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.

Col del Sommeiller

A drivable track to the summit of Col del Sommeiller

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.

Col de Montgenèvre

A memorable road trip to Col de Montgenevre in the Cottian Alps

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.

Highest roads of France

What are the highest roads in France?

Situated in Western Europe, France is the largest country in the European Union, celebrated for its vast and exceptionally diverse landscapes. While much of the nation is characterized by gentle countryside, its borders are fiercely defined by two formidable alpine frontiers: the towering French Alps in the east and the rugged Pyrenees in the south. This extreme topography has necessitated incredible feats of engineering, carving a historic network of Cols (mountain passes) and challenging routes.

Clue de Gréolières

Clue de Greolieres is a balcony road in the French Riviera

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.

Cap Corse Road

Cap Corse Road is one of the best coastal drives in the world

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

Clue de Barles

Clue de Barles is a French balcony road

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

Clue de Saint Auban is a scenic balcony road in France

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

Mont Ventoux

Why is the epic road to Mont Ventoux so famous?

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

Gorges de la Nesque

Gorges de la Nesque is a balcony road in France

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 de la Cayolle

The road to Col de la Cayolle in the Provence will take your breath away

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.

Col d'Izoard

A 5 stars road to Col d'Izoard in the French Alps

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.

Place Charles de Gaulle

Place Charles de Gaulle is a stressful drive in Paris

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.

Route de la Bérarde-D530

The iconic Route de la Berarde is a balcony road in 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.

Col du Tourmalet

The legendary Col du Tourmalet is one of the world's top 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.

Les Trois Corniches

The Three Corniches are 3 roads with dramatic coastal views in Cote d'Azur

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 la Bourne

Gorges de la Bourne is a balcony road in France

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.

Gorges de Daluis

Gorges de Daluis is a balcony road in France

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.

Gorges du Loup

Gorges du Loup is a balcony road in France

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.

Col de Rosael

Driving the road to Col de Rosael is not a piece of cake

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.

Col de la Moutiere

Col de la Moutiere is a road with intimidating drop offs

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.

Combe de la Fayolle-D211A Road

Driving the challenging D211A through Combe de la Fayolle

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.

Col d'Aubisque

The legendary Col d'Aubisque is an iconic Tour de France climb

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.

Col du Petit Saint-Bernard

Little Saint-Bernard Pass is an absolute must for road lovers

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. 

Pave de la Croix Blanche

Pave de la Croix Blanche is a wild cobbled road

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

Route des Crêtes

Driving Route des Cretes along the Mediterranean Sea in Provence

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.

Bocca à Verghju-Col de Vergio

Col de Vergio is Corsica's highest paved pass

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.

Col de Sarenne

The narrow, bad and old road to the top of Col de Sarenne

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.

Cime de la Bonette

Cime de la Bonette is the highest paved road of the Alps

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.

Col de la Colombière

Col de la Colombiere: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

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 Méraillet

Col de Meraillet is a chillout in the French Alps

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.

Gorges du Guil

Gorges du Guil is a scenic balcony road in France

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

A curvy road with 75 hairpin turns to Col de la Lombarde

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 Road

D13 is a challenging balcony road in France

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

Tunnel du Mortier

The abandoned Tunnel du Mortier in France

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

Larche Pass is an awe-inspiring drive in the Alps with 16 hairpin turns

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 de l'Échelle

Col de l'Echelle is the lowest mountain pass between France and Italy

Col de l'Échelle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.762m (5,781ft) above sea level located in the Hautes-Alpes department of France.

Col du Granon

The wild road to Col du Granon in the French Alps

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.

Col de Pailhères

A paved road to Port de Pailheres heading deep into the Pyrenees

Port de Pailhères is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.001m (6,565ft) above sea level, located in the Ariège department, in France.

Port d’Aula

Port d’Aula is one of the most beautiful roads of the Pyrenees

Port d’Aulà is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.265m (7,431ft) above sea level, located on the border of France and Spain.

D220-Les Travers

Driving the infamous D220-Les Travers, a French balcony road

Route Departementale 220 (D220) is a short mountain road located in the Isère department of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Port de Balès

An epic road to Port de Bales in the French Pyrenees

Port de Balès is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.760m (5,774ft) above sea level, located in the Occitanie region of France.

Col du Pré

Col du Pre is a narrow quiet road with lots of hairpins

Col du Pré is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,703m (5,587ft) above sea level, located in the Savoie department of France.

Col de la Montee du Fond

Col de la Montee du Fond is a brutally tough road in France

Col de la Montée du Fond is a high mountain pass at 3.007m (9,865ft) above sea level, located in Orelle, a commune in the Savoie department, in France. It's one of the highest roads in Europe.

Col d'Èze

The iconic Col d'Eze between Nice and Monaco

Col d'Èze is a mountain pass at an elevation of 532m (1,745ft) above sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France.

Pic Maïdo

Guide to the top of Pic Maido in Réunion

Pic Maïdo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.189m (7,181ft) above sea level, located in Réunion, an overseas department of France in the Indian Ocean, to the east of Madagascar.