TOURMALET COLLAR
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This legendary pass links Haute-Savoie to Savoie, offering panoramic views over several valleys.
Renowned as a formidable challenge in high-altitude cycling, the mythical Col du Tourmalet has earned a well-deserved reputation for its evocative name, the "mauvais détour" ("wrong turn"). From its summit, at an altitude of 2,115 metres, the majestic Bastan valley unfolds before you, creating a truly bewitching landscape. The exhilarating sensation of being on top of the world sets in, especially if you've climbed this pass by bike, following in the footsteps of the Tour de France athletes. This path was once used by shepherds, pilgrims and merchants, braving the elements such as wind, snow, blazing sun and biting cold to link the high valleys of the Adour and Gave de Pau rivers by trail. It wasn't until the 19thcentury that a carriageable road was built. In fact, the construction of this road was initiated in the 18th century, after the Duc de Maine and Madame de Maintenon had crossed it to "take the waters" in the spa town of Barèges. Called the "thermal road", it was inaugurated by Napoleon III in the 19th century. With gradients reaching 7 or 8%, the ascent of the Col du Tourmalet remains intimately linked to the epic of cycling, giving rise to numerous legends that have marked its history. As an anecdote, during the 1913 Tour de France, the valiant Eugène Christophe had to walk for 14 km after breaking the fork of his two-wheeler at the start of the descent. Pedal or effortlessly, come and touch the Pyrenean sky as you cross this mythical pass.
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Slopes of more than 10%. But view once at the summit.