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 des Garcinets

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.

Col de la Joux Verte

Driving the 20 hairpins of Col de la Joux Verte: The road to Avoriaz

Located in the Haute-Savoie department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Col de la Joux Verte is a high-altitude mountain pass that reaches 1,760m (5,774ft) above sea level. Situated close to the Swiss border, south of Lake Leman, this pass is traversed by the legendary D338 road, also known as the Route d'Avoriaz. It is a masterpiece of Alpine engineering where the vertical gain is managed through a relentless sequence of hairpins that demand absolute focus from any driver.

Sainte-Anne-la-Condamine

How to drive the steep paved road to Sainte-Anne-la-Condamine?

Sainte-Anne-la-Condamine is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.827m (5,994ft) above sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, in France.

Croix de Toulouse

How to drive the steep road to Croix de Toulouse in the Hautes-Alpes?

Croix de Toulouse is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.962m (6,437ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department of France.

Col des Iris

Is the road to Col des Iris too steep for your car?

Col des Iris is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,030m (6,660ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department of southwestern France. This gravel track offers a rugged alternative for those exploring the iconic peaks of the French Pyrenees, positioned in one of the most famous cycling and driving regions in Europe.

Col d'Arrondaz

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.

Lac de Bise

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 Pinpinier

How to drive the paved road to Col de Pinpinier?

Col de Pinpinier is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.130m (3,707ft) above sea level, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.

Col de Sarraut

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.

Col du Cucheron

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.

Rocher du Charvet

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 Gembre

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.

Mont Janus

Mont Janus: Driving the Historic Military Road of the Hautes-Alpes

Mont Janus is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,529m (8,297ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department of southeastern France. Perched above the town of Briançon, it is famous for its strategic military history and the rugged, high-altitude trail that leads to its summit fortress.

Col du Fort

How to drive the unpaved road to Col du Fort in the Alpes-Maritimes

Col du Fort is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.787m (5,862ft) above sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France.

Col des Rochilles

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.

Pointe du Dzonfié

How to drive the long climb to Pointe du Dzonfié?

The climb to Pointe du Dzonfié is a long, technical ascent in the Savoie department of the French Alps. Reaching 2,185m (7,168ft) above sea level, this route is a mix of high-alpine paved roads and rough mountain tracks. Spanning 31 kilometers from the valley floor, it requires a vehicle with good ground clearance and a driver who knows how to manage brake heat and gear selection on narrow, unprotected ledge roads.

Pas du Serpaton

How to drive the paved road to Pas du Serpaton in Isere

Pas du Serpaton is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.613m (5,291ft) above sea level, located in the Isère department of France.

Auron

Auron

Auron is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.652m (5,419ft) above the sea level, located in the French alps in the Alpes-Maritimes department.

Mont Agnelet

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 du Clergeon

Is the road to Col du Clergeon in the Jura Mountains too steep?

Col du Clergeon is a mountain pass at an elevation of 979 meters (3,211 ft) above sea level, located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Situated on the boundary between the Savoie and Haute-Savoie departments, the route crosses the Jura Mountains along the D55 and D231 roads.

Col de Mens

Col de Mens

Col de Mens is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.111m (3,645ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department in southeastern France.

Col des Trabesses

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.

Col de Ste-Anne

Col de Ste-Anne: Driving the D28 through the Mercantour National Park

Col de Ste-Anne is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,551 meters (5,088 ft) above sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of southeastern France. Situated within the Mercantour National Park, the pass is crossed by the paved D28 road, also known as the Route des Launes.

Col du Vallon

Road trip guide: Conquering Col du Vallon

Col du Vallon is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.456m (8,057ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Sommet de l'Eychauda

Sommet de l'Eychauda

Sommet de l'Eychauda is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.639m (8,658ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Col de la Coche

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.

Col del Pam

Col del Pam

Col del Pam is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.998m (6,555ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales and Cerdagne near the Spanish border in the south of France.

