Hautes-Pyrénées · France
Col du Portet
D123Saint-Lary-Soulan to Col du Portet
The highest paved road pass in the French Pyrenees at 2215 metres, a brutal modern Tour de France climb above Saint-Lary-Soulan.
Surfaced to the summit only in 2018 for its Tour de France debut, the Col du Portet rises from Saint-Lary-Soulan on the D123 toward Espiaube and then on a narrow ribbon to a 2215 metre crest, the highest paved pass in the French Pyrenees, even loftier than the Tourmalet. It is a relentless climb, averaging well over eight percent with long ramps and tight switchbacks, opening onto huge high-pasture panoramas and the surrounding peaks of the Aure. This is a dead-end mountain road rather than a through route, so it is a destination drive, quiet and raw. The upper road is narrow and exposed. Open in the warmer months only. Mind the steep sustained gradients on the descent, the single-lane pinch points near the top, and cattle and walkers on the open summit pastures.
Scenery
Best seasons
In these collections
Where it runs10.7 mi · point to point
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Character
Corners
busiest around mile 7Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%804.8 – 2,204.6 mFrom the road
Points of interest3 stops
- ViergeLandmark3.9 mi in
- Madame Therese Nars 1859-1937Landmark0.2 mi in
- Col de PortetViewpoint11 mi in
Hazards
- Sustained steep gradients on the descent
- Single-lane pinch points near the summit
- Cattle and walkers on the high pastures
Sources
“This aerial road, cut directly into the steep mountain slope, begins offering breathtaking vistas almost immediately”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
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