What are the most spectacular roads in France?

France is a true paradise for those wishing to experience the most spectacular roads, and it provides endless experiences for each driver. From stunning balcony roads, mountain passes, and coastal drives, to roads disappearing with the tides, it hosts more than 750 roads listed as the most spectacular in the world.

Located in the western part of Europe, France covers an area of 551,695 square kilometers and shares borders with 7 countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Andorra. With high mountains in the Alps and the Pyrenees, the roads of the country are famous worldwide because of the Tour de France, the most important cycling race. When traveling to the country, be sure to experience a drive through the best balcony roads. Dramatically carved out of rock on the side of mountains, the balcony roads are a unique experience for any rider.

The country also hosts iconic roads, known worldwide, including Col du Chaussy, a mountain pass at 1,533m (5,029ft) above sea level, famous for the “Lacets de Montvernier,” a special 3 km stretch with 17 hairpins as the road virtually climbs a cliff, or Col de Turini, a treacherous Alpine road with a legendary driving history, as one of the most dangerous and challenging stages of the Monte Carlo Rally and one of the most scenic drives in the world. For those preferring another kind of experience, don’t forget to drive Passage du Gois, the tide-covered road. It’s a natural passage flooded twice a day by the high tide leading to the island of Noirmoutier.

Calanques de Piana is an amazing series of rock formations located on the west coast of the island of Corsica, halfway between Ajaccio and Calvi. If you don't like winding roads, this may be a problem. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Gorges de la Pierre-Lys is a very scenic canyon located in the Aude department of France. It's one of the French balcony roads.

Col du Télégraphe is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,566m (5,138ft) above sea level, located in the Savoie department, in France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.

Gorges du Verdon is a narrow canyon located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the most scenic French balcony roads.

Tunel Bielsa-Aragnouet is an international high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 1,820m (5,971ft) above sea level, located on the border of Spain and France.

Col de la Machine is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,011m (3,316ft) above sea level, located in the Drôme department in France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Set high in the French Pyrenees, Route des Cols des Pyrénées is a very exciting journey through the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, crossing 34 remarkable mountain passes, with an elevation gain of 15,937 meters.

Pic du Midi de Bigorre is a high mountain peak located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitan region of France. A minor gravel road south of the peak tops out at 2.675m (8,776ft) above the sea level. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Situated in Western Europe, France stands as the largest country in the European Union. Renowned for its diverse landscapes, France boasts an array of mountainous terrain, with the Alps and the Pyrenees emerging as its prominent mountain ranges. These majestic peaks are home to some of the highest roads in Europe, offering breathtaking vistas and challenging routes for adventurers and road enthusiasts alike.

Col de Montgenèvre is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.854m (6,083ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.

Clue de Barles is a canyon with dramatic views located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department of France. It’s one of the most scenic French balcony roads.

Clue de Saint Auban is a spectacular gorge carved by the Esteron River in France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Clue de Gréolières is a very scenic canyon located in the heart of the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads. Escape from the Cote d'Azur jet set by driving the scenic Route de Thorenc like James Bond did in Goldeneye.

Gorges de la Nesque is a spectacular canyon located in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Col del Sommeiller is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,993m (9,819ft) above sea level, located on the French-Italian border. It's one of the highest roads in Europe. This beautiful 26-kilometer climb above Bardonecchia has it all: hairpins, alpine dams, a lake at the summit, and views to die for.

Located on the northeast of the island of Corsica, in France, Cap Corse Road is one of the best coastal drives in the world.

Col de la Cayolle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.339m (7,673ft) above the sea level, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Mont Ventoux is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.912m (6,273ft) above the sea level, located in France.

Col d'Izoard is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,367m (7,765ft) above sea level located in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.

Route de la Bérarde is a legendary drive located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Stay safe. This road is passable, but it can be impressive because it is winding and narrow. Crossings are difficult in some places. It's one of the French balcony roads.

Place Charles de Gaulle is a roundabout located in Paris, the capital of France. It’s famous for the 12 avenues radiating from the place, and thus indirectly for the giant traffic jams they tend to create. It's one of the world's 10 best roundabouts.

Col de Tende (Colle di Tenda) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,876m (6,154ft) above sea level, located on the border of France and Italy. If you like hairpin bends, this climb is a must. It's one of the most hairpinned roads in the world.

Gorges de la Bourne is a very scenic canyon located on the boundary between the Isère and Drôme departments, in France. It's one of the French balcony roads.

Col du Tourmalet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,115m (6,939ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in France. It is one of the most famous climbs on the Tour de France race.

Col de la Moutière is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,450m (8,038ft) above sea level, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. The road is extremely narrow, and the drop-offs are a bit intimidating. There’s only enough room for one car to go up, and there is no turning around if you change your mind.

Col de Rosael is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.993m (9,819ft) above sea level, located in Orelle, a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Gorges du Loup (Wolf Gorge) is a stunning river canyon located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in France. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads.

Combe de la Fayolle is a very daunting ravine located in the Isère department of France. Avoid the drive if you don’t like heights. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Pavé de la Croix Blanche is an iconic cobbled section located in the Nord department of the Hauts-de-France region, in France.

From Nice eastward toward Menton, in the south of France, in the beautiful Côte d'Azur, three roads known as Les Trois Corniches are carved into the mountainside, running between the sea and mountains and offering dramatic coastal views. They are some of the world’s great drives.

Gorges de Daluis is a deep, narrow canyon on the upper Var River located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Col d'Aubisque is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.713m (5,620ft) above sea level, located in the Aquitaine region of France. It’s one of the most iconic climbs in the country.

Little St Bernard Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.188m (7,178ft) above sea level, locatedon the Italian-French border. Keep reading to find out more about when and how you can take the drive, as well as some of the notable sights you’ll see. 

Col de Méraillet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.612m (5,288ft) above sea level, located in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.

Col de Sarenne is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.004m (6,574ft) above sea level, located in the Isère department of France. It’s one of the most demanding roads in the country.

Col de la Colombière is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,613m (5,292ft) above sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department of France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.

Col de Vergio is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.478m (4,849ft) above sea level, located on the island of Corsica. It’s said to be Corsica's highest road pass. It’s one of the highest roads of Corsica.

Cime de la Bonette is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.806m (9,206ft) above sea level, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Gorges du Guil is a very scenic canyon located in the Hautes-Alpes department of France. It’s one of the defiant French balcony roads.

Col de la Lombarde-Colle della Lombarda is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.354m (7,723ft) above sea level, located on the border of Italy and France.

D13 is a very challenging road located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Located in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône in France, Route des Crêtes is a very scenic drive and one of the steepest roads of the country, with parts up to 23%. The road is closed if there's too much wind - people could be blown off the 300 meter high cliffs.

Located in the Isère department in France, Tunnel du Mortier is an abandoned high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 1.370m (4,494ft) above sea level.

Col de Larche-Colle della Maddalena is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.005m (6,578ft) above sea level, located on the border of Italy and France.

Col du Granon is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.413m (7,916ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.

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