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.

D71

Road D71

Located in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France, the D71 road is a very exciting journey. This is definitely not a Sunday drive. Steep drops and loads of tourists in summer. Visit outside busy periods.

Clue du Terminet

Gorges of Terminet, a balcony road in France

Clue du Terminet is a spectacular canyon formed by Le Sou river in the Aude department in southern France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Col de Saint Georges-Chalet Josserand

Col de Saint Georges-Chalet Josserand

Col de Saint Georges-Chalet Josserand is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.245m (7,477ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in the department of Hautes-Alpes in France.

Col du Ranfolly

Col du Ranfolly

Col du Ranfolly is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.650m (5,413ft)above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Pas de l'Âne

Pas de l'Âne

Pas de l'Âne is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.091m (6,860ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Refugi de Marialles

Road to Refugi de Marialles: A Technical Drive in the Canigó Massif

Located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of southern France, Refugi de Marialles (also known as Refugi de Mariailles) is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1,718m (5,636ft) above sea level. Nestled within the Massís del Canigó, the access route is a challenging forest track that requires specific vehicle capabilities.

Cugnai Lift

Cugnai Lift

Cugnai Lift is a chair lift for skiers at an elevation of 2.884m (9,471ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department of southeastern France.

Col de Pierre Grosse

Col de Pierre Grosse

Col de Pierre Grosse is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.322m (4,337ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department in southeastern France.

Col de Furfande

Col de Furfande

Col de Furfande is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.500m (8,202ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of south-eastern France.

Col du Mont Noir

Col du Mont Noir

Col du Mont Noir is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.421m above the sea level, located in the Isère department in southeastern France.

Col du Pradier

Col du Pradier: Driving the Mixed-Surface Route des Alpages

Located in the Savoie department of southeastern France, Col du Pradier is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,450m (4,757ft) above sea level. The climb follows the Route des Alpages, a technical track that transitions from asphalt to a rough mountain path as it gains altitude in the Rhône-Alpes region.

Bellevarde

Bellevarde

Bellevarde is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.783m (9,130ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of the French Alps.

Col du Souchet

Col du Souchet

Col du Souchet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.365m (7,759ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Piste de Clausis

Piste de Clausis, pure adventure

Piste de Clausis is a high mountain gravel road located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France in the Queyras Regional Natural Park. The road is 6.2km long.

Roche Madeleine

Roche Madeleine

Roche Madeleine is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.370m (7,775ft) above the sea level located in the French Alps, near the border with Italy, within the Mercantour National Park on the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

Mont Coucouluche

Driving the wild M59, a balcony road to Mont Coucouluche in the Provence

Mont Coucouluche is a mountain pass at an elevation of 932 m (3,057 ft) above sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. It's one of the famous French balcony roads.

Les 12 lacets de Ceillac

Les 12 lacets de Ceillac: a breathtaking road with 12 challenging hairpins

Located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France, Les 12 lacets de Ceillac is a collection of 12 hairpin turns on the road to the small town of Ceillac.

Vallon de la Gordolasque

Vallon de la Gordolasque

Vallon de la Gordolasque is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.689m (5,541ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. 

Hourquette d'Ancizan

Hourquette d'Ancizan

Hourquette d'Ancizan is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.564m (5,131ft) above the sea level, located in the French Pyrenees in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées.

Col du Jovet

Col du Jovet

Col du Jovet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.404m (7,887ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

D218

Road D218

The Route Départementale D218 (RD218) is a very scenic road located in the Isère department in southeastern France.

Fort de Ronce

Fort de Ronce

Fort de Ronce is a high mountain fortress at an elevation of 2.294m (7,526ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Col du Palet

Road to Col du Palet: Driving the 13.06% Service Track in Savoie

Reaching an elevation of 2,658m (8,720ft) above sea level, Col du Palet is a high mountain pass located in the Savoie department, within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. Situated in the heart of the Vanoise National Park, the route is one of the highest roads in the country.

Col de la Pertie

Col de la Pertie

Col de la Pertie is a mountain pass at an elevation of 972m (3,188ft) above the sea level, located in the Drôme department in southeastern France.

Col de Savel

Col de Savel

Col de Savel is a mountain pass at an elevation of 972m (3,188ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.

