Route de l'Hongrin is Switzerland's Secret Mountain Road Through a Military Zone
Route de l'Hongrin is a challenging yet scenic mountain drive located in the canton of Vaud, in Switzerland. Running across «Petit Hongrin», a military zone, the road is open on weekends and during the summer holidays.
Is Route de l'Hongrin paved?
Tucked away in the western part of the country, the road, also known as Route des Agites, is one way. It’s 24.3 km (15.09 miles) long, running from La Lécherette to Corbeyrier. It’s mostly paved.
Is Route de l'Hongrin challenging?
The road is very narrow and challenging in parts. Set high in the Vaudois Alps, it runs through vineyards and light woods. It’s said to be one of the most secret destinations of Switzerland. The road tops out at Les Agites, a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.558m (5,111ft) above sea level. The climb is roughly 13 kms at 9%. In parts, extremely steep even +20% and well above 10% for much of the way.
Why is Tunnel de les Agites famous for?
The most famous section of the drive is Tunnel de les Agites, also known as Tunnel de la Sarse. It’s a very narrow and rough tunnel built between 1938-1940. This is a single lane tunnel and during weekends and bank holidays users must adhere to a strict timetable for one-way traffic. Cyclists need to be aware that the tunnel, carved out of the rock, has no other illumination other than a few shafts of natural light.
Is Route de l'Hongrin open?
Located in the southern slope of Lac de l'Hongrin, from 1st July to 15th August, the road is open, with possible delays due to military operations. Weekends and bank holidays from 7h to 19h: ascent (direction Lécherette) during the first quarter of each hour (00 to 15), descent (direction Corbeyrier) during the third quarter of each hour (30-45).
From 1st June to 30th June and from 16th August to 31st October, the road is open only on weekends (Saturday and Sunday).
From 1st November to 31st May, the road is closed to all traffic.
Pic: Joachim Segui