Above Chapareillan, the Col du Granier demands 11.3 km at a 9.2% average to breach the limestone wall of the Chartreuse massif, one of Savoie’s harshest climbs despite a modest summit altitude of 1134 m.
A gradient that never lets up
Right from the edge of Chapareillan, the road climbs through tight forest hairpins, with sections regularly topping 10%. Unlike many Alpine passes, the Granier offers almost no respite anywhere along the route, making it as much a mental test as a physical one.
A sentinel of the Chartreuse massif
The Col du Granier marks the northern edge of the Chartreuse massif, dominated by the limestone cliffs that give this regional nature park its distinctive character. The view from the summit takes in the Grésivaudan valley and the foothills of the Bauges, a panorama that rewards the effort spent on the steepest slopes.
Getting the climb right
A wide-range cassette helps save the legs on a gradient that never truly relents, while extra bottles are recommended for this hour-long effort with no refreshment points along the way.
When to go
April to October — the road stays rideable for much of the year outside the winter snow that regularly affects the top of the massif.
Good to know
Chambéry, about twenty minutes away by car, offers the widest choice of accommodation in the area and makes it easy to combine the Granier with other climbs in the massif, such as the Cucheron or the Granier via Entremont-le-Vieux.
