Hiking – The Tour of the Forts
Hiking – The Tour of the Forts
Montgenèvre
This hike will delight history and high-altitude landscape enthusiasts. It will take you through the forts of the Maginot line: first the Gondrans, then the Janus overlooking Montgenèvre.
Why not mix culture and hiking? Before leaving, ask the Tourist Office: Fort du Gondrans can be visited.
Highest point: 2450 m (Janus Fort)
Route type: loop
Distance: 17 km
Duration: 6 hours
Elevation gain: 890 m
Elevation gain –: 890 m
ITINERARY
1. Meet in front of the Durancia center. Take the path towards the multi-activity area.
2. At the Durance bridge, continue towards Lac des Anges. At the white sign Source de la Durance, turn right. Follow the path and continue straight until you reach a track.
3. Follow the track on the right (ETM 3) to the Gondrans chairlift. Get over it.
4. At the yellow sign indicating Le Chenaillet, turn right and take the path which leads to the entrance to Lac des Anges and the geodrome.
5. Continue to climb towards Le Chenaillet.
6. At the Col des Gondrans, turn right on the track towards Janus. You will pass in front of the buried fort of Gondran E.
7. At the next junction, turn left onto the track which winds down through the forts. At the next intersection, turn right, then right again.
8. Continue straight ahead (on the right, a stele of the 159th RIA) until the “Military Land” sign. Take the right track which goes up, then immediately left on the path.
9. Take the military road which leads to the summit of Janus and the fort. Don't hesitate to go to the end of the plateau to enjoy the view. Go back down the same path to the stele of the 159th RIA.
10. At the stele, turn left towards the large rusty sign to find the start of the path which will take you back to the start of the Gondrans chairlift.
11. Pass the chairlift and take the La Durance mountain bike trail which goes down to your right (at the edge of the trail, priority for mountain bikers).
12. At the next crossroads, leave the mountain bike trail and turn left on the path (direction Pont de la Durance).
13. You join a track, turn right and go up the track to the nets.
14. At the nets, turn left via the special pedestrian crossing. On the other side of the nets, follow the path on your left which descends gently to Durancia.
Equipment
- Car park
- Public WC
- Picnic area
Services
- Pets welcome
Rates
Free access.
Dates
From 01/05 to 31/10 daily.
Documentation
TMX des Chalmettes
Next to Durancia
05100 Montgenèvre
Next to Durancia
05100 Montgenèvre
Telephone : 04 92 21 52 52
Email: E-mail
Website : Website
Facebook page : Facebook
X:Twitter
Tripadvisor:Tripadvisor
Languages spoken
- Italian
- English
- French
Updated on 04/30/2026 – Montgenèvre Tourist Office –Suggest an edit
