Col du Tourmalet
Barèges, France
At 2,115 m, the most climbed pass in Tour de France history. Expect cyclists on every bend.
The Col du Tourmalet stands at 2,115 m between Barèges and La Mongie in the Hautes-Pyrénées, linking the Campan valley with Luz-Saint-Sauveur. It is one of the highest road passes in the French Pyrenees. The Tour de France first crossed it in 1910, with Octave Lapize the first rider over the top; the road was then still a rough stone track. At the pass, a memorial to Jacques Goddet, Tour director from 1936 to 1987, and a statue of Octave Lapize recall the history of cycling.
The pass is closed in winter, and reopening depends on the snow, usually around May (as of October 2026). The western climb from Luz-Saint-Sauveur is about 19 km long at an average gradient of 7.4 per cent, reaching up to 10.2 per cent near the summit. As a Tour classic, the pass is very popular with cyclists from June to October.
- Nearest town
- Barèges, France
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 42.9086, 0.1453
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Camping Les 4 VéziauxCampsite12 km from Col du TourmaletTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Camping ToyCampsite12 km from Col du TourmaletTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Camping les CascadesCampsite13 km from Col du TourmaletTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Le MouscaCampsite17 km from Col du TourmaletTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Camping municipalCampsite17 km from Col du TourmaletTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Aire de Saint-Lary-SoulanMotorhome stopover17 km from Col du Tourmalet · 24 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Col du Tourmalet?
Col du Tourmalet is in Barèges, France, at GPS 42.9086, 0.1453. It is about 13 km from Luz-Saint-Sauveur.
Can you camp near Col du Tourmalet?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping La Ribère, about 7 km away; within 25 km there are 109 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Col du Tourmalet?
Col du Tourmalet is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Pyrenean cols: Tourmalet and Gavarnie and Rock amphitheatres, hairpin passes and Cathar castles – by motorhome through the French Pyrenees from Pau to Ax-les-Thermes.
What is there to see near Col du Tourmalet?
Places worth a stop nearby: Pic du Midi de Bigorre (3 km), Cirque de Gavarnie (23 km), Pont d’Espagne (24 km) and Ordesa valley (33 km).
When is the best time to visit Col du Tourmalet?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)