Pas de Peyrol is the highest road pass in the Massif Central
France, europe
33.4 km
1,589 m
hard
Year-round
# Pas de Peyrol: A Alpine Adventure in France's Heartland
Ready for some serious elevation? Pas de Peyrol sits pretty at 1,589m (5,213ft) in the Cantal department, making it the highest road pass in the entire Massif Central. This is where France's central highlands get serious.
Located in the south-central Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the fully paved D680 stretches 33.4km (20.75 miles) of pure winding mountain road, connecting the charming towns of Salers and Murat on its main route (with an alternative approach via D17 from Mandailles-Saint-Julien). At the summit, you'll find a proper parking lot and the welcoming Chalet de Puy Mary bar-restaurant—perfect for celebrating your ascent.
Fair warning: this pass doesn't hold back. The road is genuinely curvy and narrow with sections that climb at a steep 14% gradient. That's why buses and trucks aren't allowed up here—it's a driver's road, through and through. The Tour de France has tackled this beast multiple times, and you'll understand why once you're grinding through those switchbacks.
But here's the payoff: the scenery is absolutely spectacular, with dramatic mountain vistas that make every hairpin turn worth it. If you've got the skills and the nerve, Puy Mary is calling.
Where is it?
Pas de Peyrol is the highest road pass in the Massif Central is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 44.9902, 2.7634
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 33.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,589 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 44.9902, 2.7634
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