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| Beautiful scenery |
| Hidden gem |
| 16 hairpin turns |
| #36 toughest climb of La Maurienne |
| #31 most elevation gain of La Maurienne |
| #32 longest climb of La Maurienne |
| #52 average steepest climb of La Maurienne |
Montdenis / Les Villes from Saint Julien Mont Denis is a climb in the region La Maurienne. It is 7.5 mi long and bridges 2828 ft of vertical ascent with an average gradient of 7.1%, resulting in a difficulty score of 668. The top of the ascent is located at 4934 ft above sea level. Climbfinder users shared 7 reviews of this climb and uploaded 39 photos.
Road names: Avenue de la Grange Neuve & D 79
5.0 by patrickbaertThis is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch.This hidden gem starts thv roundabout (signpost D79 Montdennis/Villard Clement) with equally straight road gradually up the northern valley slope of the Maurienne valley. Followed by a beautiful series of balcony-shaped hairpins with steep percentages that lead you unprotected up the bare rock face. Deep down you overlook St.Jean de Maurienne with the Arc river, railway, motorway, cement factory and the wide mountain surroundings. After about 7 km. in Gremis, the first sparse habitation, there... read more
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The first part of the ascent is made in full sunshine. The sun took care to warm the rocks on the cliffs that accompanied us.
The condition of the road is fine, but nothing more.
There are plenty of well-designed bends.
It's a pleasant, calm climb. For the first few kilometres, you can hear the noise of the motorway and the huge Ferroglobe factory, the silicon metal giant.
Then you start to climb and the silence settles in until you reach the last three kilometres, which are quite beautiful.
The gradients are never too nasty but the 9％ section really makes itself felt.
The village is very pretty. The chalets all take part in the competition for the most beautiful chalet...
A fountain on the road and another in the village.
The road is not perfect, so be careful on the descent.
La première partie de l’ascension se fait en plein soleil. Soleil qui aura pris soin de réchauffer les roches des falaises qui nous accompagnent.
L’état de la route est correct mais sans plus.
Les virages sont nombreux et très bien dessinés.
C’est une montée agréable et calme. Enfin, pendant les premiers kilomètres, on entend les bruits de l’autoroute et de l’énorme usine Ferroglobe, géant du silicium métal.
Et puis on grimpe et puis le silence s’installe et puis on parvient aux trois derniers kilomètres qui sont assez beaux.
Les pourcentages ne sont jamais trop méchants mais le tronçon à 9％ se fait bien ressentir.
Le village est très mignon. Les chalets participent tous au concours du plus beau chalet…
Une fontaine sur le chemin et une autre dans le village.
La route n’étant pas parfaite, vigilance lors de la descente.
Lovely climb with good views, road surface and light traffic. Be careful of rockfalls in road on decent. Toilet and rest shelter at the top if weather is poor.
Beautiful climb up a quiet side valley. Nice and snappy with great views. Very traffic-free, so definitely recommended!!!
Prachtige klim een rustige zijvallei in. Lekker pittig met mooie uitzichten. Zeer verkeersluw, dus absoluut aan te raden!!
This climb has a bit of everything - a short section of fresh gravel, a rock slide area, a cliff hugging section followed by lots of hairpins, then the last third climbing up rural roads. It can easily combined with a visit to Col de Sapenay.
This climb has a bit of everything - a short section of fresh gravel, a rock slide area, a cliff hugging section followed by lots of lacets ( hairpins), then the last third climbing up rural roads. It can easily combined with a visit to Col de Sapenay.
rode up this because rain was forecast (so couldnt do the “famous” cols from saint jean de maurienne. pretty climb. freshly laid gravel first 1.5km, road surface average until last bit which became smooth again. 9％ first few km with flat hairpins then 7％ to Montdenis. absolutely no sign at all at “the top” which peters out to some private houses. lovely cliff edge views on descent. minimal traffic which was fantastic.
