A restaurant in Val-Cenis?
Hosting visitors of Col du Mont-Cenis ? Appear here.
Become a partnerFree · Open access
Col du Mont-Cenis
The Col du Mont-Cenis opens the upper Maurienne towards Italy above a reservoir. It is not a border crossing: since 1947 it has lain entirely in France.
Florian Pépellin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
Road pass and reservoir
Access
Free
Best season
June – October
Town
Val-Cenis
Winter access
closed
What is Col du Mont-Cenis
The Col du Mont-Cenis opens the upper Maurienne towards Italy on the RD 1006, above Val-Cenis. Its altitude is given as 2,081 m by the tourist office and 2,085 m by en.wikipedia: four metres nobody arbitrates.
Contrary to what several aggregators write, the pass is not a border crossing. Since the 1947 Treaty of Paris it lies entirely in France; the border is further east. The lake alongside the road is an artificial reservoir feeding two hydroelectric power stations.
The 2026 opening happened in two stages: Wednesday 13 May for the Ascension weekend, then a second closure for works on the RD 1006 before reopening on Friday 22 May. Both dates circulate, and both are correct.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Altitude
2,081 m (Val Cenis tourist office) · 2,085 m (en.wikipedia) · 2,083 m (aggregators). Three figures, no arbitration.
Coordinates
45.260278° N, 6.900833° E (en.wikipedia)
Road
RD 1006. en.wikipedia still writes "Route nationale 6", a declassified number.
2026 opening
Two stages: Wednesday 13 May 2026 for the Ascension weekend, then a further closure for works on the RD 1006, reopening Friday 22 May 2026.
2026 closing
Provisional: Monday 9 November 2026, by the second-Monday-in-November rule published by the tourist office. Weather-dependent, not fixed by the département.
Border status
The pass has been entirely in France since the 1947 Treaty of Paris. There is no border post at the pass.
Price
Free, open access
Lake
Artificial reservoir feeding two hydroelectric power stations, occasionally drained for works. No reliable construction date: en.wikipedia's (1921) is uncorroborated.
Winter
The road becomes L'Escargot, an 11 km green run, described by the tourist office as the longest in Europe — an uncorroborated superlative.
Parking
Dogs
Accessibility
Access
How to get there
By car
On the RD 1006 from Lanslebourg. en.wikipedia still writes "Route nationale 6", a declassified number: current French sources write RD 1006.
Open in MapsBy bike
A classic climb from Lanslebourg (Val-Cenis). Vélo Maurienne publishes a dedicated profile; its figures were not extracted and no distance is asserted here.
Open in MapsWhen to visit
When to visit
Open from mid-May to early November depending on snow. In 2026: a two-stage opening on 13 and 22 May; closing expected 9 November, unconfirmed. In winter the road is a ski run and cannot be driven.
Winter
Winter season
Winter access window
Closed (road shut in winter) — Live status: savoie-route.fr
Winter infrastructure
Alpine skiing
Snow panorama
Alpine panorama
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
A bakery, a shop in Val-Cenis?
Share hours and specialties with visitors of Col du Mont-Cenis.
Become a partnerA nearby stay?
Gîte, B&B, campsite, rental in Val-Cenis.
Become a partnerPhotos
Gallery
Been there? Share your photos — we'll add them to this page with credit. Tag #loisirs73 or email photos@loisirs73.fr
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How high is the Col du Mont-Cenis?
Three figures circulate: 2,081 m on the official Val Cenis tourist office page, 2,085 m on en.wikipedia, 2,083 m on aggregators. No source documents its measurement; this page does not arbitrate.
Is the Col du Mont-Cenis on the Italian border?
No. Since the 1947 Treaty of Paris the pass has been entirely on French territory. The Italian border is further east. There is no border post at the pass.
When did the pass open in 2026?
In two stages. A first opening on Wednesday 13 May 2026 for the Ascension weekend, then a further closure for works on the RD 1006, and reopening on Friday 22 May 2026.
When does the pass close for winter?
The tourist office applies a rule: the second Monday in November, which is 9 November 2026. That date is explicitly provisional and depends on snow; it is not a département announcement.
Does the road become a ski run in winter?
Yes: the pass road becomes L'Escargot, an 11 km green run. The tourist office calls it the longest in Europe, a superlative no independent source consulted confirms.
Sources
Sources & verification
- Office de tourisme Val Cenis — ouverture et fermeture du col
- Haute Maurienne Vanoise — ouverture et fermeture des cols
- Nos Alpes — réouverture du col du Mont-Cenis le 13 mai
- Vélo Maurienne — ouverture du col du Mont Cenis
- Vélo Maurienne — montée cyclo du col du Mont-Cenis depuis Lanslebourg
- Wikipedia (EN) — Mont Cenis
- Alti Mag — dates d'ouverture des grands cols des Alpes
- Guide Ski — Val Cenis été 2026
- Wikipedia (EN) — Val-Cenis
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
Nearby
Nearby
Other places to explore in the area and in the same category
Paid
Grande Motte Cable Car
Tignes
From 3,034 m to 3,456 m above Tignes, at the top of the Funiculaire Perce-Neige. Summer skiing 2026: 20 June – 15 July only. No dogs and no wheelchairs on the lifts.
Paid
Mont-Bochor Cable Car
Pralognan-la-Vanoise
Cable car from Pralognan to the Mont Bochor promontory and its orientation table at 2,023 m. Closed 12:45–13:30; in June it runs three days a week.
Paid
Olympique Cable Car
Val-d'Isère
Val-d'Isère 3S cable car, free for pedestrians and €23 a day with a bike. Open 09:45–16:45 without a break, 4 July to 30 August 2026.
Free
Col de l'Iseran
Bonneval-sur-Arc
Open right across since 12 June 2026. Free access on the D902 between Val-d'Isère and Bonneval-sur-Arc. Free parking. The only road crossing inside the Parc national de la Vanoise.
Free
Col de la Loze
Courchevel
Pass at 2,304 m between Courchevel and Méribel, reserved for bicycles: cars banned. 7 km on the Méribel side, 6.5 on the Courchevel side, a 23% wall.
Free
Col du Télégraphe
Valloire
Pass at 1,566 m between Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Valloire, open all year. The fort, ten minutes' walk away, opens in summer only, Wednesdays and Thursdays.