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.
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.
Driving the steep Chemin Garcia to Estany de la Coma d'en Garcia
Estany de la Coma d'en Garcia is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2,303m (7,555ft) above sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of southern France. Tucked away in the high Pyrenees near Porté-Puymorens, this remote glacial pond offers a true alpine escape.
Tête de la Sallaz
Tête de la Sallaz is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.992m (6,535ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. The average gradient is 14.74% with some sections up to 20%.
Road to Lac Long Supérieur: Driving the 2,500m Restricted Track in the Mercantour
Located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of southeastern France, Lac Long Supérieur is a high-altitude glacial lake reaching an elevation of 2,500m (8,202ft) above sea level. Situated within the core zone of the Mercantour National Park, the track leading to the lake is a restricted mountain corridor used for park maintenance and mountain refuge logistics.
Pas de Cherferie
Pas de Cherferie is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.142m (7,027ft) above the sea level located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
La Déa Fortress: Driving the 15km Military Track in the Alpes-Maritimes
At an elevation of 1,753m (5,751ft) above sea level, La Déa Fortress (locally known as Petit Ouvrage de la Baisse de la Déa) is a military fortification in the Alpes-Maritimes department of southeastern France. Built in 1934 as part of the Alpine extension of the Maginot Line, the fortress is located in a high-altitude strategic position near the Italian border.
How to get to Lac d'Allos, the largest natural high-altitude lake in Europe
Lac d'Allos is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2,248 m (7,375 ft) above sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence of France.
Road trip guide: Conquering Gorges de la Spelunca
Gorges de la Spelunca is a very scenic canyon located in the Corse-du-Sud department of France on the island of Corsica. If you don't like winding roads this may be a problem.
Pas des Escaliers
Pas des Escaliers is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.700m (5,577ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department in southeastern France.
Col de la Lit
Col de la Lit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.664m (5,459ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.
Sommet de la Reynière
Sommet de la Reynière is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.717m (5,633ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
Col du Teil
Col du Teil is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.628m (5,341ft) above the sea level, located in the Aude department of southern France.
Autostrada dei Fiori, a stunning coastal road from Genoa to Nice
Autostrada A10 is one of the most challenging yet scenic highways in northern Italy. You’ll find yourself constantly distracted by the beautiful coastal views.
Les Tourniquets d'Astoin
Les Tourniquets d'Astoin is the name of the sharply winding and precipitous ascent in a steep and narrow zig-zag road in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.
Road D76
The D76 road is a very exciting journey in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. Located at the gateway to the National Mercantour Park, the road is asphalted but very narrow.
If you love to drive, you will love the pretty D26 road
D26 is the name of a curvy steep road located in the Corse-du-Sud department of France on the island of Corsica.
Station de Camurac
Station de Camurac is a ski station at an elevation of 1.630m (5,347ft) above the sea level, located in the Aude department of southern France.
Col des Gourses
Col des Gourses is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.565m (8,415ft) above the sea level, located in Rhone-Alpes in the French Isère département.
Col de Scaldasole is the highest road of Corsica
Col de Scaldasole is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.938m (6,358ft) above the sea level, located in the Corse-du-Sud department of France on the island of Corsica. It’s one of the highest roads of Corsica.
Collada del Vent
Collada del Vent is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.301m (7,549ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France, near the border with Spain and the Autonomous Community of Catalonia.
Col d’Anglas
Col d’Anglas is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.453m (8,047ft) above the sea level, located in the département of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in south-western France.
Col de Lachau
Col de Lachau is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.332m (4,370ft) above the sea level, located in the Drôme department in southeastern France.
A very bumpy, grueling road to Bocca di Battaglia
Bocca di Battaglia is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.104m (3,622ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica. The road to the summit is awesome, with sections up to 12%. Tight bends and faster sweepers.
Piau-Engaly
Piau-Engaly is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.870m (6,135ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in southwestern France.
Adventure along Breche du Grand Creux
Breche du Grand Creux is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.830m (9,284ft) above the sea level, located in Rhone-Alpes in the Isère département, in France.
Collet des Michels
Collet des Michels is a mountain pass at an elevation of 920m (3,018ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.
Lac des Estaris
Lac des Estaris is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.578m (8,458ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.
Driving the wild road to Col de Balme
Col de Balme is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.209m (7,247ft) above the sea level, located on the frontier between France and Switzerland.
Boismint lift
Boismint lift is a high mountain lift at an elevation of 2.671m (8,763ft) 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 the country.
Driving the Piste du Capet to Pêne Det Pouri in the Pyrenees
Pêne Det Pouri is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,030m (6,660ft) above sea level, located in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées in France. Situated in the heart of the central Pyrenees, the summit offers one of the best balconies overlooking the famous Tourmalet area.
The breathtaking road to Couillade de Llerbès
Couillade de Llerbès is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.299m (7,542ft) above the sea level, located in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France.
D428 is a balcony road through Vallon de Pierlas
Vallon de Pierlas is the name of a very scenic valley located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. It's one of the famous French balcony roads.
What are the highest roads in Corsica?
Surrounded by rugged and rocky coasts, Corsica is a Mediterranean island located southeast of France and west of Italy. The island represents a large variety of morphological landscapes, and for the most part, the terrain of Corsica is mountainous: Mont Cinto is the highest peak, reaching to 2706m, while more than 30 summits surpass 2000m. It one of 18 French regions, with Ajaccio as its capital. It is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean, behind Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus.
Hautacam is a legendary Tour de France climb
Station du Hautacam is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.523m (4,996ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region of France.
Pas de Saint-Anne
Pas de Saint-Anne is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.301m (7,549ft) above the sea level, located in the Maritime Alps, on the French-Italian border.
Road D93
Road D93 is challenging drive in the heart of the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. The average gradient is 6.82% with 18 hairpin turns along the way.
Pic de Montferrat
Pic de Montferrat is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.497m (8,192ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in southwestern France.
Col du Fouet
Col du Fouet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.435m (7,988ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Taking on the Twists and Turns of Défilé de l'Inzecca
Défilé de l'Inzecca is a very scenic canyon located in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica.
Col de la Cucumelle
Col de la Cucumelle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.511m (8,238ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.
Moucherotte
Moucherotte is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.863m (6,112ft) above the sea level, located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France.
Le Gros Villan, one of the steepest tracks in the world
Le Gros Villan is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.522m (8,274ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Clue de Rouaine
Located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France, the Clue de Rouaine is a very picturesque drive on an unrivalled location in the midst of grandiose scenery.
Fort Pepin
Fort Pepin is a military fortress at an elevation of 2.278m (7,473ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France, near the Italian border.
Cheval Noir
Cheval Noir is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.166m (7,106ft) above the sea level, located in the Massif de la Vanoise range, in Savoie department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of the French Alps.