Highlights and tour details
From Salbertrand, follow the SS24 road for 2 kilometres and turn left for Fenil where the climb begins. The military road begins after passing Forte Fenil. It is asphalted for about 1 km until Montcellier, where the branch off of the SP 256 for Rifugio Levi Molinari ends. From here, you proceed for over 20 kilometres on rough gravel as far as Monte Jafferau: the real gem and the main feature of the route is the spectacular Galleria del Seguret or del Pramand, also known as the "Galleria dei Saraceni" (Saracen Tunnel), which is 876 metres long and was excavated in curves into the rock in between the two World Wars under the limestone peaks of Monte Seguret due to avalanches that made the road impassable.
Winter closure is from 1 October to 31 May each year. Free circulation on Wednesdays and non-public holiday Saturdays. Total closure to motorised vehicles on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and public holidays.
Points of interest
Military Road No. 79 Fenil-Jafferau was built from 1890 onwards to connect the Fenil, Pramand, Föens and Jafferau batteries with the valley floor, which were built to defend the Bardonecchia basin, with a useful view of artillery barrage at Pramand on the descent from Cesana to Oulx. The original road ascended with more than 1700 m of elevation gain over a distance of 20 km up to the Jafferau Fort at an altitude of 2775 m (the second highest fort in Europe after the Chaberton Battery); the other 12 km of trail branches reach the Pramand Battery (altitude of 2762 m) and the Foëns Fort (altitude of 2777 m) on the original route, covering a total distance of 32 km.
After Strada dell'Assietta, it constitutes the main tourist attraction of the system of former military roads in Valle di Susa.
Departure, arrival and municipalities crossed
Torino see on map
Torino see on map