Cime de la Bonette — Highest Paved Loop Road in the Alps

The Col de la Bonette sits on the Route de la Bonette (D64) between Jausiers and Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée. A short spur loops around the Cime de la Bonette and tops out near 2,802 m, which is why it’s billed as one of the highest paved through-roads in Europe. It’s bare rock, scree and sky up here, with no trees and nothing to block the wind. A stone orientation table at the top names the peaks in every direction. On a clear day you can see for miles across the Mercantour and Ubaye ranges.

It’s a good rest-day drive after the dirt of the Parpaillon: no 4×4 needed, just a few hours and a full tank. Jausiers is the closest real resupply town on the Ubaye side. The road is closed by snow for much of the year, usually opening around early summer and shutting again in autumn, so check the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence road status before you go. Expect cold, thin air and fast-moving weather even in July. Don’t plan on camping on the summit. The surrounding area falls under Mercantour National Park rules, so verify local restrictions ahead of time.

Have a dirty day.

Roof-of-the-Alps paved loop above Jausiers