This hidden gem starts thv roundabout (signpost D79 Montdennis/Villard Clement) with equally straight road gradually up the northern valley slope of the Maurienne valley.
Followed by a beautiful series of balcony-shaped hairpins with steep percentages that lead you unprotected up the bare rock face. Deep down you overlook St.Jean de Maurienne with the Arc river, railway, motorway, cement factory and the wide mountain surroundings.
After about 7 km. in Gremis, the first sparse habitation, there is forest again and the route winds further to Montdennis where, at the end of Les Villes, the road comes to a dead end in the yard of the last farm.
Over entire route there is hardly any traffic on the narrow road with patchwork asphalt. (June 2023 asphalt works on the way)
Note that in the hairpin section there are traffic lights that warn you to turn right if there is any risk of rock slides or stones on the road.
Unknown beautiful rock flank climb,away from all the crowds.
Highly recommended!
Deze verborgen parel start thv. rond punt (wegaanduiding D79 Montdennis/Villard Clement) met even rechte weg geleidelijk de noordelijke dalflank van de Maurienne vallei omhoog.
Gevolgd door een prachtige reeks haarspeldbochten in balkonvorm met pittige percentages die je onbeschut veter gewijs tegen de kale rotsflank omhoog leiden. Je overschouwd diep beneden St.Jean de Maurienne met de Arc rivier, spoorweg,autostrade,cementfabriek en de wijde bergomgeving.
Na ongeveer 7 km. in Gremis,de eerste schaarse bewoning, is er weer bebossing en kronkelt de route verder naar Montdennis waar in eindpunt Les Villes de weg doodloopt op het erf van de laatste boerderij.
Over gehele route is er amper verkeer op de smalle weg met lappendeken asfalt. (Juni 2023 asfaltwerken onderweg)
Nog even opmerken dat in de haarspeldbochtensectie verkeerslichten staan die bij eventueel risico op steenlawines of stenen op de weg je waarschuwen om rechtsomkeer te maken.
Onbekende prachtige rotsflankklim,weg van alle drukte.
Aanrader!
The start of the ascent to Les Villes (not well known) is in St Julien Mont-Denis in the Maurienne valley, a few kilometres from St Jean de Maurienne.
A climb to be done in the morning in the fresh air because there is no shade, even in the middle of the morning it is in the middle of the heat wave.
From the beginning the slope is sustained with many kilometers around 9-10％ but especially a string of twists and turns clinging to the cliff and it's beautiful.
A small section allows you to catch your breath before the rather steep finale.
Forget about the big passes nearby (Croix de Fer, Glandon but also the climbs to the resorts like La Toussuire) the climb to Les Villes is worth a detour.
You will find peace and quiet, magnificent views and perhaps the opportunity to chat with the local mountaineers who live at the top.
Be careful on the way down because in places the road is narrow and very winding.
Have a good walk
Le départ de la montée à Les Villes( peu connue ) se situe à St Julien MontDenis dans la vallée de la Maurienne à quelques kilomètres de St Jean de Maurienne.
Une ascension à faire le matin à la fraîche car il n'y a pas d'ombre, même en milieu de matinée c'est en plein cagnard.
Dès le début la pente est soutenue avec de nombreux kilomètres aux environs de 9-10％ mais surtout une enfilade de lacets accrochés à la falaise et c'est magnifique.
Une petite portion permet de reprendre son souffle avant le final assez raide.
Délaissée pour les grands cols tout proches ( Croix de Fer, Glandon mais aussi des montées aux stations comme la Toussuire ) la montée à Les Villes mérite un détour.
Vous y trouverez le calme, des points de vues magnifiques et peut être aussi l’occasion de discuter avec les montagnards locaux qui vivent au sommet.
Prudence dans la descente car par endroits la route est étroite et très sinueuse.
Bonne Balade
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| 7 mph | 01:04:11 |
| 9 mph | 00:50:01 |
| 12 mph | 00:37:35 |
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