Col de Turini
Encyclopedia
Col de Turini is a high mountain pass
(A mountain pass is the name of a road in/on a mountain) in the Alps
in the department of Alpes-Maritimes
in France
. It lies near Sospel
, between the communes
of Moulinet
and La Bollène-Vésubie
in the Arrondissement of Nice
.
It is famous for a stage of the Monte Carlo Rally
which is held on the tight road with its many hairpin turn
s. Until a few years ago, the Col De Turini was also driven at night, with thousands of fans watching the "Night of the Long Knives" as it was called, due to the strong high beam lights cutting through the night.
The Col De Turini has also featured three times in the Tour de France
(1948, 1950 and 1975) averaging 7.2% over 15.3 km when approached from the East starting at the valley of the river Vésubie
.
This pass was featured in the first episode of Top Gear series 10
when the presenters went in search of the greatest driving road in the world.
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...
(A mountain pass is the name of a road in/on a mountain) in the 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....
in the department of Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes is a department in the extreme southeast corner of France.- History : was created by Octavian as a Roman military district in 14 BC, and became a full Roman province in the middle of the 1st century with its capital first at Cemenelum and subsequently at Embrun...
in France
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...
. It lies near Sospel
Sospel
Sospel is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France near the Italian border and not far from Monte Carlo.-History:...
, between the communes
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Moulinet
Moulinet, Alpes-Maritimes
Moulinet is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France....
and La Bollène-Vésubie
La Bollène-Vésubie
La Bollène-Vésubie is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur region in southeastern France.Its inhabitants are called Bollénois; in the Niçois dialect of Langue d'Oc the name is la Boulèna, the inhabitants lu Boulenasc.-Population:- External links :* *...
in the Arrondissement of Nice
Arrondissement of Nice
The arrondissement of Nice is an arrondissement of France, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region...
.
It is famous for a stage of the Monte Carlo Rally
Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rally Monte Carlo is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The rally takes place along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and...
which is held on the tight road with its many hairpin turn
Hairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
s. Until a few years ago, the Col De Turini was also driven at night, with thousands of fans watching the "Night of the Long Knives" as it was called, due to the strong high beam lights cutting through the night.
The Col De Turini has also featured three times in 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...
(1948, 1950 and 1975) averaging 7.2% over 15.3 km when approached from the East starting at the valley of the river Vésubie
Vésubie
The Vésubie is a river located in the southeast of France. It is a left tributary of the Var River in the Maritime Alps. The source is in the Mercantour National park near the border with Italy. The river flows through the town of Saint-Martin-Vésubie which is a major center for hiking...
.
This pass was featured in the first episode of Top Gear series 10
Top Gear (series 10)
Top Gear returned for a tenth series, containing 10 episodes, broadcast between 7 October 2007 and 23 December 2007. It was claimed that between the filming of the ninth and tenth series, rival motoring magazine Fifth Gear broke into the Top Gear premises and burnt down the Cool Wall...
when the presenters went in search of the greatest driving road in the world.
See also
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes
External links
- http://www.spiegel.de/auto/aktuell/0,1518,360597,00.html
- http://www.mdmot.de/Seealpen/ligurien/turini/GPS_turini.htm
- http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf/turini.php