Col de Tende

Summit of the Colle di Tenda

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The Colle di Tenda ( German: Tenda Pass, French: Col de Tende ) is a crossing of the Alps between Italy and France. It separates the Maritime Alps from the Ligurian Alps. The same name, developed under Napoleon Pass Road connects the metropolitan area of Turin and Nice, on the cities of Cuneo in Piedmont and Ventimiglia on the Mediterranean. The pass itself is considered the southernmost of the great Alpine passes. The pass is at 1871 meters of altitude on the border between France and Italy.

The northern ramp, with its twelve bends rather inconspicuous, the southern ramp likely comes with its partly superposed tight bends 46 are among the most spectacular mountain passes in the Alps. The southern ramp is paved above the tunnel entrance only in part. The gravel section ( the top 16 sweep ) provides for sporty cars and sport bikes a real problem (SG 3-4).

From the Tendapasshöhe it goes towards the east (2200 m), the direction of Ventimiglia along the ridge winds over the Colle di Perla ( 2086 m) to the Ligurian border ridge road, then south, past the Mount Saccarello. At the apex of the Tendapasses heading west runway branches to bear de Peyrefique.

Tenda Road Tunnel

Since the completion of the 3182 meter Col de Tende road tunnel in 1882 as the first and until the opening of the tunnel under the Great St. Bernard Pass longest road tunnel under a mountain pass, the return winding road is over the pass only used in the summer.

Tenda railway tunnel

Parallel to the road tunnel in the Colle di Tenda is also crossed by a tunnel under the railway. This 8099 m long tunnel was built in 1898 and is part of Tendabahn, one of the most spectacular railway lines in Europe.

Forts on the pass and around

At the summit of the Colle di Tenda are extensive fortifications from the 19th century, built by the Italians. They were useless after the Second World War, when in 1947 the border was moved behind the fortresses in the peace treaty between Italy and France.

The names of the fortresses:

  • Forte Centrale at 1908 m directly to the summit
  • Fort de la Marguerie to 1842 m
  • Fort Tabourde to 1982 m
  • Fort Pernante 2117 m
  • Fort de Giaure at 2,253 m
  • Fort Pepin to 2263 m

Tourism

Fern-/Weitwanderwege

At the Col de Tende, so right on the border, the French GR 52A, the Sentier du Mercantour Panoramique begins. About the pass also run the red path of the Via Alpina and the Grande Traversata delle Alpi.

Pictures

Portal of Tenda road tunnel on the Italian side

Fort Central ( north side)

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