Route nationale 6
Encyclopedia
The Route nationale 6 is a trunk road (nationale
) in France between Paris and the frontier with Italy in the Alps.
–Sens
–Auxerre
–Chalon-sur-Saône
–Lyon
–Chambéry
-Italy
. The road crosses the River Marne at the Pont de Charenton as well as the A 4
. The road heads through the suburbs of Paris, after a junction with the RN 19
the RN 6 becomes Avenue du Général Leclerc and then Avenue du Général de Gaulle. The road passes Maisons-Alfort
and enters an industrial area as Avenue du Maréchal and runs parallel to railway yards before passing along the East bank of the Seine. The road then bypasses Montgeron
and enters Forêt domaniale de Sénart and a junction with the RN 104 before becoming the A 5
and then branching off to the South. The old road passes through Lieusaint
.
The RN 6 enters Melun
where it crosses the Seine and heads south through the Forêt domaniale de Fontainebleau and heads to Fontainebleau
and a junction with the RN 7
. The old road passes through Vulaines-sur-Seine
and Veneux-les-Sablons
before the new road rejoins the old course after the River Loing.
The road heads East along the south bank of the River Seine and then the River Yonne. Most of the villages along the road are now bypassed. Crossing the river at Pont-sur-Yonne
the road is overlooked by the Bois de Châtillon (180m). Since on the East bank the road crosses the A 19
and enters the cathedral
city of Sens
.
with the Canal de Bourgogne following the River Armançon.
The road crosses the A 6 before Auxerre
. South of the town the road takes the River Cure through wooded countryside passing the grottes de Saint-Moc and grottes d'Arcy. 10 km north of Vézelay
the road turns east to Avallon
in the Vallée du Cousin. The nearby hills now rise to over 380 m. The road continues Southeast through the Bois de Vernon branching south to Saulieu
and the Forêt de Saulieu.
To the Southeast in the Forêt de Thoisy the road crosses the main TGV line. The road reaches 490 m above sea level before dropping down into the Arnay-le-Duc
in the Arroux
valley. The road rises again as it approaches the Saône
valley and the cirque du Bout du Monde and the vallon de la Tournée after the Bois de la Chaume. The road passes Baubigny-la-Rochepot and past Mont de Sène (521 m) before bisecting the wine
making villages of Puligny-Montrachet
and Chassagne-Montrachet
. The road enters the heart of Burgundy
. The road heads through Chagny
before entering Chalon-sur-Saône
and the A 6.
The road heads South along the river valley passing through Tournus
to Mâcon
where it is crossed by the A 40
. The road continues South overlooked to the west by a ridge rising to over 800 m. Nearby town include the Beaujolais
wine villages of Fleurie
, Villié-Morgon
and Brouilly. The next major town is Villefranche-sur-Saône
before the road heads through the Mont d'Or and into the western suburbs of Lyon
and then over the River Saône into the City Centre.
and into an industrial area parallel to the A 43
and South of the Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport . The road passes through the satellite town of Bourgoin-Jallieu
towards the foothills of the Alps
. The road turns East along the Bourbre
valley passing through La Tour-du-Pin
. The surrounding countryside rises to 580 m while the road is now about 300 m. After crossing the RN 75 the road reaches Le Pont-de-Beauvoisin
on the border of Dauphiné
and Savoie
. The road heads Southeast taking the gorges de Chailles through the Montagne de l'Épine (1125 m). The mountains crossed by the roads are the Prealps. At Les Échelles
the RN 6 turns north east through the grottes des Échelles and over the Col de Cours (526 m). It then follows the River Hyères to Chambéry
(404 m above sea level). The road turns Southeast again towards the Isère
valley and junctions with the RN 90, A 41
and A 43
.
The RN 6 then follows the Isère valley Northeast for 11 km before crossing the river and taking the Arc
valley to the South alongside the A 43
and a railway line. The valley passes between the chaîne des Hurlières (1707 m) and the chaîne de la Lauzière (2829 m). The road continues south along the valley past Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne
and skirting the Southern edge of the Massif de la Vanoise
. At Orelle
a cable car
grants access to the Les Trois Vallées
Ski system with the Cîme de Caron rising to 3198 m and covered in glaciers. To the South is the resort of Valloire
and the RD 902 which passes over the Col du Galibier
(2646 m). The road now is part of the Route des Grandes Alps.
At Modane
the Autoroute and railway line branch South in tunnels and into Italy
. The Fréjus Rail Tunnel
was finished in 1871. It had been started by the Sardinian
monarchy to link different parts of the kingdom of Sardinia
before the border took place there. The Fréjus Road Tunnel
is 13 km long and becomes the Autostrada A-32 in Italy. The railway also emerges and heads down the Bardonecchia
valley.
The RN 6 however continues eastward along the Arc valley overlooked by snow capped mountains such as the Dent Parrachée (3684 m). At the village of Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis
(1416 m above sea level) the road heads South climbing steeply to the Col du Mont Cenis
(2084 m). The road then passes the Northern shore of the Lac du Mont Cenis in the Massif du Mont Cenis. The road then drops passing below the lakes dam before crossing the frontier with Italy where it becomes the S-25. The pass is closed during winter.
The RD 902 continues in the Arc valley past Bessans
and Bonneval-sur-Arc
before turning north over the Col de l'Iseran (2764 m) and onto Val-d'Isère. The road is used as a ski run in winter. The RD 902 is a high mountain itinerary linking all the main passes along France's Eastern borders with Italy.
Route nationale (France)
A route nationale, or simply nationale, is a trunk road in France. Trunk roads are in France are important roads which cross broad portions of the French territory, as opposed to secondary or communal roads who only serve local areas....
) in France between Paris and the frontier with Italy in the Alps.
Reclassification
The RN 6 runs parallel for a long portion of its route to the A 6 autoroute. As a result portions of the road have now been downgraded as the RD 306 and RD 906.Route
Paris-FontainebleauFontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
–Sens
Sens
Sens is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.Sens is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is crossed by the Yonne and the Vanne, which empties into the Yonne here.-History:...
–Auxerre
Auxerre
Auxerre is a commune in the Bourgogne region in north-central France, between Paris and Dijon. It is the capital of the Yonne department.Auxerre's population today is about 45,000...
–Chalon-sur-Saône
Chalon-sur-Saône
Chalon-sur-Saône is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is the largest city in the department; however, the department capital is the smaller city of Mâcon....
–Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
–Chambéry
Chambéry
Chambéry is a city in the department of Savoie, located in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It is the capital of the department and has been the historical capital of the Savoy region since the 13th century, when Amadeus V of Savoy made the city his seat of power.-Geography:Chambéry...
-Italy
Paris to Sens (0 to 104 km)
The road starts at Porte de Charenton south east of the city north of the Seine. The road is called the Rue de Paris and it skirts the Southern edge of the Bois de VincennesBois de Vincennes
The Bois de Vincennes is a park in the English landscape manner to the east of Paris. The park is named after the nearby town of Vincennes....
. The road crosses the River Marne at the Pont de Charenton as well as the A 4
A4 autoroute
The A4 Autoroute, also known as l'autoroute de l'Est is a French autoroute that travels between the cities of Paris and Strasbourg. It forms parts of European routes E25 and E50....
. The road heads through the suburbs of Paris, after a junction with the RN 19
Route nationale 19
The Route nationale 19 is a trunk road in north east France. The road forms part of European route E54.-Reclassification:The RN19 has been subsequently downgraded in several sections to the RD319 and RD619.-Route:...
the RN 6 becomes Avenue du Général Leclerc and then Avenue du Général de Gaulle. The road passes Maisons-Alfort
Maisons-Alfort
Maisons-Alfort is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Maisons-Alfort is famous as the location of the National Veterinary School of Alfort, the most renowned veterinary medical school in France...
and enters an industrial area as Avenue du Maréchal and runs parallel to railway yards before passing along the East bank of the Seine. The road then bypasses Montgeron
Montgeron
Montgeron is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Inhabitants of Montgeron are known as Montgeronnais.-Transport:Montgeron is served by Montgeron – Crosne station on Paris RER line D....
and enters Forêt domaniale de Sénart and a junction with the RN 104 before becoming the A 5
A5 autoroute
The A5 Autoroute, which was constructed in 1990 to relieve the A6, links the Parisian region with the Langres area. It is a 238 km toll road under the management of the Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhône . It makes up parts of the European routes E54, E511, and E17...
and then branching off to the South. The old road passes through Lieusaint
Lieusaint
Lieusaint is the name of several places in France:*Lieusaint, Manche, in the Manche département*Lieusaint, Seine-et-Marne, in the Seine-et-Marne département...
.
The RN 6 enters Melun
Melun
Melun is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. Located in the south-eastern suburbs of Paris, Melun is the capital of the department, as the seat of an arrondissement...
where it crosses the Seine and heads south through the Forêt domaniale de Fontainebleau and heads to Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
and a junction with the RN 7
Route nationale 7
The Route nationale 7, or RN 7, is a trunk road in France between Paris and the border with Italy. It was also known as the Route Bleue and — sarcastically, during the annual rush to the Mediterranean beaches — the Route de la Mort .-History:The Romans under Marcus Agrippa established...
. The old road passes through Vulaines-sur-Seine
Vulaines-sur-Seine
Vulaines-sur-Seine is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-Twin towns:It is twinned with the village of Barby, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom.-External links:* * *...
and Veneux-les-Sablons
Veneux-les-Sablons
Veneux-les-Sablons is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Ile-de-France region in north-central France.It is located near Moret-sur-Loing.-External links:* * *...
before the new road rejoins the old course after the River Loing.
The road heads East along the south bank of the River Seine and then the River Yonne. Most of the villages along the road are now bypassed. Crossing the river at Pont-sur-Yonne
Pont-sur-Yonne
Pont-sur-Yonne is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.-References:*...
the road is overlooked by the Bois de Châtillon (180m). Since on the East bank the road crosses the A 19
A19 autoroute
The A19 autoroute is a motorway in France it connects the A5 with A6 between Sens in Yonne and Courtenay in Loiret. The extension to the A10 autoroute near Orléans was completed in January 2011. A19 is part of the outermost Paris ring road.-Facts:...
and enters the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
city of Sens
Sens
Sens is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.Sens is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is crossed by the Yonne and the Vanne, which empties into the Yonne here.-History:...
.
Sens to Lyon (104 km to 440 km)
After Sens, the road heads South following the River Yonne valley through rolling countryside. The road crosses the river at JoignyJoigny
Joigny is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.It is located on the banks of the Yonne River.-Notable people :...
with the Canal de Bourgogne following the River Armançon.
The road crosses the A 6 before Auxerre
Auxerre
Auxerre is a commune in the Bourgogne region in north-central France, between Paris and Dijon. It is the capital of the Yonne department.Auxerre's population today is about 45,000...
. South of the town the road takes the River Cure through wooded countryside passing the grottes de Saint-Moc and grottes d'Arcy. 10 km north of Vézelay
Vézelay
Vézelay is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France. It is a defendable hill town famous for Vézelay Abbey. The town and the Basilica of St Magdelene are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites....
the road turns east to Avallon
Avallon
Avallon is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in center-eastern France.-Geography:Avallon is located 50 km south-southeast of Auxerre, served by a branch of the Paris-Lyon railway and by exit 22 of the A6 motorway...
in the Vallée du Cousin. The nearby hills now rise to over 380 m. The road continues Southeast through the Bois de Vernon branching south to Saulieu
Saulieu
Saulieu is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in the Burgundy region in eastern France.Capital of the Morvan, and found in the Morvan Regional Park, Saulieu is located to the southeast of Paris on the RN6 road.-History:...
and the Forêt de Saulieu.
