Sommeiller Pass OFFROAD

The Sommeiller Pass at 2,993 meters is one of the highest points reachable by motorized vehicles in Europe; in the Cottian Alps on the French-Italian border and is considered the “Roof of Europe” for motorcyclists. A wonderful “adventure road” opened in 1962 in continuity with the military carriageway and serving the Albergo Rifugio and the summer ski lifts built on the Sommeiller Glacier later closed in 1980 due to glacier retreat. The place is so named in honor of Germain Sommellier, the chief engineer of the construction of the 13.7-kilometer Fréjus railway tunnel under the Alps (opened in 1871), which starts exactly at the beginning of this climb just outside Bardonecchia.

Built by private “natives” in a single year, except for the last 100 m, the Sommeiller road is a true masterpiece of high mountain civil road engineering, worthy heir to the military tradition

Normally passable, but with seasonal passage restrictions that vary from year to year depending on weather conditions. In principle, not before the end of June and until the first autumn snowfall.

Starting in Bardonecchia, the climb is 26.3 kilometers long, with an elevation gain of 1,711 meters. The average percentage is 6.5 percent, with highs of 19 percent. The paved part is only 20% of the route and ends in Rochemolles after a few kilometers.

It is currently tolled at the site after the Rochemolles township where the asphalt ends and with regulations requiring its closure on Thursdays to motorized vehicles from ‘opening until Sept. 15

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The route starts from Bardonecchia in the direction of Rochemolles, following the paved provincial road SP 235, it climbs the orographic left side of the Valley. A stretch that must be traveled very carefully and cautiously because the road is narrow and does not always offer visibility points in the forest. Thus we reach this Alpine village at 1,620 meters above sea level, which was founded more than a thousand years ago and was an autonomous municipality from 1336 until 1926.It is built along the stream at the base of the mountain, and it is pleasant to make a brief stop to visit the village, which has been largely restored as it was originally, and its ancient church dating back to 1200.

Once past the built-up area the asphalt gives way to a rather drivable dirt road and passes by the reservoir of the Rochemolles Dam built in the 1930s, continuing on level ground to reach the Picreaux memorial plaque where there is a plaque commemorating the death of 21 alpine soldiers of the Fenestrelle Battalion, who were run over by an avalanche back in 1931 to then reach the vast base plateau of the imposing Rognosa d’Etiache characterized by the spectacular waterfalls, where the Scarfiotti Refuge is located at 2.165 m above sea level.

The road continues to the right and at that point where the old military road ended, at the foot of the mule tracks that connected the outposts and observers at high altitude, with a spectacular ascent up an endless “staircase” we reach the Pian dei Morti, this section requires special attention as it is exposed and lacks protection downstream.

The last few kilometers of ascent to reach the Sommeiller Pass are the most difficult because of the uneven road surface, but most thanks to the spectacular views of the surrounding Alps that will be enjoyed from the Pass it will have been worth the effort to get here. Immediately after the pass is the border with France, the dirt road continues for a few hundred meters after the parking lot and skirts the small lake, but it is only allowed to be traveled on foot or by bicycle, and with a few minutes’ walk one reaches and exceeds 3,000 meters above sea level on the glacier moraine from where one can observe what remains of it today. Where there was a hotel and facilities, a modern bivouac of special scenic value was recently built.

Every year at the Sommeiller Pass in July there is a spontaneous moto-meeting, the “Edelweiss“, which attracts many Italian and foreign motorcyclists, as it is considered one of the best high mountain roads in Europe.