Cycling routes
Col de Novel (FRA) – Mythical Alpine passes
St-Gingolph
3/11°
The ascent from St-Gingolph to Novel is full of surprises and lets you discover the part of the canton of Valais that lies on Lake Geneva. Discover with this climb from the French border a often underrated side of Valais.
Difficulty
IntermediateLength
5.66 kmDuration
1:30 h
Description
The village of St-Gingolph lies at the extreme end of the canton of Valais on Lake Geneva at the border to France. The ascent to the Col de Novel is just under five kilometers. Nevertheless, it is demanding because the road is steep. Along the route leading you to the Alps of Novel, you have a fantastic view of Lake Geneva and the area around Montreux. The small Col de Novel is undoubtedly worth a discovery journey!
Turn-by-turn directions
The Col de Novel offers from St-Gingolph the unique opportunity to experience a landscape nestled between lake and mountains. Over the course of the kilometers, the ascent overlooks Lake Geneva, the largest lake in Western Europe. It offers a breathtaking view of the terraced vineyards of Lavaux – classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site – and the Vaud Riviera. At the pass summit, you can ride down to St-Gingolph on the French side thanks to a small bridge, enjoying a different perspective on the descent.
Start
St-Gingolph (395m)
Destination
Col de Novel (FRA) (878m)
Technical information
Altitude
914m
395m
Ascent
+520m
Descent
-36m
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Best time of the year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Getting there
Information
Public transport
Regular regional train connections on the Simplon line to St. Gingolph.
Approach
Via the A9 motorway from Lausanne or Sierre, exit 16-Villeneuve and then via the cantonal road no. 21 to Saint-Gingolph.
Parking
Parking in the village of St-Gingolph. Follow the local parking guidance system in St-Gingolph.
Source
This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion