An epic paved road to Col de Restefond in the Alps
France, europe
47.2 km
2,679 m
moderate
Year-round
# Col de Restefond: Alpine Thrills at 2,680 Meters
Ready for one of France's most epic mountain drives? Welcome to Col de Restefond, sitting pretty at a jaw-dropping 2,680 meters (8,790 feet) above sea level in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. This isn't just any pass—it's one of the highest drivable roads in the entire country, and trust me, the views are absolutely worth the altitude.
Nestled in the heart of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France, this route cuts right through Mercantour National Park, cozying up next to the dramatic Cime de la Bonette. The road itself—known locally as the C4, Route de Nice, or Route du Col de Restefond—stretches a solid 47.2 km (29.32 miles) from Jausiers to Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, all of it perfectly paved.
The route has some serious history. Originally built back in 1860 to connect Nice and Briançon, it got its modern summit route between 1960-1961. Scattered around are haunting remnants of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension—old blockhouses that remind you this landscape has seen more than just tourism.
Coming up from Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, you're looking at a 23 km push with a 1,512-meter elevation gain. That's an average gradient of 6.6%, though around the old Casernes de Restefond military building, things get spicy at 8-9%.
One heads-up: this road plays by winter's rules. From November through May, snow and ice make it inaccessible, so plan your visit for the warmer months.
Where is it?
An epic paved road to Col de Restefond in the Alps is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 44.7907, 2.7640
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 47.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,679 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 44.7907, 2.7640
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