To the Southeast in the Forêt de Thoisy the road crosses the main TGV line. The road reaches 490 m above sea level before dropping down into the Arnay-le-Duc
Arnay-le-Duc
Arnay-le-Duc is a commune of the Côte-d'Or department in Bourgogne in eastern France.-History:Arnay-le-Duc was the location of the worship of the Celtic god Abilus, who was associated with the goddess Damona.-Population:-Personalities:...
in the Arroux
Arroux
The Arroux is a river in central France, right tributary of the river Loire. Its source is east of Arnay-le-Duc, in Côte-d'Or. The Arroux flows generally south through the following départements and towns:* Côte-d'Or: Arnay-le-Duc...
valley. The road rises again as it approaches the Saône
Saône
The Saône is a river of eastern France. It is a right tributary of the River Rhône. Rising at Vioménil in the Vosges department, it joins the Rhône in Lyon....
valley and the cirque du Bout du Monde and the vallon de la Tournée after the Bois de la Chaume. The road passes Baubigny-la-Rochepot and past Mont de Sène (521 m) before bisecting the wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
making villages of Puligny-Montrachet
Puligny-Montrachet
Puligny-Montrachet is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.In the middle of the Côte de Beaune, it is a well-known appellation of Burgundy wine, containing one of the most famous vineyards in the world, Montrachet.-Population:-Wine:...
and Chassagne-Montrachet
Chassagne-Montrachet
Chassagne-Montrachet is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.It used to be known under the name Chassagne-le-Haut, but the name was changed to Chassagne-Montrachet by a decrete on November 27, 1879...
. The road enters the heart of Burgundy
Bourgogne
Burgundy is one of the 27 regions of France.The name comes from the Burgundians, an ancient Germanic people who settled in the area in early Middle-age. The region of Burgundy is both larger than the old Duchy of Burgundy and smaller than the area ruled by the Dukes of Burgundy, from the modern...
. The road heads through Chagny
Chagny, Saône-et-Loire
Chagny is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-References:*...
before entering Chalon-sur-Saône
Chalon-sur-Saône
Chalon-sur-Saône is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is the largest city in the department; however, the department capital is the smaller city of Mâcon....
and the A 6.
The road heads South along the river valley passing through Tournus
Tournus
Tournus is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-Geography:Tournus is located on the right bank of the Saône, 20 km. northeast of Mâcon on the Paris-Lyon railway.-Sights:...
to Mâcon
Mâcon
Mâcon is a small city in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.-Geography:...
where it is crossed by the A 40
A40 autoroute
The Autoroute A40 is a spectacular motorway in France that extends from Mâcon on the west to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains on the east, terminating not far from Chamonix and the Mont Blanc Tunnel. The road runs through Bresse, the high southern Jura Mountains, northern Prealps and French Alps. It was...
. The road continues South overlooked to the west by a ridge rising to over 800 m. Nearby town include the Beaujolais
Beaujolais
Beaujolais is a French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée wine generally made of the Gamay grape which has a thin skin and is low in tannins. Like most AOC wines they are not labeled varietally. Whites from the region, which make up only 1% of its production, are made mostly with Chardonnay grapes...
wine villages of Fleurie
Fleurie
Fleurie is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.Medieval charters record Fleurie as Floriacum..Fleurie AOC is a division of the Beaujolais wine region. In the 1970s the British Conservative politician and tax fugitive Ernest Marples owned a Fleurie château and vineyard, to which he...
, Villié-Morgon
Villié-Morgon
Villié-Morgon is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.-References:*...
and Brouilly. The next major town is Villefranche-sur-Saône
Villefranche-sur-Saône
Villefranche-sur-Saône is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.It lies 1 mile west of the Saône River, and is around north of Lyon...
before the road heads through the Mont d'Or and into the western suburbs of Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
and then over the River Saône into the City Centre.
