The Roselend Dam, located just below the pass, is an arch-gravity dam standing 150 meters high.
The name 'Cormet' derives from a local Savoyard dialect term for a mountain pass.
The lake formed by the dam is the third-largest reservoir in the Savoie department.
The pass marks the boundary between the Beaufortain range and the Graian Alps.
The Route des Grandes Alpes, a famous tourist route across the French Alps, includes the Cormet de Roselend.
During the construction of the Roselend Dam, the original village of Roselend was submerged and now lies at the bottom of the reservoir.
The area is home to traditional production sites for Beaufort cheese, a protected designation of origin (AOP) product.
Cormet de Roselend is a high mountain pass in the Beaufortain Massif of the French Alps, connecting the towns of Beaufort and Bourg-Saint-Maurice via the D925 road. Situated at an elevation of 1,968 meters, it serves as a critical junction between the Beaufortain valley and the Tarentaise Valley. The area is dominated by the artificial Lac de Roselend, created by the construction of the Roselend Dam in the 1960s. The road is frequently featured as a major climb in the Tour de France due to its elevation and challenging gradients. The landscape consists of alpine pastures, craggy limestone peaks, and glacial lakes. It remains a primary thoroughfare for cyclists, motorcyclists, and motorists traversing the Savoie region during the warmer months.
The elevated viewpoint overlooking the Lac de Roselend with the dam and surrounding peaks in the background.
Check regional road status reports before departing, as the pass is frequently closed by snow for much of the year.
Bring wind-resistant layers, as temperatures at the summit can be significantly lower than in the valley towns.
Look for the roadside markers indicating Tour de France progress milestones.
Attempting to drive the pass in winter or early spring, as it is officially closed and impassable due to heavy snow accumulation.
The pass is typically closed from late autumn through late spring due to snow.
Cyclists have the right of way on the narrowest sections; maintain control of speed due to livestock grazing freely near the road.
