Where is Pic de Château Renard?

Where is Pic de Château Renard?

France, europe

Length

11.1 km

Elevation

2,936 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Picture this: you're in the French Alps, deep in the Queyras Regional Natural Park. You're headed up, up, up to Pic de Château Renard, a lofty peak sitting pretty at 2,936m (9,632ft). This isn't just any drive; it's one of the highest roads you'll find in Europe!

The real gem at the top is the Observatoire de Saint-Véran - Paul Felenbok, an astronomical observatory perched high in the sky. Built in 1974, it's one of the highest in Europe.

Now, about the road... It's an 11.1km (6.89 miles) unpaved adventure starting from Saint-Véran. Don't let the distance fool you – you'll be climbing 927 meters with an average gradient of 8.35%, with some sections hitting a whopping 16.0%! You'll definitely need a 4x4 for this one. Keep in mind that the road is usually closed from October to June, and is only accessible by astronomers or the Observatory's service vehicle.

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
11.1 km
Max Elevation
2,936 m
Difficulty
hard

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