The road features 18 hairpin bends concentrated over just 3 kilometers of road length.
The total altitude gain across the hairpins is 277 meters.
It was designed by local engineers to provide the first reliable connection for the village of Montvernier.
The route requires careful navigation due to the presence of 17 retaining walls built to support the switchbacks.
It is frequently cited by cycling enthusiasts as one of the most aesthetically striking road segments in the Alps.
The road gradient is relatively consistent, though the tight radius of the turns makes it challenging for large vehicles.
The scenery includes views over the Arvan and Arc river valleys.
The Lacets de Montvernier is a series of 18 tight hairpin turns climbing the side of a steep cliff in the Maurienne Valley. This engineering feat, known as the 'switchbacks of Montvernier', ascends 277 meters over a distance of approximately 3 kilometers. The road connects the village of Pontamafrey-Montpascal to the village of Montvernier. It was constructed between 1931 and 1934 to link isolated high-altitude settlements to the valley floor. The road is noted for its extremely narrow passages and retaining walls. It serves as a prominent mountain pass feature in the French Alps. The route is particularly famous in professional cycling, having featured in the Tour de France several times. The road remains functional for local traffic and tourism throughout the warmer months.
The viewpoint at the village of Pontamafrey provides the best perspective to photograph the entire vertical layout of the switchbacks.
Check the road status locally before departure, as it can be closed for maintenance or due to seasonal rockfall risks.
Expect very narrow lanes that barely accommodate two-way traffic in some sections.
Avoid driving large motorhomes or long trailers on this route due to the extreme tightness of the hairpins.
Attempting the drive in a wide vehicle or during winter months when snow clearance may be limited.
May be closed during winter months due to heavy snow and ice, or periodically for road surface maintenance.
Yield to uphill traffic, as climbing vehicles have the right of way on steep mountain roads.
