Col du Chaussy in La Tour-en-Maurienne — Online Webcam
Where This Webcam Is Located
The camera is installed on the mountain pass Col du Chaussy — a high-mountain plateau at an elevation of 1,533 meters above sea level. The pass is located in the commune of La Tour-en-Maurienne, Savoie department, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France. This commune was formed on January 1, 2019 through the merger of three communes — Hermillon, Montpascal, and Le Pontet.
Geographically, Col du Chaussy lies in the upper part of the Maurienne valley — one of the longest alpine valleys of the Savoy Alps, stretching for dozens of kilometers along the Arc River. The Maurienne valley has historically served as a vital transport corridor between France and Italy via the Mont Cenis pass.
The Pass and Espace Nordique du Grand Coin Winter Park
Col du Chaussy is not just a dot on the map — it's a hub for active winter recreation. The Espace Nordique du Grand Coin is located here — a vast winter park specializing in cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The trail network stretches through spruce forests, connecting typical Savoyard hamlets and farmsteads. The total length of the routes is about 40 kilometers, passing through the Plateau de Monteymer, Col des Chozes, and the village of Bonvillaret.
The average snow depth during the season at the top of the pass reaches 116 centimeters, while in the lower part of the trails it is about 52 centimeters. This is more than enough for confident skiing and snowshoeing throughout the winter.
Road to the Pass: Lacets de Montvernier
The ascent to Col du Chaussy via the D77B road is an adventure in itself. The lower part of the route passes through the famous Lacets de Montvernier — a series of 17 tight hairpin bends carved into the rock face. This road section is considered one of the most scenic in the French Alps and attracts not only motorists but also cyclists from all over Europe.
From La Chambre, the climb is 14.4 kilometers with an elevation gain of 1,062 meters. The average gradient is 7.4%, making the pass a serious but achievable challenge for trained cyclists.
Col du Chaussy and the Tour de France
The pass gained wide popularity among cycling enthusiasts after being included in the route of the 2015 Tour de France. Stage 18 that year ran along the route Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne — La Toussuire, and included Col du Chaussy along with Col de la Croix de Fer and Col du Mollard. The stage finish at the La Toussuire ski resort became one of the most memorable in the history of the modern Tour de France.
In 2022, the Tour de France route passed through Lacets de Montvernier again, but this time the cyclists turned toward the Télégrafe pass, bypassing Col du Chaussy directly. Nevertheless, the pass remains a must-visit for anyone who wants to retrace the legendary Tour de France stages — the mass cycling event L'Étape du Tour also passes through here.
Maurienne Valley: The Largest Cycling Area in the World
The Maurienne valley, where Col du Chaussy is located, is rightfully considered one of the greatest cycling territories on the planet. Dozens of legendary passes are concentrated here, through which stages of the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España have passed. Col du Galibier (2,642 m), Col de la Croix de Fer (2,067 m), Col du Glandon, Col de la Madeleine — all these names are familiar to any cycling fan.
For hikers, the valley provides access to the Vanoise massif and the territory of Vanoise National Park — the first national park in France, established in 1963. Mountain goats, chamois, alpine marmots, and more than 120 bird species inhabit this area.
How to Get to Col du Chaussy
By car: A43 motorway (direction Lyon — Chambéry), then exit to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and further up the valley via roads D92 and D77B. The journey from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to the pass takes about 40 minutes, not counting stops for photography — the landscapes along the road leave no one indifferent.
By train: The nearest railway station is Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, served by TGV trains from Paris (about 4 hours) and Lyon (about 2 hours). From there — by car or local bus.
Nearest airports: Lyon-Saint-Exupéry (about 150 km), Geneva (about 160 km), Grenoble (about 120 km).
What the Camera Shows
The webcam broadcasts a nighttime view of the Col du Chaussy mountain pass on the territory of the Espace Nordique du Grand Coin winter park. In the foreground — an information board with a frame and a street lamp. The surface is covered with snow, a snow trail is visible, bordered by a stone curb. In the background — a snowy mountain slope rising upward into the darkness of the night sky. The image is transmitted in infrared night mode with characteristic grainy noise, allowing observation of the situation at the pass even in complete darkness.
