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 First
up the Mont Cenis road, then along the lake. Recommended stop
at the Mont Cenis museum and the EDF building on the side of the
road, then down to Italy via the Echelles hairpins. Shuttle return
possible (*).
(*) In Susa, limited seats, reservation recommended.
See in Tourist Offices.
A little history
Historical passageway, the Mont Cenis col was passed in winter
by travellers on sleighs ( "en ramasse") with the help of guides
("marrons"). In the XIth century, a hospice is built on the north
side of the lake, replacing the one built by Lothaire on the south
bank in 825.
In 1578, the first rudimentary sleighs have been improved. Napoléon
even thought of building a town there, but it will never be done.
 A
complex defensive system will be built between 1877 à 1880, after
the decommissioning of the Esseillon barrier (see route 14). It
comprised the forts of Cassa, Ronce, Pattacreuse, Malamot and
Variselle, the latter being the commandment fort.
On the French side, the fort d e
la Turra is so high that it is serviced by a cable car, and it
will survive World War 2's fierce fighting.
Technical prowess, the Fell railway linking Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne
and Susa was built between 1864 and 1868, but was only used till
1871, when the railway tunnel was opened earlier than anticipated
and brought an end to the Fell railway. The old tunnels can still
be seen on the way down to Susa. The current gravity dam was made
between 1961 and 1969. Its crest is about 1400 m long and can
be crossed for a circuit around the lake.
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