Alpine Passes

Mountain Roads of Europe

Col du Mont Cenis

Col du Mont Cenis

France · Savoie

2,081m

Key Facts

Elevation
2,081m
Route length
38 km
Max gradient
10%
Hairpins
18
Driving difficulty
Challenging (3/5)
Surface
Good
Open
June - November

Route & Map

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Route

SLanslebourg-Mont-Cenis
38 km · max 10%
Col du Mont Cenis (2,081m)
Descent
ESusa (Italy)
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Historic pass between France and Italy used since antiquity and by Napoleon. Features a large reservoir lake at the summit. One of the oldest Alpine crossings.

Weather & Conditions

Driving Experience

Elevation Profile

504m912m1,319m1,727m2,134m0 km10 km20 km30 km40 km2,134m
808m gain
1,715m loss
1,411m → 2,134m → 504m

Difficulty

Challenging

3/5 — car driving difficulty

Based on steepness, elevation gain, hairpins, road length & surface quality

Hairpin Turns

18

Serious switchback territory

When to Drive

June - November (Best: July - September)

  • Open June - November. Check locally for exact opening dates as conditions vary each year.
  • Morning hours offer the best driving conditions with less traffic.
  • Snow may linger into June at this elevation. Check webcams before departing.

Coordinates

Summit
45.2597°N, 6.9022°E
Start (Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis)
45.2856°N, 6.8744°E
End (Susa (Italy))
45.1375°N, 7.0464°E
#historic#napoleon#lake#border-crossing

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Image: Florian Pépellin / CC BY-SA 4.0