Where is Col de Vars?
France, europe
13 km
2,108 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: Col de Vars, a proper alpine pass chilling at 2,108m (that's 6,916ft) in the French Alps. You'll find it in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, straddling Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, smack-bang on the Route des Grandes Alpes. Basically, it's the link between the Ubaye and Queyras valleys, plus Embrun – think stunning scenery!
The D902, a fully paved road, is your route to the top. It's about 13 km (8 miles) winding up from Vars to Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye. Be warned, those climbs are steep in sections, with gradients hitting a punchy 12%!
Is it worth it? Absolutely. Think small, cute French villages and dramatic mountain vistas. The summit has a bar (essential!) and a parking spot to soak it all in.
This road is famous too; a regular on the Tour de France. Expect some company in summer, as it’s a popular route, and one of the few that cuts through this part of the Alps. Originally built way back in 1893 as a military road, it's generally open all year round unless heavy snow shuts things down in winter.
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 13 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,108 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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