally unpaved road that stretches for about 5.3km (3.3 miles) from Clonmore to Ardatedaun, hugging the southern coast. Now, this isn't your smooth, easy-breezy drive. Think gravel, steep climbs, and a seriously narrow track – it's an adventure! But trust me, the scenery is worth it. Dursey is all about raw, untamed beauty, and the views of the West Cork coastline are just *chef's kiss*. Keep an eye out for dolphins and whales in the surrounding waters, plus a whole host of seabirds and butterflies. Dursey Island is a proper escape from the everyday, and this little road is your ticket to experiencing it all.