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.

Cime des Orres is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,655m (8,710ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department of France. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Passo di Collalunga (also known as Pas de Colle Longue) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,441m (8,008ft) above sea level, situated on the border between France (Alpes-Maritimes) and Italy (Piedmont). This former military route is one of the most scenic and technical tracks in the Maritime Alps.

Lac d'Aubert is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.163m (7,096ft) above sea level, located in Hautes-Pyrénées, a department in southwestern France. It is part of the Midi-Pyrénées region.

Pas de l’Escous is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.012m (3,320ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in France.

Col de Mea is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.486m (8,156ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Col du Grand Ballon is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.343m (4,406ft) above the sea level, located in the Haut-Rhin department of the Grand Est region, in France.

Mont Mirantin is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.058m (6,751ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Anciennes mines du Bentaillou is a zinc and silver-bearing abandoned mine at an elevation of 1.875m (6,151ft) above the sea level, located in the Ariège department in southwestern France, near the Spanish border.

Puy de Dôme, with its magnificent stature and awe-inspiring beauty, stands as an iconic climb in the legendary Tour de France. This dome-shaped volcanic plug rises proudly to an impressive elevation of 1,450 meters (4,757 feet) above sea level, gracing the picturesque landscape of the Puy-de-Dôme department in the enchanting region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes of France.

Pas de l'Escalier is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.907m (6,256ft) above the sea level, located in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region of south-western France.

Col de Frejus is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.474m (8,116ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

D954 is a very scenic drive in the heart of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. This road overlooks the blue Lac de Serre-Ponçon lake from above, and has some beautiful views.

Located at the foot of the Monte Renosu, in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica, the Ghisoni ski resort sits at an elevation of 1.672m (5,485ft) above the sea level.

Col de Barteaux is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.384m (7,821ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Sétaz des Près is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.314m (7,591ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Bocca di Vizzavona (also known as Col de Vizzavona) is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,163m (3,815ft) above sea level, located on the island of Corsica, France. Coordinates: 42.1121, 9.1158. The pass serves as the primary transport link between Ajaccio and Bastia.

Col de Chanrossa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.545m (8,349ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.

La Norma is a high mountain peak reaching an elevation of 2,584m (8,477ft) above sea level, located in the Savoie department in south-eastern France. Situated in the heart of the Vanoise National Park, the track to the summit is one of the most punishing unpaved climbs in the French Alps.

Bocca di Chiralba is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.749m (5,738ft) 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.

Collade de la Roquette is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.076m (6,811ft) 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 de Terre Nère is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.270m (7,447ft) 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 Sud des Lacs is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.484m (8,149ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Col de la Serena is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.303m (4,274ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. Be prepared. The road is very narrow. It’s not for the faint of heart or ill prepared.

Mont Artzamendi is a mountain peak at an elevation of 916m (3,005ft) above sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France.

Balcon du Bozelet is a high mountain restaurant at an elevation of 2.411m (7,910ft) above the sea level, located in the Graian Alps, in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Refuge du Saut is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.137m (7,011ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of the French Alps.

Refuge du Grand Plan is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.310m (7,578ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.

Lac de Gaube is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.734m (5,688ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department and the region of Occitanie in south-western France.

D84 is a short narrow mountain road located in the department of Aude, region Languedoc-Roussillon, in southern France. The road is not easy. Not recommended to newbies.

Les Mandettes is a high mountain road located in in the department of Hautes-Alpes, in the Dauphiné Alps, a mountain range in southeastern France. The average gradient is 11.06%.

Fort du Sapey is a military fortress, part of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, at an elevation of 1.725m (5,659ft) above the sea level, located  in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Col des Saulces is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.456m (8,057ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.

Col Pelouse is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.261m (7,417ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.

Lac de la Blanche is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.501m (8,205ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Tunnel de Peter Both is a very challenging tunnel located in Réunion, a French island located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar.

Madone d'Utelle is a high mountain sanctuary at an elevation of 1.177m (3,861ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in France.

Col des Anies is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.134m (7,001ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.

Lac de la Grande Moucherolle is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.015m (6,610ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department of the Auvergne-Rhones-Alpes region in southeastern France.

Col de Saint-Barnabé is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.368m (4,488ft) above the sea level located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in southeastern France.

Le Plan is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.129m (6,984ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of the French Alps.

Pas des Sables is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.374m (7,788ft) above the sea level located on the eastern side of Réunion island in the Indian Ocean.

Col de Peyrefitte is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.859m (6,099ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Haute-Garonne and Hautes-Pyrénées departments in southwestern France.

Col de Riondet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.409m (7,903ft) 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.

Mur de Monieux is a short but devastatingly steep climb in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It’s one of the steepest roads of the country.

Reaching an elevation of 2,245m (7,365ft) above sea level, Col du Fornet is an international high mountain pass situated directly on the border between France and Switzerland. Perched atop the rugged ski slopes above Avoriaz, this pass serves as a strategic mountain link between the two countries, though it remains one of the most technical and raw tracks in the Chablais Alps.