Mont Tauch

Mont Tauch

The Mont Tauch is a mountain pass at an elevation of 871m (2,857ft) above the sea level, located  in the Aude department in southern France.

Coll de Creu

Coll de Creu

Coll de Creu is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.708m (5,603ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrenees, a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain.

Col de Casardo

Col de Casardo

Col de Casardo is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.093m (3,585ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica.

Pas de l'Âne

Pas de l'Âne: Driving the brutal 17.4% ski track in the Massif des Cerces

Situated in the heart of the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France, Pas de l'Âne is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 2,475m (8,120ft) above sea level. Located within the rugged Massif des Cerces, this pass is not a conventional road but a grueling high-altitude track that serves as a vital service route for the ski infrastructure of the Serre Chevalier valley.

Col de Castellaras

A paved curvy road to Col de Castellaras

Col de Castellaras is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.248m (4,094ft) above sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.

Col de la Lariée

Col de la Lariée: Driving the 1,964m unpaved military border track

Located just a short distance northwest of Basera Pass, Col de la Lariée is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,964m (6,443ft) above sea level. Perched on the rugged border between France and Italy, this pass is another strategic point along the network of old military tracks that crisscross the Alpine ridgeline between the Piedmont region and the Alpes-Maritimes.

Pas du Roc

Pas du Roc

Pas du Roc is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.339m (7,673ft) above the sea level, located on the Plateau des Glieres area in Haute-Savoie department of France.

Vallon de la Fournache

Travel guide to the top of Vallon de la Fournache

Vallon de la Fournache is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.703m (8,868ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. 

Route de Duranus

Route de Duranus is an Absolute Must for Scenic Road Lovers

Route de Duranus is a breathtaking drive located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. It’s one of the most scenic French balcony roads.

Col de la Pousterle

Col de la Pousterle

Col de la Pousterle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.763m (5,784ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Col de la Madone

Route de Thiéry is a balcony road to Col de la Madone

Col de la Madone is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.165m (3,822ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Col du Sappenay

How difficult is the D54 road to Col du Sappenay in France?

Col du Sappenay is a mountain pass reaching an elevation of 897m (2,942ft) above sea level in the Jura Mountains of eastern France. Located in the Savoie department, within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the road over the pass—often spelled Col du Sapenay—is a technical and narrow asphalt track. Known as the D54 or Route du Sappenay, this climb is far more demanding than its modest elevation suggests, offering a series of tight hairpins and steep sections that overlook the northern tip of Lake Bourget.

Cima Marta

A challenging old military road to Cima Marta

Cima Marta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.138m (7,014ft) above sea level, located in the French Ligurian Alps, near the Italian border.

Col de la Roue

How to drive the military track to Col de la Roue?

Col de la Roue (also known as Colle della Rho) is a high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 2,534 m (8,313 ft) above sea level, situated on the border between France (Savoie) and Italy (Piedmont). Logistically, the pass follows an ancient military corridor between the Maurienne and Susa valleys. Technically, the route consists of a degraded military track that presents significant challenges for high-altitude navigation and vehicle mechanical stress.

Col de la Vanoise

Col de la Vanoise

Col de la Vanoise is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.522m (8,274ft) above the sea level, located in Savoie, France.

Lac de Bious-Artigues

Driving the D231 to Lac de Bious-Artigues: A narrow Pyrenean balcony road

Located in the heart of the Ossau Valley, within the Pyrenees National Park, the D231 road to Lac de Bious-Artigues is a high-consequence mountain drive in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department. Reaching an elevation of 1,416m (4,646ft) above sea level, this paved route is the only motorized access to one of the most iconic glacial lakes in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It is a journey defined by extreme narrowness and vertical rock faces that dictate exactly what type of vehicle can successfully reach the summit.

Col des Encombres

Col des Encombres

Col des Encombres is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.367m (7,765ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Col de la Baume

Col de la Baume

Col de la Baume is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.068m (3,503ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.

Col de Muse

Col de Muse

Col de Muse is a mountain pass at an elevation of 932m (3,057ft) above the sea level, located in the Drôme department in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.

Gorges du Terme Inférieur

Gorges du Terme Inférieur, a stunning balcony road

Gorges du Terme Inférieur is the name of a very challenging canyon located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of the region of Occitanie, in Southern France. It’s one of the most scenic French balcony roads.