Where is Col des Tempêtes?
France, europe
3.9 km
1,829 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the South of France, specifically the Vaucluse department in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. You're heading for Col des Tempêtes, a mountain pass sitting pretty at 1,829 meters (that's 6,000 feet!). The D974 road is your path, all paved and ready to go.
Just a hop, skip, and a jump (one kilometer, to be exact) away is Mont Ventoux, a.k.a "The Giant of Provence." From the top, you can even venture off on a 3.9 km (2.42 miles) detour to Col de Moissiere at 1,650 meters. It's a mix of paved and unpaved, adding a little spice to your adventure!
Now, heads up: this drive isn't a walk in the park. The road gets narrow, barely wide enough for two cars, and those hairpin turns are no joke. Oh, and the wind? It's legendary. We're talking potential gusts up to 320 km/h (200 mph)! No wonder they call it the "Storm Pass"! Expect closures, especially since the peak likes to wear a snow cap from December to April.
So, is it worth it? Absolutely! The views are insane. Imagine winding through those hairpin turns, climbing higher and higher until you're rewarded with a panorama of the Rhône valley. Just check the weather before you go, and maybe pack a windbreaker!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 3.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,829 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
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