Lyon to the Frontier of Italy (440 km to 677 km)
The RN 6 heads Southeast out of the city on the Avenue Franklin Roosevelt and passes round the small airfield de Lyon-BronBron
Bron is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.It lies east of Lyon. It is the sixth-largest suburb of the city of Lyon, and is adjacent to its east side. It forms part of the Urban Community of Lyon.-History:...
and into an industrial area parallel to the A 43
A43 autoroute
The A43 autoroute is a motorway in eastern France. Travelling through the western Alps it is also known as the Autoroute alpine or Autoroute de la Maurienne. It connects Lyon with Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and Modane to Italy and Turin. It is operated by AREA and SFTRF...
and South of the Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport . The road passes through the satellite town of Bourgoin-Jallieu
Bourgoin-Jallieu
Bourgoin-Jallieu is a commune in the Isère department of south-eastern France.It lies 35 kilometres to the east-southeast of the city of Lyon. Its inhabitants are called Berjalliens.-Geography:...
towards the foothills of the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
. The road turns East along the Bourbre
Bourbre
The Bourbre is a long river in the Isère and Rhône départements, central eastern France. Its source is in Burcin. It flows generally north-northwest...
valley passing through La Tour-du-Pin
La Tour-du-Pin
La Tour-du-Pin is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.-Geography:The Bourbre flows westward through the southern part of the commune and crosses the town.-References:*...
. The surrounding countryside rises to 580 m while the road is now about 300 m. After crossing the RN 75 the road reaches Le Pont-de-Beauvoisin
Le Pont-de-Beauvoisin
Le Pont-de-Beauvoisin is the name of the following communes in France:* Le Pont-de-Beauvoisin, Isère, in the Isère department* Le Pont-de-Beauvoisin, Savoie, in the Savoie department...
on the border of Dauphiné
Dauphiné
The Dauphiné or Dauphiné Viennois is a former province in southeastern France, whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of :Isère, :Drôme, and :Hautes-Alpes....
and Savoie
Savoie
Savoie is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes region in the French Alps.Together with the Haute-Savoie, Savoie is one of the two departments of the historic region of Savoy that was annexed by France on June 14, 1860, following the signature of the Treaty of Turin on March 24, 1860...
. The road heads Southeast taking the gorges de Chailles through the Montagne de l'Épine (1125 m). The mountains crossed by the roads are the Prealps. At Les Échelles
Les Échelles
Les Échelles is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
the RN 6 turns north east through the grottes des Échelles and over the Col de Cours (526 m). It then follows the River Hyères to Chambéry
Chambéry
Chambéry is a city in the department of Savoie, located in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It is the capital of the department and has been the historical capital of the Savoy region since the 13th century, when Amadeus V of Savoy made the city his seat of power.-Geography:Chambéry...
(404 m above sea level). The road turns Southeast again towards the Isère
Isère River
The Isère is a 286 km long river in southeastern France, in the Rhône-Alpes région. Its source is in the Alps on the border with Italy, near the ski resort Val d'Isère. It flows into the Rhône River in Pont-de-l'Isère, a few km north of Valence...
valley and junctions with the RN 90, A 41
A41 autoroute
The A41 autoroute is a motorway in the French Alps. Also known as the L'Alpine. It opened in 1981. The road connects Grenoble and the A40...
and A 43
A43 autoroute
The A43 autoroute is a motorway in eastern France. Travelling through the western Alps it is also known as the Autoroute alpine or Autoroute de la Maurienne. It connects Lyon with Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and Modane to Italy and Turin. It is operated by AREA and SFTRF...
.
The RN 6 then follows the Isère valley Northeast for 11 km before crossing the river and taking the Arc
Arc (Savoie)
The Arc is a 128 km long river in the Savoie département of south-eastern France. It is a left tributary of the Isère River, which it joins at Chamousset, approximately 15 km downstream from Albertville. Its source is near the border with Italy, in the Graian Alps, northeast of Bonneval-sur-Arc...
valley to the South alongside the A 43
A43 autoroute
The A43 autoroute is a motorway in eastern France. Travelling through the western Alps it is also known as the Autoroute alpine or Autoroute de la Maurienne. It connects Lyon with Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and Modane to Italy and Turin. It is operated by AREA and SFTRF...
and a railway line. The valley passes between the chaîne des Hurlières (1707 m) and the chaîne de la Lauzière (2829 m). The road continues south along the valley past Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department....
and skirting the Southern edge of the Massif de la Vanoise
Vanoise
Vanoise may refer to:# Vanoise National Park in France# Vanoise Express, a cable car line# Vanoise Massif, a sub-group of the Graian Alps in France...
