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.
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.
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 du Sappenay
Col du Sappenay is a mountain pass at an elevation of 897m (2,942ft) above the sea level, located in the Jura Mountains, in France.
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.
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.
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 Bousson
Col de Bousson is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.154m (7,066ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, between France and Italy.
The unpaved road to Colle della Rho
Col de la Roue-Colle della Rho is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.534m (8,313ft) above sea level located on the Italian-French border.
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.
Lac de Bious-Artigues
Lac de Bious-Artigues is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.416m (4,646ft) above the sea level, located in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Pyrénées, southwestern France.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pas de l'Âne
Pas de l'Âne is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.475m (8,120ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.
Col de Chalais
Col de Chalais is a mountain pass at an elevation of 930m (3,051ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department in southeastern France. The road to the summit is very steep.
Col des Garcinets
Col des Garcinets is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.185m (3,887ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.
Lac de Bise
Lac de Bise is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.502m (4,928ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Col de Gembre
Col de Gembre is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.635m (5,364ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.
Col de Sarraut
Col de Sarraut is a mountain pass at an elevation of 980m (3,215ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
Croix de Toulouse
Croix de Toulouse is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.962m (6,437ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Driving the unpaved road to Col de la Lariée
Col de la Lariée is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.964m (6,443ft) above the sea level, located on the French-Italian border between Liguria, Piemonte and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
Porte de Cristol is an awe-inspiring track in the Alps
Porte de Cristol is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.483m (8,146ft) above the sea level located in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Fortin du Restefond
Fortin du Restefond is an old military building at an elevation of 2.558m (8,392ft) above the sea level, located in the French Alps, within the Mercantour National Park in the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.
Col des Rochilles
Col des Rochilles is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.496m (8,188ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Mont Agnelet
Mont Agnelet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.201m (7,221ft) above the sea level, located in the Mercantour massif of the Maritime Alps, in southern France.
Col de la Joux Verte
Col de la Joux Verte is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.760m (5,774ft) above the sea level, located n the Alps in France.
Col des Iris
Col des Iris is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.030m (6,660ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, in south-western France.
Col de Pinpinier
Col de Pinpinier is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.130m (3,707ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of South-eastern France.
Sainte-Anne-la-Condamine
Sainte-Anne-la-Condamine is a ski station at an elevation of 1.827m (5,994ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
Pas du Serpaton
Pas du Serpaton is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.581m (5,187ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department in southeastern France.
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 d'Arrondaz
Col d'Arrondaz is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.507m (8,225ft) above the sea level, located on the Plateau des Glieres area in Haute-Savoie department of France.
Col du Cucheron
Col du Cucheron is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.139m (3,737ft) above the sea level, located at the heart of the Chartreuse massif, in the Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. The climb is terrible, with sections up to 17.9%. It’s a small pass very pleasant with the passage through the beautiful village of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse.
Col des Frettes
Col des Frettes is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.386m (7,828ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
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 Fort
Col du Fort is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.787m (5,862ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France
Col du Piéfroid
Col du Piéfroid is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.937m (9,635ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department in the Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.
Rocher du Charvet
Rocher du Charvet is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.712m (8,897ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Col de la Coche
Col de la Coche is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.783m (5,849ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France. The road to the summit is extreme. One mistake and it's a free fall to your death. It’s one of the most dangerous roads on Earth.
A gravel road to Lac de Plan d'Amont
Lac de Plan d'Amont is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.078m (6,817ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Col du Clergeon
Col du Clergeon is a mountain pass at an elevation of 979m (3,211ft) above the sea level, located in the Jura Mountains, in France.
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.
Driving the unpaved road to Col de Gimont
Col de Gimont is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.332m (7,650ft) above sea level, located on the border of France and Italy.
Col des Trabesses
Col des Trabesses is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.916m (6,286ft) above the sea level, located in the Ariège department of the French Pyrenees.