With its 2,715 meters, the Col de la Bonette scores a 4th place in Europe’s list of paved passes.
Not high enough for some, so an additional loop around the top, the “Cime de la Bonette”, was cut out of the rocks.
That will take you to 2,802 meters.
Therefor, the French – or at least those in the Ubaye Vallée – claim it’s the highest pass of Europe.
But the Cime does not make the pass any higher, it’s just a scenic add-on with a beautiful view.
The loop’s only purpose seems to be that it outranks the Iseran in height, and it can be designated the highest asphalted through road of Europe, so there’s that…
However, for me the Iseran, which is 2,770 meters all by itself, without frills, will always be Europe’s highest pass.
The Stelvio then comes in close second with 2,758 meters, followed by the Agnel with 2,744 meters…
Not Col de Restefond
The passage over the Col de la Bonette is often mistakenly referred to as the Col de Restefond (2,680 meters, no marker).
That’s also due to the Tour referring to the summit as the Cime de la Bonette-Restefond, I guess…
However, the actual Col de Restefond is a left track off the Jaussier end of the climb, about one kilometer from the summit.
There’s a mountain bike / gravel trail between the Restefond and the Col de Grange on the other end, although it’s entirely in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region.
Tour de France
The pass has featured in the Tour de France only five times, lastly in stage 19 of 2024’s Tour.
During my Tour de France of 2014, we rented a cottage at the foot of the Bonette, La Mexicaine in Jausiers.
Not only this col, but also the Col de Larche and the Col de Vars are around the corner.
This ascent was the first on the list of that week.
It’s part of the ‘Brevet des 7 Cols de l’Ubaye’ also and because of its length perhaps the most feared on that list.
Personally, I had (a lot) more trouble with the Col de Vars.
Report on my 2014 trip up both ends here.
From Jausiers
Up to La Chalannette, the grades are “easier” – in the bottom half of that part, you’ll find some stinging section, but it never gets really steep.
Gradually, the views become more beautiful, the hairpins more attractive.
After some 17 kilometers you ride past Lac des Essaupriés and a few kilometers further, you pass the Caserne (Fortin) de Restefond, part of the Maginot defense line.
This is around the 2,550 meter mark and about two tough kilometers from the summit.
Once you arrive at the pass, you will not be able to resist the temptation and ride the extra loop, if only for the even better views.
I was forced to take the left side, because the “logical” route over the right was still blocked by snow.
That final part turned out to be quite the stinger, as the grades rose to about 15%.
The right-hand side of the loop, going counterclockwise, has easier grades…
There is no “refuge” at the summit.
Video from the Col Collective here.
From Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée
This end is similar to the climb from Jausiers, in both length and average grade.
You first get to ride through a more “forestry” part, meandering along the river la Tinée.
Just after some 10 kilometers, you will most likely have to get out of the saddle for the first time.
That is because the following stretch of about five kilometers has some rather steep sections.
And also from this end, you’ll pass a former barracks complex, the Camp des Fourches.
This is part of the same Maginot defense line, where the “Diables Blues” were housed.
Not long after that, you reach one of the best viewpoints, marked by an Obelix in honor of General Jacquemot.
The view down into the valley is absolutely stunning…
Hopefully, you then still have some energy left for the last kilometers to the summit.
The road keeps turning out of sight, the grades are not too bad, but if you’re unlucky, a (cold) headwind might completely destroy you, as it did me.
At 5km before the pass, Col de Granges Communes / Raspaillon – no marker – is the point where Alpes-Maritimes and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence meet.
You’ll continue the remainder of the climb along that divide.
As described above, you can conclude with either side of the loop around the “Cime” and there is no ‘refuge’ for a snack or a souvenir.
Bonus: there’s another possibility to reach the Bonette – from the South – by taking the “road” up to the Col de la Moutière. However, from Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, the road becomes increasingly more degraded and you may not be able to get past the col’s summit. Even if you can, you will need a mountain bike and the whole ride is not for the faint-hearted…
