Col de Turini

Col de Turini
Col de Turini Location of Col de Turini
Elevation	1,607 m (5,272 ft)
Location
Location	Alpes-Maritimes,  France
Range	Alps
Coordinates	43°58′40″N 07°23′30″E / 43.97778°N 7.39167°E / 43.97778; 7.39167Coordinates: 43°58′40″N 07°23′30″E / 43.97778°N 7.39167°E / 43.97778; 7.39167

Col de Turini (el. 1607 m) is a high mountain pass (A mountain pass is the name of a road in/on a mountain) in the Alps in the department of Alpes-Maritimes in France. It lies near Sospel, between the communes of Moulinet and La Bollène-Vésubie in the Arrondissement of Nice.

It is famous for a stage of the Monte Carlo Rally which is held on the tight road with its many hairpin turns. Until a few years ago, the Col De Turini was also driven at night, with thousands of fans watching the "Night of the Long Knives" as it was called, due to the strong high beam lights cutting through the night.

The Col De Turini has also featured three times in the Tour de France (1948, 1950 and 1975) averaging 7.2% over 15.3 km when approached from the East starting at the valley of the river Vésubie.

This pass was featured in the first episode of Top Gear series 10 when the presenters went in search of the greatest driving road in the world.

See also

• List of highest paved roads in Europe
• List of mountain passes

External links

• http://www.spiegel.de/auto/aktuell/0,1518,360597,00.html
• http://www.mdmot.de/Seealpen/ligurien/turini/GPS_turini.htm
• http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf/turini.php