Col du Tourmalet

The Col du Tourmalet, at 2,115 metres, is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the French Pyrenees, in the Hautes-Pyrénées department. Sainte-Marie-de-Campan lies at its eastern foot with the ski station of La Mongie two-thirds of the way up, while the village of Barèges sits on the western side above Luz-Saint-Sauveur. Among paved passes in the French Pyrenees only the Col de Portet is higher; contrary to frequent claims it is neither the highest paved road in the range, since roads to the lakes of Cap-de-Long and Aumar climb higher, nor the highest paved pass in the Pyrenees, which is the Port d'Envalira in Andorra at 2,407 m. The meaning of the name is disputed. A memorial to Tour director Jacques Goddet stands at the summit.