Crêt de l'Oeillon

Crêt de l'Oeillon: Driving the Steep D63.1 Road in the Pilat Massif

Crêt de l'Oeillon is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,364 meters (4,475 ft) above sea level, located in the Pilat Massif, within the Loire department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France. The D63.1 road branches off the main ridge route to reach the summit, where a prominent 80-meter-high television broadcasting antenna stands at the crest.

Col d’Entre les Tetes

Col d’Entre les Tetes

Col d’Entre les Tetes is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.760m (9,055ft) above the sea level, located in Rhone-Alpes in the French Isère département.

Col de Fours

Col de Fours

Col de Fours is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.318m (7,604ft) above the sea level, located in the extreme north of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, in southeastern France, near the Italian border.

Col des Frettes

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.

Col de la Grande Forcle

Col de la Grande Forcle

Col de la Grande Forcle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.270m (7,447ft) above the sea level, located in the Graian Alps, in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Le Brévent

A memorable road trip to Le Brévent

Le Brévent is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.484m (8,149ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Aiguille Croche

Aiguille Croche: Driving the 18 Hairpins of the Beaufortain Ridge

Aiguille Croche is a mountain peak at an elevation of 2,398 meters (7,867 ft) above sea level, located on the border between the Savoie and Haute-Savoie departments in southeastern France. Situated in the Beaufortain Massif above Les Contamines-Montjoie, the summit area is reached via an unpaved ski-lift service track.

Col de Cloze

How to drive the unpaved road to Col de Cloze

Col de Cloze is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.483m (8,146ft) above sea level, located in the region of Occitanie, in France.

Col du Merdassier

How to drive the steep D160 road to Col du Merdassier?

Col du Merdassier is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,500m (4,921ft) above sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department, France. Situated in the Aravis Range, the pass serves as a logistical hub for the Manigod ski area. The final approach follows the D160 road, a mountain route characterized by its high-altitude exposure and technical drainage challenges during the snowmelt season.

Tête de la Sallaz

How to drive the steep Chemin dit de Vormy to Tête de la Sallaz?

Tête de la Sallaz is a high mountain peak reaching an elevation of 1,992m (6,535ft) above sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. Part of the Aravis Range, the climb to the summit is one of the steepest in the area, following a rugged track known as Chemin dit de Vormy.

Col du Liorin

Col du Liorin: Driving the narrow paved climb in the Vercors Massif

Col du Liorin is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,226 meters (4,022 ft) above sea level, located in the Isère department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Situated within the Vercors Massif, the pass is crossed by a narrow paved forest road.

Palet

A wild unpaved road to Palet

Palet is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.749m (9,019ft) above sea level, located in the Savoie department of France. It’s one of the highest roads in the country. 

Le Taoulet

How to drive the unpaved road to Le Taoulet in Occitania?

Le Taoulet is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.341m (7,680ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department of France.

Col du Farguet

Col du Farguet

Col du Farguet is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.084m (3,556ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes Maritimes department in southeastern France.

Le Beoux pont

Le Beoux Bridge

Le Beoux pont is located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Refuge de Moëde Anterne

Road to Refuge de Moëde Anterne: Driving the 8.85% Track in the Fiz Mountains

Refuge de Moëde Anterne is a mountain hut at an elevation of 1,984 meters (6,509 ft) above sea level, located in the Fiz Massif in the Haute-Savoie department of southeastern France. Situated within the Passy Nature Reserve above Plaine-Joux, the unpaved track serves as a supply and service route for the refuge.

Col du Laux

Col du Laux

Col du Laux is a mountain pass at an elevation of 883m (2,896ft) above the sea level, located in the Drôme department in southeastern France.

Fort du Mont

How to drive the curvy road to Fort du Mont in Albertville?

Fort du Mont is a military fortress at an elevation of 981m (3,218ft) above sea level, located in the Savoie department, in France.