Mont Faron
Mont Faron is a mountain pass at an elevation of 584m (1,916ft) above the sea level, located on southern France’s Mediterranean coast, overlooking the city and roadstead of Toulon.
The road to the summit, the most dominating landmark of Toulon, is known as Chemin du Fort Rouge, Chemin de la Baume and Route du Faron. It’s a very narrow one way road and the asphalt is a bit rough. The tarmac is a little broken in places. This steep and narrow road ascends from the west side and descends on the east side.
The climb is pretty steep, with some sections up to 11.4%. Starting from Toulon, the ascent is 5.5 km long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 494 meters. The average percentage is 9 %. The road is one of the most challenging stages of the annual Paris–Nice and Tour Méditerranéen bicycle races.
Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, the road to the summit is one of the Europe's Greatest Cycle Climbs. The drive is definitely worth it. A drive not to be missed! At its peak is a memorial dedicated to the 1944 Allied landings in Provence (Operation Dragoon), and to the liberation of Toulon. The summit offers really fantastic views over the naval port of Toulon.
There are sheer drops virtually along the entire route and enough hairpins to make a whirling dervish dizzy. This panoramic road offers magnificent sea views. There are many excellent photo opportunities. Don't forget your camera with lots of film/memory, fully charged batteries and an empty memory card! All along the way there are stupendous views across the bay, one of the most beautiful in Europe. From the top of the mountain, the view on France’s forgotten city and massive military harbour is merely splendid. In the early morning and at sunset, the azure Mediterranean waters and verdant coastline look especially stunning.