Alpine Passes

Mountain Roads of Europe

Col du Télégraphe

Col du Télégraphe

France · Savoie

1,566m

Key Facts

Elevation
1,566m
Route length
12 km
Max gradient
10%
Hairpins
21
Driving difficulty
Challenging (3/5)
Surface
Good
Open
May - November

Route & Map

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Route

SSaint-Michel-de-Maurienne
12 km · max 10%
Col du Télégraphe (1,566m)
Descent
EValloire
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The appetizer before the Col du Galibier. Connects Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne to Valloire. Named after a Chappe telegraph station that once stood at the summit.

Weather & Conditions

Driving Experience

Elevation Profile

711m928m1,145m1,361m1,578m0 km5 km10 km15 km20 km1,578m
1,163m gain
467m loss
714m → 1,578m → 1,410m

Difficulty

Challenging

3/5 — car driving difficulty

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

Hairpin Turns

21

Serious switchback territory

When to Drive

May - November (Best: July - September)

  • Open May - November. Check locally for exact opening dates as conditions vary each year.
  • Morning hours offer the best driving conditions with less traffic.
  • The switchbacks reward smooth, deliberate driving over speed.

Coordinates

Summit
45.2039°N, 6.4422°E
Start (Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne)
45.2197°N, 6.4706°E
End (Valloire)
45.1644°N, 6.4286°E
#cycling#tour-de-france#galibier-approach

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Image: Florian Pépellin / CC BY-SA 3.0