. At Orelle
Orelle
Orelle is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is connected by the longest télécabine in the world to ski slopes that are part of the 3 vallées the largest linked ski domain in the world. From there one can access the Val Thorens ski...
a cable car
Aerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
grants access to the Les Trois Vallées
Les Trois Vallées
Les Trois Vallées or The Three Valleys is a ski region in the Tarentaise Valley, Savoie département of France, above the town of Moûtiers and have areas within the Vanoise National Park...
Ski system with the Cîme de Caron rising to 3198 m and covered in glaciers. To the South is the resort of Valloire
Valloire
Valloire is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The ski resort Valloire-Galibier is located in the commune, at the foot of the Col du Galibier and next to the ski resort of Valmeinier, France....
and the RD 902 which passes over the Col du Galibier
Col du Galibier
Col du Galibier is a mountain pass in the southern region of the French Dauphiné Alps near Grenoble. It is the ninth highest paved road in the Alps and the sixth highest mountain pass. It is often the highest point of the Tour de France....
(2646 m). The road now is part of the Route des Grandes Alps.
At Modane
Modane
Modane is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia until 1860.-Transportation:...
the Autoroute and railway line branch South in tunnels and into Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The Fréjus Rail Tunnel
Fréjus Rail Tunnel
The Fréjus Rail Tunnel is a rail tunnel of length in the European Alps, carrying the Turin–Modane railway through Mount Cenis to an end on connection with the Culoz–Modane railway and linking Modane, France and Bardonecchia, Italy...
was finished in 1871. It had been started by the Sardinian
Sardinian
Sardinian can refer to:* Sardinia* Sardinian people* Sardinian language* Sardinian...
monarchy to link different parts of the kingdom of Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
before the border took place there. The Fréjus Road Tunnel
Fréjus Road Tunnel
The Fréjus Road Tunnel is a tunnel that connects France and Italy. It runs under Col du Fréjus in the Cottian Alps between Modane in France and Bardonecchia in Italy...
is 13 km long and becomes the Autostrada A-32 in Italy. The railway also emerges and heads down the Bardonecchia
Bardonecchia
Bardonecchia is an Italian town and comune located in the Province of Turin, in the Piedmont region, in the western part of Susa Valley....
valley.
The RN 6 however continues eastward along the Arc valley overlooked by snow capped mountains such as the Dent Parrachée (3684 m). At the village of Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis
Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis
Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-External links:*...
(1416 m above sea level) the road heads South climbing steeply to the Col du Mont Cenis
Mont Cenis
Mont Cenis is a massif and pass in Savoie in France which forms the limit between the Cottian and Graian Alps.A road over the pass was built between 1803 and 1810 by Napoleon...
(2084 m). The road then passes the Northern shore of the Lac du Mont Cenis in the Massif du Mont Cenis. The road then drops passing below the lakes dam before crossing the frontier with Italy where it becomes the S-25. The pass is closed during winter.
The RD 902 continues in the Arc valley past Bessans
Bessans
Bessans is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:Located on the Haute-Maurienne plateau, at an altitude of 1750 meters, the area is known for its sporting activities. Bessans is located in a valley, ideal for Nordic skiing...
and Bonneval-sur-Arc
Bonneval-sur-Arc
Bonneval-sur-Arc is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-External links:*...
before turning north over the Col de l'Iseran (2764 m) and onto Val-d'Isère. The road is used as a ski run in winter. The RD 902 is a high mountain itinerary linking all the main passes along France's Eastern borders with Italy.