Where is Col de Mehatche?

Where is Col de Mehatche?

France, europe

Length

4.1 km

Elevation

716 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, so you're looking for an adventure? Check out Col de Méhatché, a super cool mountain pass straddling the border between Spain and France! Officially known as Artzamendiko Bidea, this baby winds its way up to 716m (that's 2,349ft for you non-metric folks!) through the stunning Pyrenees.

You'll find it connecting Navarre (Spain) to the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department (France). The climb is about 4.1km (2.5 miles) from the base up to the Sommet de l'Artzamendi, where you'll find a tiny parking lot at the top.

Word of warning: This isn't a drive for the faint of heart. The road gets seriously narrow in places, so be prepared to hug the edge and maybe even throw it in reverse if you meet someone coming the other way! Plus, hold on tight, because it's got some steep sections, with gradients hitting a max of 17.2% in places.

But hey, the scenery is absolutely worth the white-knuckle drive. Think panoramic mountain views and that "I conquered something amazing" feeling when you reach the summit! Just take it slow, stay alert, and enjoy the ride!

Share this road

Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
4.1 km
Max Elevation
716 m
Difficulty
hard

Related Roads in europe

How to reach Col des Tentes in the Pyrenees: road conditions and tipshard

How to reach Col des Tentes in the Pyrenees: road conditions and tips

🇫🇷 France

# Col des Tentes: A Pyrenean Adventure Worth the Drive Ready for a serious mountain road experience? Col des Tentes sits pretty at 2,208m (7,244ft) in the Hautes-Pyrénées, and honestly, it's a gem for anyone craving that perfect blend of challenging terrain and stunning alpine scenery. The 12.4 km (7.70 miles) stretch from Gavarnie toward the Spanish border is paved as the D923, though fair warning—the road quality is a bit hit or miss. Most of it's solid, but that final 1.5 km section? It's off-limits to cars, so plan accordingly. What you will encounter is a relentless series of hairpin switchbacks (lacets) that'll keep your hands busy on the wheel, plus some seriously steep gradients reaching up to 11%. It's basically a full-body workout for your driving skills. Here's the thing: this pass was originally dreamed up as a connector to Spain through Port de Boucharo, but the Spanish side never got built. So you get this beautifully dramatic road that feels like the end of the world—which is kind of perfect, honestly. The reward? Absolutely jaw-dropping views of the central Pyrenees chain spreading out beneath you. That massive summit parking area (usually bursting at the seams in summer) gives you the perfect spot to catch your breath and soak it all in. Timing matters here. Summer season runs May through November, but mountain weather is unpredictable, so keep an eye on conditions before you head up. Trust me, the effort's worth it.

Silvretta High Alpine Roadmoderate

Silvretta High Alpine Road

🇦🇹 Austria

# The Silvretta High Alpine Road Picture this: a 22.3-kilometer stretch of pure Alpine magic winding through Austria's Silvretta range. This toll road connects the charming Montafon valley town of Partenen with Galtur over in the Paznaun valley, and honestly, it's one of those drives that'll leave you speechless. Built over sixteen years (1938-1954), the road climbs up to the Bielerhöhe pass—sitting pretty at 2,036 meters—where you'll find the jaw-dropping Silvretta reservoir. Seriously, this water is *spectacularly* turquoise, like someone spilled liquid gemstones everywhere. That surreal color comes from glacial silt, and it creates this incredible contrast against the grey granite peaks and white glaciers surrounding it. The reservoir sits right at the base of Piz Buin, Vorarlberg's highest peak at 3,312 meters, making for some seriously photogenic moments. The engineering here is wild: 30 hairpin bends snake their way through a landscape straight out of a dream—glaciers, mountain streams cascading down, pristine alpine meadows. It's the kind of scenery that makes you want to pull over every five minutes to just take it all in. Once you reach the summit, the Bielerhöhe becomes your launchpad for hiking and mountaineering adventures throughout the range. And here's the best part: while everyone flocks to Austria's famous Grossglockner road, this gem stays refreshingly under-the-radar, offering equally stunning views without the crowds.

Crossing Vado del Río Eljasmoderate

Crossing Vado del Río Eljas

🇵🇹 Portugal

Okay, picture this: straddling the border between Spain and Portugal, you'll find the Vado del Río Eljas. It's less a bridge and more of a concrete ribbon, just over 170 feet long, draped across the Erges/Eljas River. Now, this isn't your average smooth highway; it's seen some serious floods in its time. Adding to the thrill, there are *zero* guardrails separating you from the drop. Oh, and did I mention it's so narrow that only one car can cross at a time? It's all part of the adventure on this international crossing!

Champillonhard

Champillon

🇮🇹 Italy

Hey, road trippers! Ever heard of Champillon? It's this crazy-beautiful high-mountain plateau in the Aosta Valley, way up in northwestern Italy. We're talking 2,092 meters (that's 6,863 feet!) above sea level. The road up there? Paved, sure, but hold on tight. It's a narrow, winding climb that gets pretty steep in places. Oh, and a heads-up: snow can shut this road down at any time, so check conditions before you go. But trust me, the views are SO worth it. Think panoramic vistas, crisp mountain air, and maybe even a glimpse of Picco Palù-Großer Moosstock or the Fronza alle Coronelle Refuge. It’s a taste of Italy you won’t forget!