
Where is Col de la Hourcere?
France, europe
22.7 km
1,435 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: You're cruising through the Pyrénées-Atlantiques in southwestern France, practically spitting distance from Spain. You're heading up to Col de la Hourcere, also known as Murkhuillako Lépoua in Basque – a seriously cool mountain pass that tops out at 1,435m (4,708ft).
The road is 22.7 km (14.1 miles) long, starting near Col de la Pierre Saint-Martin, and while it's paved, don't expect a super smooth ride. Get ready for a wild mix of turns, hairpin bends, and some seriously steep sections – we're talking an average of 8.10% grade, but hitting a max of 16.3% in spots! Plus, things get a little narrow in places.
The views? Totally worth it. And hey, near the summit, you can even check out the Espace Nordique d'Issarbe. Just be prepared for some challenging driving conditions and keep your eyes peeled!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 22.7 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,435 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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