
Where is Signal de Bisanne?
France, europe
14.4 km
1,225 m
easy
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the French Alps in the Massif du Beaufortain, aiming for the legendary Signal de Bisanne. This beast of a climb is one of France's toughest, a real test of your gears (and your lungs!).
The road winds for about 14.4 km (almost 9 miles), and you'll be climbing a whopping 1,225 meters (over 4,000 feet!). That gives you an average gradient of around 8.5%, but don't let that fool you - the last couple of kilometers are brutally steep, some sections hitting well over 10%.
The route, famous from the Tour de France, is paved, so no need for a 4x4. At the top, you're rewarded with jaw-dropping views – chairlifts, communication towers, and the Restaurant d'Altitude Panoramique 2000 Les Saisies, all with Mont Blanc dominating the horizon. Trust me, the pain is worth it for the scenery!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 14.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,225 m
- Difficulty
- easy
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