Beaufort: Five Great Cycling Climbs in Cheese Country
By Will • May 22nd, 2008 • Category: Cycling, Reviews
Famous for the eponymous cheese, Beaufort is one of the best bases for fabulous climbs in the north French Alps.
This quaint little town surrounded by mountains is on the Route des Grandes Alpes and provides incredible challenges on quiet stunning roads in all directions.
This is cycling country and just off the main square is a HUGE map of all the various cycling routes in the area. The tourist office provides fantastic route cards (example on left) for more than a dozen rides ranging from family friendly down low to giant alpine loops for the super strong.
Of note, probably the best known climb in the area - Col des Saisies - doesn’t make my top 5 (click here for info on Saisies).
Here are my top 5 climbs from Beaufort. At the bottom of the page is an interactive map of all 5 routes.
This is in large part a summer “To-Do” list for me as I have only climbed the first 2 of these 5 climbs
#1 Cormet de Roselend
Cormet de Roselend has been in the Tour de France 9 times, most recently in 2007 when Rasmussen was the first over the top. Part way up at the Col du Meraillet is a huge lake created by a dam creating a superb environment.
The Climb: 20.5 kms (12.7 miles); Ascent: 1,240 metres (4,070 feet)
Blog Post | Get Google Map, Google Earth or GPX File
#2 - Col du Pré
This is one of two climbs that the tourist office calls “mythic.” This is a much steeper alternate route up Cormet de Roselend. The Col is above the alpine lake - see photo for the stunning view. Descending the Col you can cycle right over the dam and join the Roselend route at the Col du Meraillet.
Of course the stats are even bigger if you do include Roselend.
The Climb: 13 kms ( 8.1 miles); Ascent: 960 metres (3,150 feet)
Blog Post | Get Google Map, Google Earth or GPX File
#3 - Cormet d’Areches
I really want to climb this route. Note, the last three kilometres require a mountain bike - but you can join a path on the other side and descend all the way to Bourg St Maurice - returning via the south side of Cormet de Roselend would make a pretty epic route.
The Climb: 19.7 kms (12.2 miles); Ascent: 1,400 metres (4,590 feet)
Get Google Earth Earth or GPX file
#4 Col du Joly
A long steady climb through a quiet valley to high summit. Apparently there is very good hiking from the Col.
The Climb: 23.1 kms (14.4 miles); Ascent: 1,260 metres (4,130 feet)
Get Google Earth Earth or GPX file
#5 Signal de Bisanne
This is the other “mythic” climb. It shares the same mountain as Col des Saisies but goes much higher and is much steeper. A monster.
The Climb: 14.5 kms (9.1 miles); Ascent: 1,230 metres (4,035 feet)
Get Google Earth Earth or GPX file
For more “Top Five” Climbs articles see the following:
- My Top 5 Cycling Climbs from Lake Annecy
- Alpe d’Huez - 5 different rides
- 5 Big Climbs - a To-do List
- Barcelonnette - Cycling Paradise
Click “View Larger Map” at bottom for a clearer view of climbs.
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Will is Happiest while cycling uphill. More enthusiastic than talented, his 2008 Challenge is to (again) cycle 160,000 metres of vertical ascent.
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OK, I expect my cycling partners to start requesting visits to Beaufort
That is a man talking. Just crashed his complete front and mainframe, but nothing will stop him from planning for more. I’m in for these cols Will!
PS : Recovery seems to be going well
The Cormet de Roseland is a fantastic climb. I love how you have associated the ride with cheese; I still have a Swiss hotel placemat showing all the cheese regions and I have ridden in Gruyere, Emmenthal and Appenzell as a result. Cols and cheese–what a place!
For me the more beautiful area in the Alps with great climbs.
Normally, I have to go there in June with my bike.
PS: For the difficulty, Signal de Bisanne must be done by Albertville.
Salut Bast,
oui - tu as raison - mais depuis Albertville jusqu’au depart il ya un peu de trafique.
Yes, you are correct - but from Albertville to the “start” of Bisanne there is a bit of traffic and for me it’s not that steep or interesting.
I was thinking that Cormet d’Areches is the perfect sort of route for you with your touring bikes and sense of adventure - over to Bourg St Maurice.
Yes… and I’ll have wine with that climb please. Just curious how do you say Beaufort? There are two here in the states… one in North Carolina and one in South Carolina. In NC, it’s pronounced “boh-fert” and in SC it’s pronounced “byoo-fert”… what’s the Swiss way?
Hi Donald
The French way:
Bow (like Bow and Arrow) + 4 (number four) - the “T” is silent
Bow -Four
=======
Beau = Beautiful
Fort = strong or “a fort”
Actually, the Cormet d’Arèches is probably very interesting.
Other possibilities:
-At the summit of Col du Pré, you can carry on climbing with the “Passage de la Charmette” (4.6 km, 2058m, the road isn’t paved but it seems it’s feasible with all bikes, this way is apparently gorgeous with incredible views)
-Les Saisies: you can climb towards the Montagne de Vorès (north). At the beginning the road is paved with one col ( about 1780m) then the road becomes a path but very feasible with 3 cols. After it’s possible to join the road of Col du Joly (La planay). If I go there I think I’ll try.
Bast
I can Imagine above Col du Pré is beautiful. The Alpine lake below is huge.
Cormet d’Areches is the one I really want to try - the mountains are much higher and savage than near Saisies / Bisanne.
I will watch your blog for the Montagne de Vorés route
[…] Beautiful Beaufort - home of the famous cheese - is surrounded by Alps. There are twenty or so signed cycling routes - two of which are called “Mythic”, and five of which are called “Classic.” For more about Beaufort see Five Great Cycling Climbs in Cheese Country. […]
hey man,
i linked onto your site from mimbo’s forum.
i think you made awesome modifications. beautifully done!!!!!