Roads of France
Set against the backdrop of Western Europe, France boasts an intricate tapestry of roads that offer some of the most breathtaking drives globally.
Enthusiasts can traverse the famed balcony roads, which cling perilously to cliff faces, ascend the serpentine bends of Col du Chaussy, navigate through the historical Tunnel de Parpaillon, or challenge themselves on the towering peaks of Col de l'Iseran, Col du Jandri, and Col du Télégraphe. From the undulating vineyards and sunlit fields to majestic mountains and turquoise coastlines, France's diverse topography is a treasure trove for those keen on picturesque journeys. The iconic Route Napoleon meanders through the heart of the country, while the shimmering Corniche d'Or offers unparalleled views of the Mediterranean's azure embrace.
But France's roads are more than just pathways carved into its stunning landscapes. They are gateways to its rich tapestry of history, culture, and traditions, from medieval towns and alpine villages to sun-soaked Mediterranean beaches. So, the next time wanderlust calls you to the charm of France, rev up your engine and set forth on an adventure across its most captivating routes.
Clue de la Roche Percee is a French balcony road
Clue de la Roche Percée is a narrow canyon located in Southeastern France. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads. Driving on this narrow road through the canyon, between walls of cliffs and gorges, is a delight.
Col de la Savolière, a curvy paved mountain road to the summit
Col de la Savolière is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.421m (4,662ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Gorges du Bachelard, a French balcony road
Located on the road to Col de la Cayolle, in the heart of Mercantour National Park, in the Maritime Alps, France, Gorges du Bachelard is a narrow, rocky canyon crammed with waterfalls, stone bridges, and soaring cliffs.
Orcières-Merlette, an iconic Tour de France climb
Orcières-Merlette is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.823m (5,980ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.
Col de Puymorens, an iconic road in the Pyrénées
Col de Puymorens is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.920m (6,299ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, in southern France close to the northern Spanish frontier and the Mediterranean Sea.
A military road to Col de Seigneurs
Colle del Lago dei Signori-Col de Seigneurs is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,130m (6,988ft) above sea level, located on the border of Italy and France. The road traversing the pass was originally built for military purposes and was used during World War II.
Clue du Riolan, a balcony road in France
Clue de Riolan is one of France's most beautiful canyons. Located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France, the canyon is carved by the Le Riolan river. It’sone of the famous French balcony roads.
Port de Boucharo, an iconic road in the Pyrénées
Port de Boucharo (Puerto de Bujaruelo) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.278m (7,473ft) above the sea level, located on the Spanish-French border. The last part of road to the summit is blocked to vehicles with big rocks. The climb starts from Col des Tentes.
A bumpy paved road to the summit of Col du Parquétout
Col du Parquétout is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.448m (4,750ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department in southeastern France.
Col des Champs, an iconic Alpine road
Col des Champs is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.092m (6,863ft) above the sea level, located at the border between the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes in southeastern France.
Col de l’Homme, a classic road trip
Col de l’Homme is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.657m (5,436ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department in southeastern France.
D918 is a challenging balcony road in France
D918 is an extreme high mountain road located in the Pyrenees, a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Col de la Boaire, a military road to the summit
Col de la Boaire / Colle della Boaria is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.102m (6,896ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, between France and Italy, which links the Queyras valley (Hautes-Alpes) with Pontechianale in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont.
Road trip guide: Conquering Pic de Château Renard
Pic de Château Renard is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.936m (9,632ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
Col du Joly, an iconic road in the French Alps
Col du Joly is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.989m (6,525ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Haute-Savoie and Savoie departments in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
The steep and hairpinned Road D80
Located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France, the infamous D80 road isone of the most hairpinned roads in the world.
Gorges des Gats, a balcony road in France
Gorges des Gats is an incredible canyon located in the Drôme department in southeastern France. The gorge is carved by the Ruisseau des Gats river. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads.
Col de Guery, a sensational drive
Col de Guery is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.268m (4,160ft) above the sea level, located in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in central France.
Cirque de Navacelles, a balcony road in France
Cirque de Navacelles is a deep, steep-sided canyon located in the Occitanie region in southern France. The cirque was once created by the River La Vis. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads.
Gorges du Guiers Mort, a balcony road in France
Gorges du Guiers Mort is a canyon formed by the Guiers Mort river in the Isère department in southeastern France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Col des Saisies, a fantastic road with great views to Mont Blanc
Col des Saisies is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.657m (5,436ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.
