Col de la Lombarde

Famous gateway to Italy

Altitude 2350 m
Mercantour-Argentera Massif
Department Alpes-Maritimes department

Distance 20.5 km
Start Isola (Vallée de la Tinée)
D+ 1488 m
average % 7.5%
max % 9% over 3.1 km and 750 m

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The Col de la Lombarde (Italian: Colle della Lombarda) - 2350 m - is a border pass linking the Vallée de la Tinée in the Alpes-Maritimes in France to the Vallée de la Stura di Demonte, in Piedmont in Italy. It is the 6th highest road pass in France.
The pass has a sustained average gradient of 7.5% for more than 20 kilometers, including several at an average gradient of 9%. It overlooks the resort of Isola 2000. Its former name was Col de la Brasca (of the swamp). Its current name comes from the Provencal loumbardo, north-east wind.

Map

The map