Where is Mont Ventoux?
France, europe
6 km
1,912 m
extreme
Year-round
Mont Ventoux! Situated in France's Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, this iconic peak soars to 1,912m (6,273ft).
The road to the top, D974, is an amazing drive tucked inside the Mont Ventoux Natural Regional Park. Leaving from Bédoin, the 21.4 km (13.29 miles) route takes you through incredible scenery. The road opened in 1900!
After the Chalet Reynard ski station, it gets a little steeper. The last 6 km wind through a treeless, lunar-like landscape.
Nicknamed the "Giant of Provence" or "The Bald Mountain", it's notorious for its crazy winds. They can hit speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph)! In fact, winds over 90 km/h (56 mph) are common over 240 days a year!
The road is usually open from mid-April to mid-November, but weather can close it anytime. Expect strong winds, especially near the summit.
This climb is tough, with exposed conditions, heat, and wind! It's considered one of France's most challenging. It takes most people 30-45 minutes to drive straight up, but you'll probably want to stop and take some photos of the incredible views. The view stretches for miles, and on a clear day, you can see the Mediterranean and even Mont Blanc! Be warned though, this is a popular spot and can be very crowded.
Starting in Bédoin, the climb is 21.4 km long, with a whopping 1,639 meters of elevation gain and average gradient of 7.6%. Some ramps hit nearly 13%!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 6 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,912 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
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