A natural border between France and Italy in the Cottian Alps, the Colle dell’Agnello (Col Agnel on the French side) tops out at 2,744 m, making it Europe’s highest paved border crossing and one of the highest road passes in the Alps.
A long, uneven climb
From Casteldelfino, the road climbs roughly 21.5 km for close to 1,400 m of elevation gain, averaging 6.5% with an uneven first third followed by a sustained finish where the last 9 km hover around a 10% average. The road is fully paved but narrow, with relatively few hairpins compared with other major Alpine passes.
Chianale, a stone hamlet
Halfway up, the hamlet of Chianale, listed among Italy’s “Borghi più belli” (most beautiful villages), makes a photogenic stop before the toughest part of the climb, entirely above the tree line.
A history tied to the grand tours
The Giro d’Italia has climbed this pass four times, three of them as the edition’s Cima Coppi, while the Tour de France rated it hors catégorie in 2008 and 2011. A planned crossing in 1995 had to be cancelled after an avalanche.
Good to know
The road stays closed from late October to early June because of snow: checking its current status before setting out is essential. Casteldelfino and Pontechianale offer the main services you’d need to prepare for this high-altitude climb.
