Is Route de l'Hongrin paved?
Switzerland, europe
24.3 km
1,558 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, buckle up for the Route de l'Hongrin in Switzerland's Vaud canton! This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking a seriously fun (but challenging!) mountain road that winds through the "Petit Hongrin" military zone. Word to the wise: it's only open on weekends and during summer holidays, so plan accordingly.
Also known as Route des Agites, this one-way gem stretches for about 24 km, from La Lécherette to Corbeyrier, and is mostly paved. Picture this: crazy narrow roads snaking through vineyards and light woods in the Vaudois Alps. It's one of Switzerland's best-kept secrets!
The highlight? Conquering Les Agites, a mountain pass that hits a lofty 1,558m (5,111ft). The climb is around 13 kms at a 9% average grade, but hold on tight because some sections are seriously steep, even past 20%!
And then there's the legendary Tunnel de les Agites, also known as Tunnel de la Sarse. This super-narrow, rough-hewn tunnel, built way back in the late 1930s, is a single-lane squeeze. Weekends and holidays mean sticking to a strict timetable for one-way traffic. Cyclists, bring your headlamps – this tunnel is dark!
Heads up on opening times because of its location on the southern slope of Lac de l'Hongrin! From July 1st to August 15th, it's generally open but military exercises might cause delays. Weekends and holidays (7 AM to 7 PM) are governed by a timetable for ascending (direction Lécherette) during the first quarter of each hour (00 to 15), and descending (direction Corbeyrier) during the third quarter of each hour (30-45).
June and late August through October, it's weekends only. From November to May, it's closed completely.
Road Details
- Country
- Switzerland
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 24.3 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,558 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
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