The Col de l’Iseran will open on Friday June 9, linking the village of Val d’Isère, at the end of the Haute-Tarentaise valley, with Bonneval-sur-Arc in the Haute-Maurienne. The highest road pass in the Alps, culminating at 2770m, the Col de l’Iseran is a mythical passage on the Route des Grandes Alpes. At the summit, touring mountaineers enjoy the fresh air and an extraordinary view of the Vanoise glaciers. The Col will remain open throughout the summer and until the snow returns in mid-autumn.
A little history
Since the 18th century, the Col de l’Iseran has been used as an all-season mule track. Peddlers, merchants and sometimes smugglers made their way to the rich and fertile Italian Piedmont.
On July 10, 1937, French President Albert Lebrun inaugurated the road over the Col after 7 years of work. This was the occasion for the first summer ski Grand Prix at Iseran on the Pisaillas glacier. This was followed in 1938 by the first Tour de France.
As time went by, summer skiing on the Pisaillas became increasingly popular, and a road from the Col was built in 1963 to facilitate access.
With its rich historical and sporting heritage, the Col de l’Iseran has thus become an essential stopover on the Route des Grandes Alpes, and a mecca for cyclists, motorists, bikers and itinerants in search of a sporting challenge or a stroll through grandiose scenery.
- Le rendez-vous cyclo
To celebrate the opening of the Col and the summer season, join us on June 25 in Val d’Isère for the Iserane, organized in partnership with the Communauté de Communes de Haute-Tarentaise. For the event, the Col route will be entirely reserved for cyclists all day between Val d’Isère and Bonneval-sur-Arc. The opportunity to take on the Col de l’Iseran with or without electric assistance: a 17km climb and 900m of positive ascent from Val d’Isère awaits participants.
- Summer skiing on the Pisaillas glacier from June 10 to July 12
The opening of the Col de l’Iseran will allow access by road to the Pisaillas glacier. With up to two meters of snow depending on the sector, amateurs and professional teams alike will be able to enjoy the glacier’s skiable terrain from June 10 to July 12, from 7am to 12pm.
Subject to changing snow conditions, 7 runs will be open, including 3 open to all (Moraine, Montet and Combe du géant) and 4 reserved exclusively for club and team training (Champions, Aiguille-Perse, Roche and Pisaillas).
These runs will be accessible via the Cascade chairlift and the Montet ski lift. Single-price ski pass: €34 for 1 day, point of sale located directly at the foot of the Cascade chairlift.
To perfect your skiing technique and take advantage of all the activities on offer in Val d’Isère: Stages Mattis offers a package for adults and children with ski lessons in the morning on the glacier, and multi-sport activities in the afternoons.
DRAW FREE HD VISUALS ON REQUEST: laurane.boccone@valdisere.com or chloe.harle@valdisere.com
