Contact:
Maison de la Maurienne
Syndicat du Pays de Maurienne
Centre d'Affaire et de Ressource
Batiment B 1er étage
Avenue d'Italie, BP 82
73303 St Jean de Maurienne Cedex
Tel. 04 79 83 23 94
E-mail : comite@arcalpin.com
|
|
|
From Glandon to Croix
de Fer
|
Difficulty
|
|
|
 This
circuit passes two legendary Tour de France cols and offers extended
views on some of the most beautiful summits in Maurienne, including
Aiguilles d'Arves, Pic de l'Étendard and its glacier.
Lower down, the EDF lake of Grand-Maison, and on the way down
from the Croix de Fer, the beautiful natural lake of Laitelet.
A little history
The first road to the Glandon pass was opened in 1898, and in
1912 it was connected to the Croix de Fer road, which, till the
1860's was only a smuggler's road. The work was started in 1900,
and involved the digging of many tunnels to pass the Belleville
rock barrier and provide a link to the Maurienne valley without
passing col d'Arves.
The Glandon pass was climbed by the Tour de France riders for
the first time in 1979, Richard Virenque won twice there and Heulot
passed first at the Croix de Fer in 1999.
|
|
Just outside Saint Sorlin, the front of the
Saint- Saturnin church, (XVIIIth century), is covered with wrought
iron funeral wreaths inset with glass pearls, hanging there to
be protected from the snow.
|
- Difficulty : Black
- Ascent, overall : 1 600 m
- Average grade : 7%
Maximum grade : 13%
- Time : 3 h 30
- Distance : 65 km
- Guide : Michelin map 74, pli 6-7 Atlas des cols, p 160-161;
p 164-165
N.B. : cols are closed between November and May. |
- Information : Tourist Offices in the valley
- Repairs : St Jean de Maurienne
- Access : A 43 exit 26 Ste Marie de Cuines.
|
|
|
)
