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.

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.

The D914 road, also known as Route d’Espagne, is a very scenic drive through the Côte Vermeille, in south west 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.

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. 

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 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.

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.

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.

Tanarello Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,042m (6,699ft) above sea level, located on the French-Italian border.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.442m (4,730ft) above the sea level, located in Auvergne, in south-central France. 

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Located in the Haute-Corse department of France, on the north-east of the island of Corsica, D33 is a very scenic coastal road. Drive slowly because there is no room for mistakes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Lac du Barrage d'Ossoue is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.842m (6,043ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées, a department in southwestern France.