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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Crossing the scenic Pont de la Mariée
Located in the Alpes-Maritimes, in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in southeastern France, Pont de la Mariée (Bride's Bridge) is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Dare to drive the dangerous road to Monte Chaberton
Monte Chaberton is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.131m (10,272ft) above sea level, located in the department of Hautes-Alpes, in France. The summit features a fortress with remnants of a WWI & WWII artillery battery. It's one of the highest roads in Europe.
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.
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.
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.
D662, a balcony road in France
Route Départementale D662 is a very scenic drive located in the Lot department in south-western France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Gorges de l'Aude, a French balcony road
Located in the Aude department in southern France, Gorges de l'Aude is a narrow canyon to the south of Quillan, itself south of Carcassonne. It’sone of the famous French balcony roads.
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 D914
The D914 road, also known as Route d’Espagne, is a very scenic drive through the Côte Vermeille, in south west France.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Crossing the 108m high Pont Du Châtelet
Pont Du Châtelet is the name of a narrow stone bridge located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
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.
Col d’Eylac
Col d’Eylac is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.442m (4,730ft) above the sea level, located in Auvergne, in south-central France.
The military road to Fort de la Redoute
Fort de la Redoute is a high mountain fort at an elevation of 2.346m (7,696ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France, near the Italian border.
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.
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.
A curvy paved road to Col de Perty
Col de Perty is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.302m (4,271ft) above the sea level, located in the Drôme department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.
Route Du Pas de la Confession, a balcony road in the French Alps
Located in the Isère department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in southeastern France, Route Du Pas de la Confession is a very challenging drive. The road is so defiant that travelers were encouraged to make confession before using it. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
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 sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.
Tour de Madeloc
The Tour de Madeloc or Route Madeloc is a very small road located near the Spanish border and Cap Cerbere, in southern France. The drive starts in Banyuls-Sur-Mer and ends in Colliure. The road is called D86 and is part of the Route des Cols. There are labels to lead you to the street in both villages.
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.
The narrow paved road to the international Col des Veaux
Col des Veaux is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 540m (1,771ft) above the sea level, located on the French-Spanish border.
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.
Col de Thorens
Col de Thorens is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.118m (10,229ft) 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.
Mont de la Chambre
Mont de la Chambre is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.844m (9,330ft) 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.
The iconic climb to Luz Ardiden
Luz Ardiden is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.720m (5,643ft) located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitan region of south-western France. It has featured several times as a summit finish in the Tour de France and Vuelta a España races.
An awe-inspiring drive to Col d'Ornon
Col d'Ornon is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.360m (4,462ft) above the sea level, located in the Dauphiné Alps, in the department of Isère in France.
A memorable road trip to Col de Riou in the Pyrenees
Col de Riou is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.949m (6,394ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitan region of south-western France.
The wild road to Col de la Fréte o de la Chiaupe
Col de la Fréte o de la Chiaupe is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.494m (8,182ft) above the sea level, located in the Graian Alps, in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
The military road to Colle delle Chaberton
Colle delle Chaberton is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.674m (8,772ft) above the sea level, located in the French Alps, in the département of Hautes-Alpes.
Mont Faron
Mont Faron is a mountain pass at an elevation of 584m (1,916ft) above the sea level, located on southern France’s Mediterranean coast, overlooking the city and roadstead of Toulon.