Col de Restefond
Encyclopedia
Col de Restefond is a high mountain pass
in the French
Alps
, near the border with Italy
. It is situated on the flanks of le Restefonde within the Mercantour National Park
in the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
.
The actual pass is situated on a gravel track leading off the D64 close to its summit at the Col de la Bonette
(2715 m). The passage over the Col de la Bonette is often mistakenly referred to as the Col de Restefond, and in the 2008 Tour de France
the summit is referred to as the Cime de la Bonette-Restefond. Stage 16 of the tour approaches the summit from Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée
(south-east), and after reaching the Col de la Bonette, takes a loop round the Cime de la Bonette
reaching the summit of 2802 m, which is the highest point reached by the Tour de France
, before re-passing the Col de la Bonette. On the descent to Jausiers
, the actual Col de Restefond is then passed on the right approximately 1 km from the summit.
This pass, like many others in the region, is generally impassable due to ice and snow from November to May.
Close by are various ancient blockhouses, remnants of the Maginot Line
's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line
. The Ouvrage Col de Restefond
consisted of three infantry blocks facing Italy
.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
in the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, near the border with Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is situated on the flanks of le Restefonde within the Mercantour National Park
Mercantour National Park
Mercantour National Park is one of the nine national parks of France. Since it was created in 1979, the Mercantour Park has proven popular, with 800,000 visitors every year enjoying the 600 km of marked footpaths and visiting its villages.-Extent:...
in the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is a French department in the south of France, it was formerly part of the province of Provence.- History :Nord-de-Provence was one of the 83 original departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
.
The actual pass is situated on a gravel track leading off the D64 close to its summit at the Col de la Bonette
Col de la Bonette
Col de la Bonette is a high mountain pass in the French Alps, near the border with Italy. It is situated within the Mercantour National Park on the border of the departments of Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence...
(2715 m). The passage over the Col de la Bonette is often mistakenly referred to as the Col de Restefond, and in the 2008 Tour de France
2008 Tour de France
The 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage...
the summit is referred to as the Cime de la Bonette-Restefond. Stage 16 of the tour approaches the summit from Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée
Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée
Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.It was part of the historic County of Nice until 1860....
(south-east), and after reaching the Col de la Bonette, takes a loop round the Cime de la Bonette
Cime de la Bonette
The Cime de la Bonette is a mountain in the French Alps, near the border with Italy. It is situated within the Mercantour National Park on the border of the departments of Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, between the Ubaye Valley and the valley of the Tinée River."Cime" is French for...
reaching the summit of 2802 m, which is the highest point reached by the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, before re-passing the Col de la Bonette. On the descent to Jausiers
Jausiers
Jausiers is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, the actual Col de Restefond is then passed on the right approximately 1 km from the summit.
This pass, like many others in the region, is generally impassable due to ice and snow from November to May.
Close by are various ancient blockhouses, remnants of the Maginot Line
Maginot Line
The Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line
Alpine Line
The Alpine Line or Little Maginot Line was the component of the Maginot Line that defended the southeastern portion of France...
. The Ouvrage Col de Restefond
Ouvrage Col de Restefond
Ouvrage Col de Restefond is a lesser work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line. The ouvrage consists of three infantry blocks. It is located directly adjacent to the Col de Restefond road at an altitude of...
consisted of three infantry blocks facing Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
See also
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes
