The elevation profile of this climb from Sion to the small holiday home settlement of Arolla is somewhat deceptive. While the gradient is modest, at almost 40 kilometers in length and over 1,600 meters in elevation, this climb is quite challenging!
The scenery is rich, but the most famous highlight is probably the Pyramids of Euseigne. Whether it would have been possible to build the road directly beneath the rock formations is up to you to decide.