Col du Calvaire
{{Short description|Mountain pass in France}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Col du Calvaire
| photo = ColduCalvaire.jpg
| photo_caption =
| elevation_m = 1144
| elevation_ref =
| traversed =
| map = Alps
| map_caption = Location of Col du Calvaire
| map_size =
| label = Col du Calvaire
| coords = {{coord|48|08|11|N|7|05|19|E|type:pass_region:FR|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| location = Haut-Rhin, France
| range = Vosges Mountains
| topo =
}}
The Col du Calvaire ({{IPA|fr|kɔl dy kalvɛʁ}}) is a mountain pass in the Vosges Mountains connecting Le Valtin in the Vosges to Orbey in the Haut-Rhin.
Etymology
It owes its name to a Calvary, formerly known as the "Calvary above Lac Blanc".{{Cite web |title=Les Vosges en 365 jours |url=https://www.vosges-rando.net/Cal/Cal6/F28.htm |website=www.vosges-rando.net |access-date=2024-03-24}}
Geography
= Location =
Situated at an elevation of {{convert|1144|m|ft}}, the pass connects the Béhine valley, starting from Le Bonhomme, and the high Alsace valley of the Weiss to Orbey. It lies on the Route des Crêtes between the Col du Bonhomme and the Col de la Schlucht.{{Cite book|language=fr|last=Collectif|title=Voyages France: tout un monde à explorer|publisher=Hachette Tourisme|date=2019-10-30|isbn=978-2-01-786910-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7dzQDwAAQBAJ|access-date=2024-03-24}}
= Access =
From Le Valtin, the pass begins with the ascent of the Col du Louschbach leading to the Route des Crêtes (D 148) up to the Col du Calvaire. Generally, from the west side, the pass is accessed directly via the Route des Crêtes rather than the ascent from the Valtin forest road. From Orbey, the pass is accessed by following the departmental road D 48 then D 48.2 which runs along the Lac Blanc just before the pass.{{Cite book|language=en|first=Mary|last=Elsy|title=Travels in Alsace & Lorraine|publisher=Merehurst Press|date=1989|page=86|isbn=978-1-85391-040-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IocteMBdozIC|access-date=2024-03-24}}
History
During the World War I, the German front line extended from the Calvary, followed the southern slope to reach the tête des Faux and Orbey.{{Cite book|language=fr|last=Michelin|title=Alsace et les combats des Vosges II|publisher=MICHELIN|date=2014-03-19|isbn=978-2-06-719421-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OnURAwAAQBAJ|access-date=2024-03-24}}
Activities
= Cycling =
== Tour de France ==
= Winter Sports =
In winter, the pass is inaccessible from the Col de la Schlucht to make way for the ski slopes maintained by the Lac Blanc ski station.{{Cite web |language=FR-fr |title=Diaporama. Neige à la station de ski du Lac Blanc au col du Calvaire |url=https://www.lalsace.fr/actualite/2013/01/13/neige-a-la-station-de-ski-du-lac-blanc-au-col-du-calvaire |website=L'Alsace |access-date=2023-02-22}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
{{Portal|France|Mountains}}
- [http://www.ledicodutour.com/cols/cols_c/calvaire.html Le dico du Tour / Le col du Calvaire dans le Tour de France]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Calvaire, Col du}}