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COL DE LARCHE (Colle della Maddalena)
The Col de Larche, or Colle della Maddalena, is a mountain pass located between France and Italy and which separates the Maritime Alps from the Cottian Alps, representing a fundamental linking point and which therefore is kept open all year round, even during heavy snowfalls in winter. Therefore, bearing in mind some potential traffic – especially heavy trucks – the Col de Larche represents the quickest way to pass from one valley to the other, sometimes also being preferable to the more scenic but tortuous Colle della Lombarda, which joins the same direction for Cuneo. Specifically, we are talking about a road with a mainly very wide carriageway and asphalt that we can almost consider excellent, excluding only a small portion with strong depressions that is encountered towards the end of the French section.
Location: Argentera (ITA) – Larche (FRA)
Type: mountain road
Length: 34 km
Elevation: 1,996 m
After passing Val d’Oronaye, the road increases the presence of curves and the hairpin bends are the perfect representation of those switchbacks meticulously drawn on green meadows which, once we pass the summit and the refuge della Pace located at 1,996 meters above sea level, guide us through the scenographic Italian side, which alternates a flat section embraced by the Cyclopean mountains with a dense series of hairpin bends piled one after the other. Passing Argentera and Villaggio Primavera, the road continues towards Vinadio and then Cuneo.
Photos by Richard Montagner
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