Col de la Traversette was Hannibal's route across the Alps
Col de la Traversette is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.369m (7,772ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in France, near the Italian border.
Set high in the Cottian Alps, a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps, the road to the summit, also known as Colle delle Traversette, is totally unpaved. It’s an old military track. 4x4 vehicles or enduro only. The pass is located on the way to Le Fort de la Redoute, a high mountain fort built in 1630 by the House of Savoy and named 'Fort Traverset'. Access to the fort is actually prohibited because the danger of collapse. The unpaved climb to Col de la Traversette is very ride-able, with stunning views, and some history at the summit.
The road is totally impassable in winters. Tucked away on the southeastern part of the country, the road is really steep. Starting from the D1090 road, the ascent is 2,5km long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 324m and the average gradient is 12,96%, with sections up to 30%. The track offers magnificent views. This is the pass where Hannibal led the Carthaginian army -which included 37 elephants- over the Alps into Italy.
Pic: Radovan Podmanický