Punta Sommeiller

Pointe Sommeiller is a mountain summit in the Cottian Alps reaching 3,333 meters, situated between the Piedmont region and Savoie. The terrain features steep rocky walls and glacial systems that define the alpine landscape.

The peak was named after Germain Sommeiller, the engineer who oversaw construction of the Fréjus Rail Tunnel linking Italy and France. This naming honors his role in achieving a major engineering breakthrough through the Alps.

The summit marks where three municipalities meet: Bardonecchia and Exilles in Italy, and Bramans in France. This border location reflects how alpine communities have shaped their identity around the mountains that divide them.

Access to the summit follows the southern ridge starting from Passo Settentrionale dei Fourneaux at 3,159 meters, with four mountain shelters providing support along the route. Climbers need mountain experience and should wait for stable weather.

The mountain contained a glacier ski resort until 1980, when glacier retreat and road maintenance difficulties led to closure. The abandoned installations remain visible and tell the story of how this high mountain was once developed for skiing.