Col du Parpaillon | 2643 METER | Crevoux La Condamine-Châtelard

The Col du Parpaillon is about two-thirds of the way along a pure gravel road that runs parallel to the Col de Vars. The actual summit at 2780 metres cannot be approached, instead a long tunnel connects the northern ramp with the southern ramp. The tunnel construction was started at the end of the 19th century and could only be completed 20 years later.
The northwest ramp is a bit easier to drive on than the southeast ramp. Here the route is even two-lane in some places. The tunnel (currently closed, as of July 2024) is sweat-inducing, depending on the weather of the past few days or weeks. Ice, mud, dirt, deep longitudinal grooves, anything is possible.
But in good conditions, the route is also easy to drive on with a simple touring bike.