38 hairpin turns to Col de la Croix de Coeur in Switzerland

Col de la Croix de Coeur is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.178m (7,145ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Entremont and Martigny districts, in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.

Col de la Croix de Coeur

Is Col de la Croix de Coeur in Switzerland paved?

The road to the summit is pretty challenging and has a fearsome reputation. It’s called Route de la Croix-de-Coeur. It has paved and unpaved sections (the last part runs along a gravel hard pack track), steep parts (hitting a 12.0% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps), with 5 tunnels and 38 hairpin turns, mostly unprotected by guardrails.

How long is Col de la Croix de Coeur in Switzerland?

The pass is 43 km (26 miles) long running from Sembrancher (in the district of Entremont) to Riddes (in the district of Martigny). Atop the mountain there is a little restaurant (Restaurant La Croix-de-Coeur) and a parking lot. The drive offers great views of the Combins and the Mont Blanc to the south, and the Bernese Alps to the north.
Pic: Gregoire Vallotton