An old military road to Col de la Buffère in the Alps

Col de Buffère is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.431m (7,975ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in France.

Can you drive through Col de la Buffère in the Alps?

Set high in the Alps, the road to the summit is totally unpaved, with gravel and rocky parts. It’s called Piste du Col de La Buffere. The last part of the road is closed to private cars with a barrier. It’s an old military road. This road is usually impassable from late October through late June or early July.

How long is the road Col de la Buffère in the Alps?

Tucked away on the southeastern part of the country, a 4x4 vehicle is required. The road to the summit is very steep, hitting a 20% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Starting at the paved D234T, the ascent is 5.1 km (3.16 miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 314 meters. The average gradient is 6.15%.

When was the road Col de la Buffère built?

The road was built between 1902 and1907. It’s very narrow facing dangerous drop offs. The summit hosts military constructions from WW II, part of the Ouvrage Col de Buffere of the Maginot Line. It offers superb views of the surrounding peaks.
Pic: Clément Poulain