
Where is Sommet Bucher?
France, europe
13 km
2,215 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: You're in the French Alps, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, ready for an adventure. Your destination? Sommet Bûcher, a peak chilling at 2,215m (7,267ft).
This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. This old military road, first carved out in 1892, climbs 13 km (8.07 miles) from Chateau Queyras. While mostly paved, there are some dirt sections, so a 4x4 is definitely your friend here.
The road is STEEP, with some sections hitting a maximum gradient of 12%! You'll gain 858 meters in elevation from Chateau Queyras.
Up top, you'll find a communication tower and a tiny mountain hut. But the real reward? Insane views of the Queyras valley. Trust me, the scenery is worth the white-knuckle drive!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 13 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,215 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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