A mountain road to the abandoned Station de Ski du Haut Asco
Station de Ski du Haut Asco is an abandoned ski resort at an elevation of 1.509m (4,950ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Corse department in the Corsica region, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea. It’s one of the highest roads of Corsica.
The road to Col de Viraysse: no turning around if you change you mind
Col de Viraysse is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.746m (9,009ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in France. It’s terrible narrow and the drop offs are a bit intimidating. There’s only enough room for one car to go up. There is no turning around if you change you mind. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
An old military road to the summit of Mont Malamot
Mont Malamot is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.885m (9,465ft) above the sea level, located in the northern Cottian Alps, in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. The road to the summit is permanently closed to motorized vehicles. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
Aiguille de Péclet, one of the highest roads of Europe
Aiguille de Péclet is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.951m (9,681ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of the French Alps. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.
Road trip guide: Conquering Col des Ruillans
Col des Ruillans is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.231m (10,600ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.
A sensational road to Lac de Fabrèges
Lac de Fabrèges is a mountain lake at an elevation of 1.241m (4,072ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.
Col Saint Martin, an iconic road in the Alpes-Maritimes
Col Saint Martin is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.500m (4,921ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.
Col de Valberg, a nice road in the Alpes Maritimes
Col de Valberg is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.672m (5,475ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.
Col du Noyer, an iconic Tour de France climb
Col du Noyer is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.664m (5,459ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in the department of Hautes-Alpes in France.
Lac de Cap-de-Long, one of the highest paved roads in the French Pyrenées
Lac de Cap-de-Long is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.161m (7,089ft) above the sea level, located in Hautes-Pyrénées, a department in southwestern France, part of the Midi-Pyrénées region.
A paved narrow bumpy road to Château de Quéribus
Perched high up on a rocky hill, Château de Quéribus is a ruined castle in the commune of Cucugnan in the Aude département, in the Occitanie region of France.
Driving the paved road to Somport Pass in the Pyrenees
Puerto de Somport-Col du Somport is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.637m (5,370ft) above the sea level, on the border of France and Spain.
Travel guide to the top of Fort de la Marguerie
Fort de la Marguerie is a high mountain fort at an elevation of 1.842m (6,043ft) above the sea level, located in the Maritime Alps, close to the border between France and Italy.
Dare to drive the road to Mont Saccarel
Monte Saccarello-Mont Saccarel is an international high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.178m (7,145ft) above the sea level, located on the French-Italian border.
An epic road to the summit of Col d'Arnostéguy
Col d'Arnostéguy is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1.240m (4,068ft) above the sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.
A narrow road to Col du Solude
Col du Solude is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.680m (5,511ft) above the sea level, located in the Oisans region of the French Alps.
Col de Castillon, an absolute must for road lovers
Col de Castillon is a mountain pass at an elevation of 707m (2,319ft) above the sea level, located in the Maritime Alpes, in France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.
Col de Joux Plane, one of the six major passes of the French Alps
Col de Joux Plane is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.697m (5,567ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in Haute-Savoie, France. For cyclists, it’s renowned as one of the six major passes of the French massif, along with the Galibier, Izoard, L’Alpe d’Huez, Mont Ventoux and the Tourmalet.
A military unpaved road to Fort du Gondran
Ouvrage du Gondarn is a fort located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France, at an elevation of 2.347m (7,700ft) above the sea level.
The steep rough road to Col de la Vallée Étroite is not for the faint of heart
Col de la Vallée Étroite is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.735m (8,973ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
Val Thorens, one of the longest and biggest climbs in France
Val Thorens is a ski resort at an elevation of 2.300m (7,545ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
A scenic road to Cratère Commerson
Cratère Commerson is a volcanic crater at an elevation of 2.328m (7,637ft) above the sea level located on the eastern side of Réunion island in the Indian Ocean.
The Mythical Road to Col d'Aspin
Col d'Aspin is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.489m (4,885ft) above the sea level, located in the French Pyrenees in the department of the Hautes-Pyrénées.
A wild road to Pierre-sur-Haute
Pierre-sur-Haute is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.631m (5,351ft) above the sea level, located in the Massif Central, in south-central France. It is in the Sauvain and Job communes, with the boundary between the Rhône-Alpes and Auvergne regions passing through the site. The access is closed to private vehicles.