What are the most spectacular roads in 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.
Travel guide to the top of Col de la Colle-Saint-Michel
Col de la Colle-Saint-Michel is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.431m (4,694ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, in France.
A paved road to Refuge du Plan du Lac in the Alps
Refuge du Plan du Lac is a high mountain refuge in the Alps at an elevation of 2.370m (7,775ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Col de Sanson, an old military unpaved road in the Ligurian Alps
Sanson Pass (also known as Colla di Sanson, Bassa di Sanson o Baisse de Sanson) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.694m (5,557ft) above the sea level, located in the Ligurian Alps, a mountain range on the border between France and Italy.
A paved road to Col de Port in the French Pyrenees
Col de Port is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.249m (4,098ft) above the sea level, located in the French Pyrenees between Massat and Tarascon-sur-Ariège in the "massif de l'Arize".
A demanding narrow road to Col de Portel in the French Pyrenees
Col de Portel is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.432m (4,698ft) above the sea level, located in the Ariège department in southwestern France.
A mediocre quality but deserted road to Val Pelouse
Val Pelouse is an abandoned ski station at an elevation of 1.728m (5,669ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Passage de la Grande Clue, a balcony road in France
Passage de la Grande Clue is a short balcony road located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. It was bypassed by a tunnel and totally closed to motor vehicles.
Mont Chauve: this road is not for timid drivers
Mont Chauve d'Aspremont is a mountain peak at an elevation of 835m (2,739ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.
Plus hautes routes de montagne de France
Située en Europe occidentale, la France est le plus grand pays de l’Union Européenne. C’est un pays très montagneux. Les deux chaînes de montagnes les plus importantes du pays sont les Alpes et les Pyrénées.
A gravel road to the top of Pas du Tanarel
Tanarello Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.042m (6,699ft) above the sea level, located on the French-Italian border between Liguria, Piemonte and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It belongs to the Ligurian Alps. The road to reach the pass is a gravel dirt track.
The road to Col d'Orgambide is not for the faint of heart
Col d'Orgambide-Collado de Orgambide is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 992m (3,254ft) above the sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.
An epic climb to Col de Tramassel in the Pyrenees
Col de Tramassel is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.620m (5,314ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region of France.
A lonely paved road to Refuge de Laval
Refuge de Laval is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.008m (6,587ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.
Col de Rousset is an epic road in the Vercors massif
Col de Rousset is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.254m (4,114ft) above the sea level, located in the Drôme department in southeastern France. The road winds its way between Die and the village of Chamaloc in a setting that still feels like Provence, with its lavender fragrance.
A pretty bumpy narrow road to Col de Bleine
Col de Bleine is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.439m (4,721ft) above the sea level, located in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, in France.
An awe-inspiring road to Mont Revard
Mont Revard is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.562m (5,125ft) above the sea level, located in the Bauges Massif near Aix-les-Bains in Savoie, France. The pass is traversed by the D913 road.
A steep paved road to Madone de Fenestre
Madone de Fenestre is a high mountain sanctuary at an elevation of 1.904m (6,246ft) above the sea level, located in the Mercantour National Park, in the Alpes-Maritimes, a department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in the extreme southeast corner of France.
Travel guide to the top of Coll de Sansa
Coll de Sansa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.770m (5,807ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.
Clue de Carajuan, a balcony road in France
Clue de Carajuan is a very scenic drive located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads. Driving on this narrow road between walls of cliffs and gorges is a delight.
A lonely paved road to Col de Bostmendieta
Col de Bostmendieta is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.054m (3,458ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département, in France.
Road trip guide: Conquering Punta Bagna
Punta Bagna is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.730m (8,956ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
A brutal road to Col de Lauzun in the French Alps
Col de Lauzun is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.809m (9,215ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
A memorable road trip to Col des Voltes
Col des Voltes is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.823m (5,980ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.
The old military road to Col de l’Infernet
Col de l’Infernet is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.355m (7,726ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.
Passage de la Petite Clue, a balcony road in France
Passage de la Petite Clue is a short balcony road located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. It was bypassed by a tunnel and totally closed to motor vehicles.
Col de la Llose, a sensational drive in the French Pyrenees
Col de la Llose is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.866m (6,122ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in the Occitanie region of Southern France.
The paved D89, a road to Puigmal
D89 is a very scenic paved mountain road located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France, near the Spanish border, on the way to Puigmal (also called Puigmal d'Err).
Col de Pierre Plate: The Road That Has it All!
Col de Pierre Plate is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.027m (3,369ft) above the sea level, located in the Lozère department in southern France.
Road trip guide: Conquering Mur de Péguère
Mur de Péguère, also known as Col de Péguère, is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.375m (4,511ft) above the sea level, located in the department of Ariège, in the Occitanie region of southwestern France. It’s a killer climb: on paper it only averages 7.9 per cent, but that’s thanks to some relatively gently lower slopes.
The road to Lac de la Girotte is not for the sissies
Barrage de la Girotte is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 1.753m (5,751ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Clue de la Maglia, a balcony road in France
Clue de la Maglia is a very scenic drive located on the isolated valley of Maglia River near the village of Breil-sur-Roya in Alpes-Maritimes department of southeastern France. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads. Driving on this narrow road between walls of cliffs and gorges is a delight.
Dare to drive the dangerous Monte Chaberton
Strada militare dello Chaberton is an extreme high mountain track climbing up to the fort on top of French Mont Chaberton at an elevation of 3.131m (10,272ft) above the sea level, in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
Col des Montets
Col des Montets is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.461m (4,793ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department of France.
The unpaved road to Col de la Bâthie
Col de la Bâthie is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.884m (6,181ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Col du Mollard: an iconic road in the French Alps
Col du Mollard is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.638m (5,374ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
The road to La Tovière isn't for the sissies
La Tovière is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.682m (8,799ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. It’sone of the highest roads of the country.
Altiport de Courchevel
Located in the heart of the French Alps, Courchevel Airport is an altiport at an elevation of 2.014m (6,607ft) above the sea level. It’s ranked as the seventh most dangerous airport in the world.
The road to Cim de Coma Morera: be ready to make room for oncoming vehicles
Cim de Coma Morera is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.205m (7,234ft) above the sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.
Water, snow and fog at the top of Mont-Aigoual
Mont-Aigoual is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.567m (5,141ft) above the sea level, located on the border of the Lozère and Gard departments in southern France. At the peak you have unlimited views and the highest manned weather station in France.
Défilé de Joucou, a treacherous balcony road in France
Défilé de Joucou is a very narrow canyon located in the department of Aude, region Languedoc-Roussillon, in southern France where even the road barely fits. Pictures don’t do it justice.
A classic road trip to Col de Soudet
Col de Soudet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.540m (5,052ft) located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.
Glacier du Varet
Glacier du Varet is a high mountain glacier at an elevation of 2.883m (9,458ft) 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.
Adventure along Pas de Colle Ardente
Passo di Collardente-Pas de Colle Ardente, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.617m (5,305 ft) above the sea level, located in the Maritime Alps on the border between Italy and France. The pass is traversed by the spectacular Via del Sale.
Le Mauvais Pass, a narrow road to the summit
Le Mauvais Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.779m (5,836ft) above the sea level located in the department of Hautes-Alpes in France, close to the Italian border.
Travel guide to the top of Col des Annes
Col des Annes is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.721m (5,646ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.