An eponymous torrent rises at the pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Geographical location<\/h2>\n\n\n\nMassifs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The pass lies on the border of the Belledonne<\/a> and Arves<\/a>to the west of the Croix-de-Fer pass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Col du Glandon and the Col de la Croix de Fer are geographically very close, less than 3 km apart and both located in the Grandes Rousses massif.<\/p>\n\n\n But they are very different in geological terms. If you follow the road between these two passes, located in the Eau Dolle valley, the change in the nature of the rocks - crystalline in the south and sedimentary (limestone) in the north - is reflected in a very perceptible difference in the vegetation and the shape of the relief. The entire massif to the south (Rochers de la Curiaz) sinks beneath the sedimentary mantle from the Col du Glandon to the Chalets d'Olle. <\/p>\n\n\n Readers interested in this subject should refer to the comprehensive article by geol-alp.com<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n South side (Is\u00e8re side)<\/strong> Eau d'Olle valley. North side (Savoie side) : <\/strong>the Glandon rises near the Col and flows down the Villards valley before emptying into the Arc at Saint-Avre after crossing the A43 on a canal bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is a capricious torrent<\/a> :<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is\u00e8re side<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Access is shared with the Col de la Croix de Fer as far as the D926 \/ D927 junction (alt. 1907 m), 200 m from the Col du Glandon and 2.7 km from the Col de la Croix de Fer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The D526 leaves Rochetaill\u00e9e (30 km away, alt. 711 m), crosses Allemond (27 km away), passes over the Verneys dam and runs alongside the lake (left bank), crosses the Rivier d'Allemond (15 km away - alt. 1264 m), near the Grand'Maison dam (7 km away - alt. 1720 m) then follows the right bank of the lake, becoming the D926 as it crosses the Rieu Claret (4 km away, Is\u00e8re \/ Savoie border, alt. 1773 m) before joining the junction with the D927 towards the Col de la Croix de Fer.<\/p>\n\n\n Savoie side<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The D927 gives access to the Col du Glandon (FR-73-1924<\/a>) from the Maurienne (Saint-Etienne de Cuines 21 km away - alt. 450 m) via Saint-Colomban-des-Villards (10 km from the pass - alt. 1100 m).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is\u00e8re side <\/strong>(shared with Col de la Croix de Fer)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The road was built in 1898 (and extended to the Croix de Fer pass in 1912).<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the XXth<\/sup> century two changes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Savoie side<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In Roman times Glandon pass<\/strong> provided a link between the Oisans and Maurienne regions, descending through the Villards valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n La Grand'Maison power station<\/a><\/strong> is a Pumped Energy Transfer Station (PETS). <\/p>\n\n\n\n A higher restraint (Grand'Maison lake<\/strong>(1,695 m) is connected by penstocks to a lower basin, the Le Verney reservoir,<\/strong> 900 m below the level of the power station (Lac du Verney<\/strong>725 m, 15 million m\u00b3 of water). During periods of high consumption, the power station turbines water from the upper reservoir. The water then flows into the downstream reservoir. During off-peak periods, mainly at night and weekends, water from the lower reservoir is pumped to the upper reservoir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this way, the system can store energy and respond quickly to peak demand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The most powerful dam in Europe, it produces the equivalent of 2 old-generation nuclear reactors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Le EDF Hydr\u00e9lec Museum<\/a><\/strong> between the road and the Lac du Verney has been awarded the Museum of France<\/em> and presents unique collections from the Alpine Arc dating from the 19th century to the present day.e<\/sup> century and xxe<\/sup> century. A scenographic tour pays tribute to the scientists, engineers, technicians and labourers involved in the creation of hydroelectric power stations and dams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A memorial<\/strong> at the top of the pass recalls that in July and August 1944, as the Provence landings were being prepared, mobile group no. 5 of the Oisans maquis temporarily repelled a German attack near the pass.<\/p>\n<\/div> Above the Col du Glandon car park, four pillars have been erected to give a straight view of Mont Blanc.<\/p>\n\n\n Both sides of the pass are in the Savoie department (Commune de Saint-Colomban-des-Villards<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Is\u00e8re \/ Savoie boundary is located on the Is\u00e8re side at the Pont du Rieu Claret (1730 m), 3.8 km from the pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why isn't the Is\u00e8re \/ Savoie boundary on the Arc \/ Is\u00e8re LPE? (i.e. the Croix de Fer and Glandon passes)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to \"oisans.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Until 1860, the Sabot pass marked the border between France and Savoie. Vaujany, on the route des cols, was then equipped with a border office<\/strong> to protect the province of Dauphin\u00e9. ... \/ ... Where the Grand'Maison reservoir now extends, in the past, vast alpine pastures were shared between the French and Savoyards<\/strong>. The Grand'Maison was a large building used to house shepherds. Information completed by \" Is\u00e8re-Tourisme <\/a>\" <\/strong>Behind the Col du Sabot was a border post, some of whose ruins still exist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ChatGPT completes this information<\/strong> (without citing sources):<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The region around the Croix de Fer and Glandon passes is an area of mountain pastures where Savoyard and Dauphinois farmers have practised agriculture for centuries. The inhabitants on both sides of the mountain had a close relationship and often shared pastures and farmland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the border was defined as part of the Treaty of Turin in 1860, it was important to minimise disruption to the local population. Fixing the border on the Rieu Claret, a clearly identifiable watercourse, made it possible to maintain the traditional use rights of farmers on both sides of the border\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Tour de France climbed this pass for the first time in 1947.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In its traditional version, the BRA did not use the Col du Glandon (it passes through the crossroads 200 m from the pass on the road to the Col de la Croix de Fer).<\/p>\n\n\n\n However :<\/p>\n\n\n\nGeology<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Glandon-photo.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/glandon-geologie.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHydrography<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
L'eau d'Olle is a tributary of the Romanche, which rises near the Col de la Croix de Fer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Glandon-capricieux.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAccess<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Glandon-carte.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nModification of access<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EBOULEMENT-MAUPAS.jpg\")
Above right, the Rissou mountain, overlooking the Maupas gorge. Source : forayrandobrie.free.fr\/Belledonne<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhat to see - tourism\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is\u00e8re side (shared with Col de la Croix de Fer)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Glandon-Gd-Maison.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAt the pass<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/P1020418-stele-situee-au-col-du-Glandon-revue-1200x9001-1.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Glandon-piliers.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAdministrative status<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Currently<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
History<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cycling and cycle tourism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tour de France<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BRA<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Glandon-Profil-scaled-1-1920x512.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n