Where is Col de Viraysse?
France, europe
9.6 km
2,746 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France, itching for an adventure. I've got just the thing: Col de Viraysse, a mountain pass that tops out at a staggering 2,746m (9,009ft)!
This isn't your Sunday drive, folks. We're talking a super-narrow, unpaved road that snakes its way up through the mountains with endless hairpin turns and inclines hitting 17%. Parts of it are barely wide enough for one car, and let's just say there are some seriously exposed drops – hundreds of meters, no guardrails in sight. So, if you're not a fan of heights, maybe skip this one!
This old military road, built way back in the late 1880s, climbs 995m over just 9.6 km (5.96 miles) from the D225 road. That's an average gradient of over 10%! Heads up: it's usually closed from September to June because, you know, *mountains*.
But trust me, if you're up for the challenge, the views are unreal. From the top, you'll be gazing out over Italy, the Mercantour, and the Ubaye Valley. Plus, you can even hike up to Fort de Viraysse, an old military complex perched at 2,772m (9,094ft). It was built to defend France from Italy, and gives you a clear view of the Italian border. Seriously epic stuff!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 9.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,746 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
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