![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/le-col-de-la-de-ferdominant-celui-du-Glandon-1024x768-11.jpg\")
This cross has been vandalised in 2016<\/a> then rebuilt by the commune of Saint-Sorlin d'Arves. <\/p>\n\n\n In the past, the pass was called Col d'Olle<\/strong>. The source of the eponymous torrent is nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pass lies on the boundary between the Alpine massifs of the Grandes Rousses<\/a> (to the south), the Arves<\/a> (to the east) and the Belledonne mountain range<\/a> (further west). <\/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.<\/p>\n\n\n The Col de la Croix-de-Fer is geologically part of the massif of the Grandes Rousses<\/a>. This is part of the vast crystalline region that includes the Mercantour, Les \u00c9crins, Oisans, Belledonne and Mont-Blanc massifs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The rocks that make up the pass are volcanic tuffs from a volcanic outpouring dating from the Carboniferous period (around 300 million years ago), the result of the collision of tectonic plates during the uprising of the Alps. It is also possible to observe \"roche moutonn\u00e9es\" or \"whaleback rocks\". These are outcropping rocks that bear the scars of a glacier rubbing against their surface, striating and polishing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Readers interested in this subject should refer to the comprehensive article by geol-alp.com<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n West side (Is\u00e8re side)<\/strong> Eau d'Olle valley. East and north-facing slopes (Savoie side) : <\/strong>the Arvan valley. Both slopes are part of the Is\u00e8re basin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is\u00e8re side<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Access is shared with the Col du Glandon 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 (32.5 km away, alt. 711 m), crosses Allemond (30 km away), passes over the Verneys dam and runs alongside the lake (left bank), crosses the Rivier d'Allemond (18 km away - alt. 1264 m), near the Grand'Maison dam (9 km away - alt. 1720 m) then runs alongside the lake on the right bank. It becomes the D926 as it crosses the Rieu Claret (4 km away, on the 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 From Saint Jean de Maurienne<\/strong> (29 km away - alt. 570 m), via the D926 <\/strong>Pont de Belleville (14km away - alt. 1228m), Saint Sorlin d'Arves (10km away - 1400m).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three tunnels (96, 178 and 503 m - well lit) located between 17.5 and 16 km from the summit of the co<\/em>l.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Via the Glandon pass<\/strong>the D927<\/strong> 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 From the Col du Glandon, take the short descent (200m) to the junction (alt. 1907m) with the D926 from Allemont and the Lac de Grand'Maison. The Col de la Croix de Fer is then 2.7 km away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The road was first built to the Col du Glandon in 1898. The extension to the Col de la Croix de Fer was inaugurated on 14 July 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 For several centuries, only a mule track led to the pass. 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 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 Visit carrefour d'Entraigues<\/strong>12.5 km from the pass, you can admire the wooden sculpture of the guide Guille, a native of Entraigues and a pioneer in the conquest of the Aiguilles d'Arves and the \u00c9tendard).<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Saint Sorlin d'Arves<\/strong> : l'Saint-Saturnin Church<\/strong><\/a> (<\/strong>built in 1603)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Two orientation tables:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three Lakes Circuit<\/a> to the \u00c9tendard refuge, Lac Bramant and Lac Blanc<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both sides of the pass are in the Savoie department (Commune de <\/a>Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves<\/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), 6.3 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 The pass was on the programme for the 2008, 2009 and 2011 editions. It was the finish of the 7e<\/sup> stage of the Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9 2023 won by Jonas Vingegaard, who thus secured his victory in this edition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is the highest finish in the history of the Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Croix-de-fer21.jpg\")
Geographical location<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Massifs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Geology<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Glandon-photo.jpg\")
<\/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
It is also known as the Vall\u00e9e des Arves.
The Arvan is a tributary of the Arc at Saint Jean de Maurienne.<\/p>\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
Is\u00e8re side<\/strong><\/h4>\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.<\/em><\/strong> Source : forayrandobrie.free.fr\/Belledonne<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
It was turned into a road in 1900 from Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves to the pass (then extended to the Col du Glandon in 1912). <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat to see - tourism\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is\u00e8re side (shared with Col du Glandon)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Glandon-Gd-Maison.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSavoie side<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Statue2-11.jpg\")
<\/figure>At the pass<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Above the collar<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Administrative 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
Crit\u00e9rium du Dauphin\u00e9<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
BRA<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Col-de-la-Croix-de-Fer-1200x3201-1.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centcols.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Profil-Isere3-1200x6751-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n