Where is Col de Restefond?
France, europe
47.2 km
2,679 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the French Alps, wind in your hair, and the stunning Mercantour National Park stretching out around you. You're on the Route de Nice (aka C4, or Route du Col de Restefond), a totally paved road that winds its way up to the Col de Restefond. This beauty sits at a lofty 2,680m (8,790ft), making it one of the highest roads in France!
This epic road links Jausiers to Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, clocking in at 47.2 km (29.32 miles) of pure driving bliss. Built way back in 1860, with the final touches added in the early '60s, the road is steeped in history, complete with old military blockhouses from the Alpine Line.
Heads up, though – this high-altitude pass is usually snowed in from November to May. But when it's open, get ready for a climb! If you're tackling it from Saint Etienne de Tinée, it's a solid 23 km ascent with an average gradient of 6.6%. Expect some steeper sections near the old Casernes de Restefond, where the gradient kicks up to 8-9%. The views are breathtaking the whole way, so get your camera ready!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 47.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,679 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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