Col du Chaussy Webcam – Savoie Pass and Nordic Ski Views

The Col du Chaussy Webcam looks out from the Espace Nordique du Grand Coin, the cross-country ski area at the top of the Col du Chaussy, a road pass at 1,533 meters (5,030 feet) above the Maurienne valley in Savoie, France. The camera hangs under the roof of the Nordic area’s reception building and points down a sloping meadow. Trail boards, two picnic tables and a broad gravel pad fill the foreground, and a lane curves away to the left toward a hillside of firs. In early autumn the broadleaf trees among them turn yellow and orange. Once winter snow settles, the meadow turns white and the ski trails start from this spot, which makes the frame a quick way to judge snow cover before driving up. The stream runs around the clock.

About the Col du Chaussy

The pass belongs to the commune of La Tour-en-Maurienne, and two roads reach it. The southern approach leaves Pontamafrey in the Arc valley and climbs 13.9 kilometers (8.6 miles) with 1,035 meters (3,396 feet) of ascent at an average gradient of 7.5 percent, passing through Montvernier, Le Noirey, Montbrunal and Montpascal. The northern road branches off the Col de la Madeleine route above La Chambre and climbs through Montaimont and the hamlet of Bonvillard. Two chapels stand near the top, Notre-Dame de Beaurevers and Notre-Dame du Chaussy.

The best known part of the southern road is the Lacets de Montvernier, 18 hairpins packed into about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) that top out at 782 meters (2,566 feet). Work began in 1931 under engineer Boniface Bochet to open up the villages on the slope above, and a company from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne finished the road in 1933 after 11 months of work, with 36 workers building it entirely by hand. The Tour de France has used the hairpins three times, in 2015, 2018 and 2022.

The camera is a local project. The association #MauriennisezVous set it up with local partners over the winter of 2020 to 2021 and upgraded it in July 2024, when fiber optic reached the pass. It streams on MAUZ, the association’s YouTube channel, which splits the feed into six-hour broadcasts. The lens points at the meadow rather than the skyline, but the trails around the pass open onto the Aiguilles d’Arves to the south, the Belledonne range, the Lauziere chain and the Etendard glacier.

Weather and Climate at the Col du Chaussy

At 1,533 meters, winter is long and cold. ERA5 reanalysis data for the pass from 2016 to 2025 puts average January highs around 1 C (34 F) and lows near -9 C (16 F), and December is only slightly milder. Snow falls mainly from November to April, with December and January the snowiest months, and in midwinter the meadow in front of the camera can stay white for weeks at a time. Spring comes late: April still averages highs of 8 C (46 F) with lows below freezing, and snow showers remain possible in May, when highs reach about 12 C (54 F).

Summer is mild and short. July and August average highs near 20 C (68 F) and lows around 8 C (46 F), and the meadow turns green. September cools to highs of about 15 C (59 F), and by October highs average 12 C (54 F) with nights close to freezing. The first snow of the season can arrive in October, while early autumn brings the color that shows in the frame, with yellow and orange leaves standing out against the dark firs on the hillside.

Things to Do Near the Col du Chaussy

In winter the Espace Nordique du Grand Coin is the reason to come up. It holds the Nordique France label and runs 12 cross-country ski trails totaling 70 kilometers (43 miles) and 10 snowshoe routes covering 60 kilometers (37 miles), winding through fir forest and linking old hamlets. The trails leave from three points: the pass itself, the hamlet of Bonvillard and the village of Montaimont. You can also try biathlon, take children to the sledding slopes or go tobogganing, and rent skis, snowshoes or sleds on site, with restaurants and picnic areas nearby.

In summer the road takes over. The ascent from Pontamafrey by the Lacets de Montvernier is the best known way up for cyclists, with the final 100 meters (328 feet) below the pass at 10 percent. The Chapelle de la Balme at the top of the hairpins is the best place to look down on the full set of bends. Drivers can take the same route by car, though the hairpins call for care around cyclists and walkers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Col du Chaussy located?

The Col du Chaussy is in the Maurienne valley of Savoie, in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region of southeastern France, within the commune of La Tour-en-Maurienne. Roads climb to it from Pontamafrey in the south and La Chambre in the north.

What can you see on the Col du Chaussy Webcam?

The camera looks down from the Grand Coin reception building over a sloping meadow, with trail boards, picnic tables and a gravel pad in front, a lane on the left and a forested hillside behind. In winter the same ground lies under snow at the start of the cross-country trails.

What is the weather like at the Col du Chaussy?

Winters are cold and snowy, with January highs around 1 C (34 F) and lows near -9 C (16 F). Summers are mild, with July and August highs near 20 C (68 F). Snow can fall from October to May, and most of it arrives between November and April.

How high is the Col du Chaussy?

The pass reaches 1,533 meters (5,030 feet). From Pontamafrey the road gains 1,035 meters (3,396 feet) on the way up.

How hard is the Col du Chaussy climb by bike?

From Pontamafrey it is 13.9 kilometers (8.6 miles) at an average of 7.5 percent. The Lacets de Montvernier pack 18 hairpins into roughly 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) at around 8 percent, and the last 100 meters (328 feet) below the pass run at 10 percent.

Has the Tour de France climbed the Lacets de Montvernier?

Yes. The Tour de France used the hairpins on the southern approach in 2015, 2018 and 2022.

When is the Espace Nordique du Grand Coin open?

During the winter season the Nordic area is generally open from 10 am to 5 pm, depending on snow conditions. A look at the webcam before setting off shows whether the meadow at the pass is under snow.

Is the Col du Chaussy Webcam live at night?

Yes, the stream runs around the clock in six-hour broadcasts on the MAUZ YouTube channel, which restart at midnight, 6 am, noon and 6 pm local time. The player can take a short while to pick up each new broadcast, and the scene is clearest in daylight.

Source: MAUZ by #MauriennisezVous