Crossing the scary Tunnel de Parpaillon in the Cottian Alps
France, europe
39.6 km
2,650 m
extreme
Year-round
# Parpaillon Tunnel
Tucked away in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France sits the Parpaillon Tunnel, a jaw-dropping high mountain passage sitting at a hefty 2,650m (8,694ft) above sea level. It's seriously one of France's highest roads, no exaggeration.
This beast straddles the border between Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes departments, nestled in the Parpaillon massif of the Cottian Alps. The tunnel connects the Ubaye Valley to Embrun and has some serious historical cred—it's a classic Alpine pass that even featured in Tour de France races back in the day.
The French Army started carving out this tunnel in 1891 to move troops around the Italian border. They didn't finish the tunnel itself until 1901, though construction continued until 1911. Pretty impressive feat for the time! Eventually though, it got replaced by the lower, winter-friendly Col de Vars, and this old military route quietly faded into obscurity.
The 520-meter (1,710 ft) tunnel itself is arched and absolutely stunning—but also completely impassable from October to May. Step inside and you'll find ice, water, darkness, and genuinely creepy vibes. Honestly, it's better admired from outside.
The D29/D39T route stretches 39.6km (24.60 miles) from La Condamine-Châtelard to Embrun. Fair warning: this is rough terrain. Unpaved, narrow, steep (up to 13% gradient), with drop-offs that'll make your palms sweat. The top 10km on both sides is basically a rocky obstacle course, and the higher sections turn into a never-ending hairpin maze carved by torrential rains and snowmelt. You'll definitely need 4x4 to even attempt this.
The views? Absolutely breathtaking. The isolation? Completely desolate and humbling. But heads up—a recent landslide from a severe thunderstorm has closed the tunnel indefinitely.
Where is it?
Crossing the scary Tunnel de Parpaillon in the Cottian Alps is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.1347, 2.1587
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 39.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,650 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 46.1347, 2.1587
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