An epic road to Col d'Azet in the Pyrenees
France, europe
18.2 km
1,580 m
moderate
Year-round
# Col d'Azet
Want to tackle a real Alpine adventure? Col d'Azet sits pretty at 1,580m (5,183ft) in the Hautes-Pyrénées, nestled in France's Occitania region. This is the kind of pass that gets cyclists dreaming and road-trippers excited.
The 18.2 km (11.30 miles) stretch runs west-east from Saint-Lary-Soulan to Génos, and yeah, it's made the Tour de France cut before—so you know it's legit. Fair warning though: the road is fully paved but showing its age in places, narrows out unexpectedly, and doesn't always have guardrails to keep you company. Not exactly a leisurely drive.
What you *will* get are some seriously steep grades, especially through the village of Azet where things get pretty gnarly. Plan for an average gradient of around 8% on both sides, though it eases up a bit as you push toward the summit. The lower kilometres? Steep as they come.
Once you reach the top, you'll find minimal amenities—just a small parking area and those stunning Pyrenean views. Oh, and keep an eye out for hang-gliders dancing through the sky. The scenery is genuinely gorgeous, making every hairpin worth the effort. This is mountain pass driving at its most rewarding.
Where is it?
An epic road to Col d'Azet in the Pyrenees is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 45.4401, 2.2819
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 18.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,580 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 45.4401, 2.2819
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