Tende Tunnel set to open in June, announces France’s Transport Minister

The long-delayed Col de Tende Tunnel, a vital cross-border link between the Roya Valley in the Alpes-Maritimes and Piedmont in Italy, is finally approaching the finish line. During a recent visit to the site, France’s newly appointed Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed that the tunnel is set to open to the public in June, following a trial launch in early spring.

Tabarot’s visit to the Roya Valley on 4th January heralds the imminent end to the long-term works on the tunnel, which began in 2014. As the initial project, already behind schedule due to a series of delays, neared completion, the tunnel experienced a devastating setback when Storm Alex swept through the region in 2020, washing away historic landmarks and vital infrastructure alike.

For the past four years, residents in the Roya Valley and the neighbouring Piedmont region in Italy have been forced to manage their daily lives without the tunnel connection—an underground road link that provided access between the communes located on either side of a mountain range impassable during the winter months. During the summer, the La Ça Canelle route offers an alternative to the tunnel but it is a lengthy and winding detour.

Now, more than a decade since renovations to the tunnel—first opened in 1882—began, the end is in sight.

Joined by a coterie of local officials including Patrick Amoussou-Adéblé, Secretary General of the Prefecture; Mayor of Tende Jean-Pierre Vassallo and Italian representatives, French Transport Minister Tabarot announced that the tunnel will reopen in June, following a trial period set to begin in either late March or early April.

Speaking to France 3, Mayor Vassallo said, “This is the big news. For me, it is the Christmas present for the valley. You should know that since 2013, no minister or prefect has come to see the Col de Tende Tunnel.”

The site visit, which was Tabarot’s first official engagement outside of the Paris region since his appointment, saw the minister taken on a cross-border tour along the length of the structure.

“The Italian authorities told us how essential the end of the tunnel was for the economy of their valley and the Po Valley, [and] we reminded them how important it was for the Roya Valley,” he declared.

The former senator from the Alpes-Maritimes added that the Tende Tunnel is a top priority and sought to address the persistent delays that have plagued the project, vowing to “get out of the impasse that the Col de Tende Tunnel has become.”

The final stages of construction, which must be completed ahead of the soft launch, involve finishing the last 800 metres of the tunnel on the French side and installing lighting, ventilation and safety systems, as well as completing sidewalks.

As the countdown to June begins, the Tende Tunnel’s completion could finally bring relief to the region, reconnecting communities and reinvigorating local economies on both sides of the border.

 

 

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Photo source: Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes

Golden Clowns and rising talents: what to expect at the 47th Monte-Carlo Circus Festival

The 47th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival will bring together global circus artists and emerging talents for a week of competitions and performances under the Chapiteau de Fontvieille this January.

The Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival is set to take place from 17th to 26th January under the Chapiteau de Fontvieille in Monaco. This year’s edition will be combining the festival’s signature performances with the 12th New Generation competition for young circus talents.

With artists hailing from around the globe, the event will showcase some of the greatest talents in the circus world, all competing for the Golden Clown award, the highest distinction in circus arts. Organisers have announced that several records are expected to be broken during this year’s programme. 

2025 programme 

The official programme for the 47th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival features an exciting lineup of events. The festival opens on January 17th at 8pm with the first Competition Show and continues on 18th January  with a second Competition Show at 2:30pm, followed by another showing of the first programme. On 19th January, a reduced-price two-hour show is scheduled in the morning, with the second programme of the Competition Show taking place later on.

A special Ecumenical Celebration will be held in the Chapiteau on the 20th January at 7pm. The Awards Gala Evening, including the presentation of the Golden Clown and other distinctions, will take place on the 21st January. Winner’s Shows will follow on the 22nd January in the afternoon and in the evening, as well as on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th January. On the 25th January, a reduced-price two-hour show will also be held. The festival concludes on the 26th January with Winner’s Shows.

For the first time, the festival will fully integrate the New Generation competition into its programme, offering a unique opportunity for rising stars of the circus world to compete alongside seasoned professionals. Young performers will vie for Gold Junior, Silver Junior, and Bronze Junior prizes, judged by a panel of international experts.

Tickets for the festival, which start at €20, are now available for purchase. For more information, click here: https://www.montecarlofestival.mc/en/. 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our freenewsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInandTik Tok.

Photo source: Monte-Carlo Festival