The military road to Monte Jafferau was built in 1886
Italy, europe
32.8 km
2,000 m
hard
Year-round
# Monte Jafferau: Italy's Wild Alpine Adventure
Want to tackle one of Italy's most extreme mountain drives? Monte Jafferau sits at a jaw-dropping 2,805m (9,202ft) in the Piedmont region, right up near the French border in the Metropolitan City of Turin. This isn't just any peak—it's one of the highest roads you can actually drive in the entire country.
The route, called Strada militare Fenil-Pramand-Föens-Jafferau (or Strada militare 79 if you prefer the shorthand), stretches 32.8 km (20.38 miles) of pure, unfiltered adventure. We're talking completely unpaved terrain running east-west from Eclause to Gleise. Seriously, this is 4x4 territory only—and even then, high clearance is absolutely essential.
Fair warning: this drive demands serious mountain road experience. You're looking at constant 14% grades, a narrow 3-meter-wide ribbon of dirt, rocky sections that'll test your suspension, hairpin turns that'll make your head spin, tunnels carved into the mountainside, and rockfalls that pop up unexpectedly. More than 20 km of this route sits above 2,000 meters, so yeah, it's genuinely challenging.
Nestled in the Massif des Cerces within the Cottian Alps, this historic 1886 military trail only opens late June or July through October—snow closes it the rest of the year. Bad weather? Don't even think about attempting it.
The highlight waiting for you at the summit is Forte Jafferau, a military fortress built between 1896-1898 that held the title of Italy's highest military battery (and second-highest in the entire Alps). It protected the Bardonecchia basin during both world wars before being destroyed after WWII per peace treaty terms.
This isn't a casual Sunday drive—it's an expedition.
Where is it?
The military road to Monte Jafferau was built in 1886 is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 42.3764, 12.8287
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 32.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,000 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 42.3764, 12.8287
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