How to drive the bumpy and grueling road to Colle Malaberghe?
Colle Malaberghe is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.225m (7,299ft) above sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France.
Where is Colle Malaberghe?
The pass, also known as Col de Malabergue, is located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the southeastern part of the country, near the French border.
When was the road through Colle Malaberghe built?
The route over the pass has its origins as a strategic corridor used for centuries as a commercial and defensive link between valleys. It began as a medieval track for transporting salt from Ventimiglia toward Limone Piemonte and onward to Turin. Over time, especially before and during the Second World War, the path was widened and adapted for military mobility, connecting a network of fortifications along the Italian–French frontier.
Is the road through Colle Malaberghe unpaved?
The approach to the pass remains fully unpaved and is known as the Via del Sale. The surface is rough, narrow, and exposed in several areas, making it unsuitable for regular passenger cars and requiring slow, careful driving on any type of vehicle. Around the highest sections, the terrain becomes particularly uneven, and the entire stretch is governed by a strict 20km/h speed limit.
Is Colle Malaberghe open in winter?
Located high in the Cottian Alps, the road is officially closed each year from November 1 to March 31. Snow accumulation, avalanche risk, and icy patches can obstruct the route at unpredictable moments, making winter travel hazardous. Weather conditions shift rapidly, and the environment can become severe without warning.
Is Colle Malaberghe worth the drive?
Today, the track offers a spectacular high-mountain experience, following the crests of the Maritime Alps where Italy meets France. It rewards travelers with an untamed landscape and sweeping panoramas that reach from alpine summits to the distant sea.
Pic: Matteo Quaglia