Bavella (Auberge/Col)
Dramatic granite needle skyline at the Col de Bavella (1218 m).
Dramatic granite needle skyline at the Col de Bavella (1218 m). Auberges, restaurants, small shop. Road access — popular resupply and rest stop.
The place
Nothing on the GR20 prepares you for your first full view of the Aiguilles de Bavella: a skyline of red granite towers so improbably spired that the col below feels like the front pew of something. The Col de Bavella itself, at 1,218 m, is where the trail briefly rejoins the world — a road, auberges, restaurants, coaches releasing day visitors who photograph the needles, the pine trees, and occasionally you, the authentic weathered hiker.
Embrace it. Order the long lunch, resupply at the shop, and watch the light move across the towers — the needles change character hourly, from flat morning red to sculpted evening fire. The famous statue of Notre-Dame des Neiges stands by the col, garlanded with hikers' offerings. From here the alpine variant tackles the needles directly while the main trail slips beneath them; either way, tomorrow you walk through one of the great rock landscapes of the Mediterranean.
Getting there
| Leg | Distance | Elevation | Trail runner | Fit / sportive | Multiday hiker | Relaxed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Asinau (bivouac/tent) | 7 km | +480 / −790 m | 2h05 | 2h59 | 3h58 | 4h45 |
| To Refuge d'I Paliri | 6.5 km | +320 / −460 m | 1h38 | 2h19 | 3h02 | 3h38 |
Booking
Booking is mandatory for all overnight stays on the GR20, including bivouac pitches. Wild camping is not allowed on the trail.
Stages featuring this stop
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