Belvédère du Viso, an awe-inspiring drive in the Cottian Alps
Belvedere du Cirque du Mont-Viso is a natural viewpoint at an elevation of 2.147m (7,043ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France, near the Italian border.
Nestled in the Cottian Alps, within the Queyras Regional Natural Park, the road to the summit is mostly paved, with some gravel parts. Accessibility is largely limited to the summer season. The road was built in 1931. There’s a small parking lot at the summit.
The drive is pretty steep, with sections up to 11.5%. Starting from Aiguilles, the ascent is 19.3 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 676 meters. The average percentage is 3.5 %.
Pic: Aurélien Pavel