Col du Parpaillon
Encyclopedia
The Col du Parpaillon is a pass in the Cottian Alps
of southern France
in the Parpaillon massif. It connects La Condamine-Châtelard
, the Ubaye
valley in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
department with Crévoux
, Embrun
in Hautes-Alpes
. The crest of the pass rises to 2780 metres (9,120.7 ft).
The Parpaillon Tunnel is located below the pass at an elevation of 2637 metres (8,651.6 ft). It was built by the French Army starting in 1891, with work on the road and tunnel lasting until 1911, although the tunnel was completed in 1901. The arched tunnel is 520 metres (1,706 ft) in length. It is closed at either end with metal doors. The approach road is not paved and is closed in winter. The curved tunnel is among the highest in Europe.
The location was considered a strategic point as early as the 18th century. From 1692 to 1694, work proceeded on a military road suitable for artillery, at the urging of General d'Usson. The 19th century military road connects the Fort de Tournoux
complex of fortifications to Embrun and points north.
Luc Moullet
's 1992 film Parpaillon describes a bicycle journey over the pass.
Cottian Alps
The Cottian Alps are a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. They form the border between France and Italy...
of southern 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...
in the Parpaillon massif. It connects La Condamine-Châtelard
La Condamine-Châtelard
La Condamine-Châtelard is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, the Ubaye
Ubaye
The Ubaye is a river of southeastern France. It is 83 km long and flows through the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department.Its rises at the Col de Longet, in the Cottian Alps on the border with Italy. It flows generally southwest, through Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye, Jausiers and Barcelonnette...
valley in 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...
department with Crévoux
Crévoux
Crévoux is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Embrun
Embrun, Hautes-Alpes
Embrun is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Description:...
in Hautes-Alpes
Hautes-Alpes
Hautes-Alpes is a department in southeastern France named after the Alps mountain range.- History :Hautes-Alpes is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
. The crest of the pass rises to 2780 metres (9,120.7 ft).
The Parpaillon Tunnel is located below the pass at an elevation of 2637 metres (8,651.6 ft). It was built by the French Army starting in 1891, with work on the road and tunnel lasting until 1911, although the tunnel was completed in 1901. The arched tunnel is 520 metres (1,706 ft) in length. It is closed at either end with metal doors. The approach road is not paved and is closed in winter. The curved tunnel is among the highest in Europe.
The location was considered a strategic point as early as the 18th century. From 1692 to 1694, work proceeded on a military road suitable for artillery, at the urging of General d'Usson. The 19th century military road connects the Fort de Tournoux
Fort de Tournoux
The Fort de Tournoux is a fortification complex in the Ubaye Valley in the French Alps. It was built between 1843 and the early 20th century to defend France against invasion from Italy and Savoy. It was described as the "Military Versailles of the 19th century," resembling a Tibetan monastery on...
complex of fortifications to Embrun and points north.
Luc Moullet
Luc Moullet
Luc Moullet is a French film critic and filmmaker, and a member of the Nouvelle Vague or French New Wave. Moullet's films are known for their humor, anti-authoritarian leanings and rigorously primitive aesthetic, which is heavily influenced by his love of American B-movies.Though such influential...
's 1992 film Parpaillon describes a bicycle journey over the pass.
See also
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes
Source
- This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding French Wikipedia article as of February 24, 2010.
External links
- Cycling the Route du Parpaillon, Vallée del'Ubaye at www.mountainpassions.com
- Parpaillon (tunnel du) at fortiff.be