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 de Chanrossa
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.
Col de la Crouzette
Col de la Crouzette is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.219m (3,999ft) above the sea level, located in the French Pyrenees.
Col de Frejus
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.
Lac d'Aubert
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.
Col Sud des Lacs
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.
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.
Ski Resort La Norma
La Norma is a ski resort, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. A chairlift access gravel trail climbs up to 2.584m (8,477ft) above the sea level.
Guide to the Mines de Bentaillou
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.
Bocca di Vizzavona
Col de Vizzavona is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.168m (3,832ft) located in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica.
Refuge du Grand Plan
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.
The wild road to Bocca di Chiralba in Corsica
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.
Les Mandettes
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%.
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.
Road D954
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.
Balcon du Bozelet
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.
Station de Ski Ghisoni
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.
Setaz des Pres
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.
Col de Vernant
Col de Vernant is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.967m (6,453ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Col Pelouse
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.
Travel Guide to Lac de Gaube in the Pyrénées
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.
Lac de la Blanche
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.
Col de Terre Nère
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.
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.
Col de Barteaux
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.
Col de Riondet
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.
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.
Collade de la Roquette
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.
Tossa del Pas dels Lladres
Tossa del Pas dels Lladres is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.621m (8,599ft) in the Pyrenees, on the French-Spanish border.
Blayeul
Blayeul is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.172m (7,125ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. The average gradient is 10.03%, with some sections up to 20%.
Col du Fornet
Col du Fornet is an international high mountain pass on the French-Swiss border atop the ski slopes above Avoriaz at an elevation of 2.245m (7,365ft) above the sea level.
Fort du Sapey
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 de Peyrefitte
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.
Refuge du Saut
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.
Col des Anies
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.
Col des Saulces
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.
Lac de la Grande Moucherolle
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.
Le Plan des Mains
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.
Col de la Serena
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.
The inhumane Mur de Monieux with 21% ramps
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.
Cime des Cabanelles
Cime des Cabanelles is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.087m (3,566ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes Maritimes department in southeastern France.
Tunnel de Peter Both
Tunnel de Peter Both is a very challenging tunnel located in Réunion, a French island located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar.
Col de la Platta
Col de la Platta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.391m (7,844ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Tunnel de Gueule Rouge
Tunnel de Gueule Rouge is a very challenging tunnel located in Réunion, a French island located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar.
Col du Cenise
Col du Cenise is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.723m (5,652ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Pas de Coterieux
Pas de Coterieux is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.526m (8,287ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.