Mountain pass

Col de la Madeleine

Savoie ()

Col de la Madeleine
Description

The pass connects La Léchère, near Moûtiers, to the north, to La Chambre, near Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, to the south. Two ski resorts are linked by this pass: Valmorel on the Tarentaise side and Saint-François-Longchamp on the Maurienne side, the pass and the road leading there being snow-covered and closed in winter. It separates the western part of the Vanoise massif and the Lauzière massif. It rises to 1,993 meters above sea level according to the IGN but is indicated at 2,000 meters by the road.

The pass is probably known since Roman times. It linked Épierre to Moûtiers. In the second half of the 12th century, the monks of the Tamié abbey in Tarentaise used the pastures there from Celliers. A chapel is dedicated to Marie-Madeleine on the banks of the Arc; candles are placed there in order to make the passage through the pass under the best auspices. The chapel, falling into ruins, was closed in 1761.
In 1792, General François-Christophe Kellermann, after having fought at the Battle of Valmy, crossed the pass at the head of the Army of the Alps in order to conquer Savoy. It was crossed militarily several times until the beginning of the 19th century.
Around 1938, refugees from the Spanish Civil War built a stone road from Saint-François-Longchamp. From 1949, the route was completely revised and, in 1969, the asphalting of the road was completed for the first passage of the Tour de France.

Ouverture

From 20/05 to 17/11 : open daily.

Contact et accès
73130 Saint François Longchamp
Savoie (73)
Informations complémentaires
Services
  • Coach access
  • Motorhomes allowed
  • Shop
  • Restaurant
Équipements
  • Car park
  • Orientation board
Langues parlées
  • English
  • French

Ça peut vous intéresser

Spring
La Banquise 2000

La Banquise 2000

Saint François Longchamp
Skieuse sur les pistes du Grand Domaine
OTVVA

Le Grand Domaine

Saint François Longchamp
plat

Les Deux Mazots

Saint François Longchamp
À proximité
en famille
G Joncour
Sport

Le Sapin (14)

Saint François Longchamp
Circuit VTT - VAE LES PAQUIERS
Sport

Circuit VTT – VAE LES PAQUIERS

Saint François Longchamp
Walking to discover groundhogs, flowers and newts
BMSFL
Sporting activities

Walking to discover groundhogs, flowers and newts

Saint François Longchamp
plat
Restaurant on the ski slopes

Les Deux Mazots

Saint François Longchamp
Aerojump Sno2
Sno2
Leisure

Aerojump Sno2

Saint François Longchamp
Saint François Longchamp
Saint François Longchamp
Traditional cooking

Le Troll Gourmand

Saint François Longchamp
Welcom drink
Entertainment/recreation

Welcom drink

Saint François Longchamp
famille sur le télésiège de la Lune Bleue
A.Pernet
Leisure

Chairlift Lune Bleue

Saint François Longchamp
PIZZA
libre de droit bernant-greene
Brasserie

La Godille

Saint François Longchamp
4 vallées - Saint François Longchamp
Goélia
Tourist residence

Résidence Goélia Les 4 Vallées

Saint François Longchamp
Chalets appartements montagne Saint François Longchamp Station ski été hiver
Parc Madeleine
Tourist residence

Parc Madeleine

Saint François Longchamp
Façade
Libre de droit
Traditional cooking

La Louche Percée

Saint François Longchamp
Mountain pass
Col de la Madeleine

Saint François Longchamp