Piedmont-Queyras pass via Agnello and Maddalena

Route details

370 km round trip through the Cottian Alps with two border passes between Italy and France. The Colle dell'Agnello at 2,744 m is the third highest asphalted Alpine pass and the highest Border crossing in the Alps.

The Route starts in Moncalieri near Turin and first leads across the flat Piedmont plain southwards to Cuneo. Here the ascent into the Valle Stura begins via the Strada Statale 21 towards Argentera. The Colle della Maddalena (Col de Larche) at 1,991 m is a well-developed border pass with wide lanes that is kept passable all year round. The French north-west ramp has few bends, while the Italian side with 14 Hairpins just before Argentera is more interesting in terms of driving technique.

On the French side, the route leads through the Ubaye valley to Queyras. At Guillestre, the gateway to the Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras, the Route turns eastwards. The Mont-Dauphin fortress, a garrison town built by Vauban in the 17th century, is located directly on the route and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From here, the route leads to Pontechianale in Valle Varaita. The Lago di Pontechianale, a reservoir at around 1,600 m, is a great place to take a break. The mountain village of Chianale, a few kilometers further on, is one of the "most beautiful villages in Italy" and consists of well-preserved stone houses at an altitude of 1,800 m.

The Colle dell'Agnello forms the centerpiece of the Tourer. At 2,744 m, it is the third highest asphalted Alpine pass after the Stelvio Pass and Col de l'Iseran and the highest international mountain pass. The Italian south-east ramp is steep with gradients of up to 15 percent. The road narrows above Chianale, sometimes two vehicles coming towards each other have space problems. The opening period is limited to around mid-July to mid-September. Weather can change quickly, even in summer.

The descent leads back through the Varaita Valley to Saluzzo, a historic small town at the foot of the Monviso. The medieval upper town with La Castiglia castle and Casa Cavassa is well worth a stop. From here, the return journey takes you along Country roads through the Piedmont plain back to Moncalieri.

The road surface is mostly good, but on the Pass roads it is sometimes cracked or patched. Traffic is possible on the Maddalena Mountain pass during the week due to trucks, but is much quieter at weekends. The Agnello is insignificant in terms of traffic and therefore not very busy. The Tourer requires some experience due to the altitude and the narrow passages on the Agnello.