Col de la Schlucht

A historic forested pass linking Gérardmer and Munster across the high Vosges.

The D417 climbs from the lake town of Gérardmer through dense Vosges forest to the Col de la Schlucht, then drops east through the Munster valley, a road carved in part by tunnelling under Napoléon III. The gradients are gentle and the curves long and rhythmic, making it a relaxed mountain drive rather than a white-knuckle one, with broad views from the ridge near the Route des Crêtes. It carries plenty of tourist traffic and has appeared in the Tour de France. Mind the slow camper and coach traffic, fog rolling over the col, and winter ice and snow.