At 2,770 metres above sea level, it is the highest road pass in the Alps and the highest point on the Route des Grandes Alpes. Every summer, it attracts cyclists, motorcyclists, walkers and other travellers, who enjoy the cool air at the summit and a breathtaking view of the surrounding glaciers. The pass will remain open throughout the summer and until the snow returns in mid-autumn, thus providing a link between the Haute Tarentaise and Haute Maurienne valleys.
L'Iserane, the cycling event22 June 2025
To celebrate the opening of the Col and the start of the summer season, join us on 21 June in Val d’Isère for the Iserane. For the duration of the event, the road up the Col will be entirely reserved for cyclists from 8.30 am to 1 pm between Val d’Isère and Bonneval-sur-Arc. This is your chance to take on the Col de l’Iseran with or without electric assistance: a 17km climb with 900m of elevation gain from Val d’Isère awaits participants. A beautiful morning for a round trip between the two valleys – for the most daring!
A little history
From the 18th century onwards, the Col de l’Iseran was used as a mule crossing, which is attested to in all seasons. Peddlers, merchants and sometimes smugglers made their way to the rich and fertile Italian Piedmont.
On 10 July 1937, the President of the Republic Albert Lebrun inaugurated the road over the Col after 7 years of work. This was the occasion for the first summer skiing Grand Prix at Iseran on the Pisaillas glacier. This was followed in 1938 by the first visit by the Tour de France.
Over time, 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 become an essential stop-off point 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 some magnificent scenery.
