Roads of France
Set against the backdrop of Western Europe, France boasts an intricate tapestry of roads that offer some of the most breathtaking drives globally.
Enthusiasts can traverse the famed balcony roads, which cling perilously to cliff faces, ascend the serpentine bends of Col du Chaussy, navigate through the historical Tunnel de Parpaillon, or challenge themselves on the towering peaks of Col de l'Iseran, Col du Jandri, and Col du Télégraphe. From the undulating vineyards and sunlit fields to majestic mountains and turquoise coastlines, France's diverse topography is a treasure trove for those keen on picturesque journeys. The iconic Route Napoleon meanders through the heart of the country, while the shimmering Corniche d'Or offers unparalleled views of the Mediterranean's azure embrace.
But France's roads are more than just pathways carved into its stunning landscapes. They are gateways to its rich tapestry of history, culture, and traditions, from medieval towns and alpine villages to sun-soaked Mediterranean beaches. So, the next time wanderlust calls you to the charm of France, rev up your engine and set forth on an adventure across its most captivating routes.
Clue de Barles is a French balcony road
Clue de Barles is a canyon with dramatic views located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department of France. It’s one of the most scenic French balcony roads.
What are the highest roads in France?
Situated in Western Europe, France stands as the largest country in the European Union. Renowned for its diverse landscapes, France boasts an array of mountainous terrain, with the Alps and the Pyrenees emerging as its prominent mountain ranges. These majestic peaks are home to some of the highest roads in Europe, offering breathtaking vistas and challenging routes for adventurers and road enthusiasts alike.
Clue de Saint Auban is a scenic balcony road in France
Clue de Saint Auban is a spectacular gorge carved by the Esteron River in France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Gorges de la Nesque is a balcony road in France
Gorges de la Nesque is a spectacular canyon located in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
A memorable road trip to Col de Montgenevre in the Cottian Alps
Col de Montgenèvre is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.854m (6,083ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.
Traversing the international Bielsa Tunnel in the Pyrenees
Tunel Bielsa-Aragnouet is an international high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 1,820m (5,971ft) above sea level, located on the border of Spain and France.
The road to Col de la Cayolle in the Provence will take your breath away
Col de la Cayolle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.339m (7,673ft) above the sea level, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
A 5 stars road to Col d'Izoard in the French Alps
Col d'Izoard is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,367m (7,765ft) above sea level located in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.
Cap Corse Road is one of the best coastal drives in the world
Located on the northeast of the island of Corsica, in France, Cap Corse Road is one of the best coastal drives in the world.
Why is the epic road to Mont Ventoux so famous?
Mont Ventoux is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.912m (6,273ft) above the sea level, located in France.
Clue de Greolieres is a balcony road on the French Riviera
Clue de Gréolières is a very scenic canyon located in the heart of the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads. Escape from the Cote d'Azur jet set by driving the scenic Route de Thorenc like James Bond did in Goldeneye.
Driving Route des Cols des Pyrenees with 34 remarkable mountain passes
Set high in the French Pyrenees, Route des Cols des Pyrénées is a very exciting journey through the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, crossing 34 remarkable mountain passes, with an elevation gain of 15.937 metres.
A journey on the legendary Col de Tende-Colle di Tenda
Col de Tende (Colle di Tenda) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,876m (6,154ft) above sea level, located on the border of France and Italy. If you like hairpin bends, this climb is a must. It's one of the most hairpinned roads in the world.
The iconic Route de la Berarde is a balcony road in France
Route de la Bérarde is a legendary drive located in the heart of the Isère department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Stay safe. This road is passable but it can be impressive because it is winding and narrow. Crossings are difficult in some places. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Col de la Moutiere is a road with intimidating drop offs
Col de la Moutière is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.450m (8,038ft) above the sea level, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. The road is extremely narrow and the drop offs are a bit intimidating. There’s only enough room for one car to go up. There is no turning around if you change your mind.
A drivable track to the summit of Col del Sommeiller
Col del Sommeiller is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.993m (9,819ft) above the sea level, located on the French-Italian border. It's one of the highest roads of Europe. This beautiful 26 kilometre climb above Bardonecchia has it all: hairpins, alpine dams, a lake at the summit, and views to die for.
Gorges de la Bourne is a balcony road in France
Gorges de la Bourne is a very scenic canyon located on the boundary of Isère and Drôme departments in the French region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. It's one of the French balcony roads.
Pave de la Croix Blanche is a wild cobbled road
Pavé de la Croix Blanche is an iconic cobbled section located in the Nord department of Hauts-de-France region, in France.
Driving the road to Col de Rosael is not a piece of cake
Col de Rosael is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.993m (9,819ft) above the sea level, located in Orelle, a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
The legendary Col d'Aubisque is an iconic Tour de France climb
Col d'Aubisque is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.713m (5,620ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées departments, in the Aquitaine region of France.
Gorges du Loup is a balcony road in France
Gorges du Loup is a stunning river canyon located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in France. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads.
Place Charles de Gaulle is a stressful drive in Paris
Place Charles de Gaulle is a roundabout located in Paris, the capital of France. It’s famous for the 12 avenues radiating from the place, and thus indirectly for the giant traffic-jams they tend to create. It's one of the world's 10 best roundabouts.
Driving the challenging D211A through Combe de la Fayolle
Combe de la Fayolle is a very defiant ravine located in the Isère department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Avoid the drive if you don’t like heights. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Col de Meraillet is a chillout in the French Alps
Col de Méraillet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.612m (5,288ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.
The legendary Col du Tourmalet is one of the world's top roads
Col du Tourmalet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.115m (6,939ft) above the sea level located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitan region of south-western France. It is one of the most famous climbs on the Tour de France race.
The narrow, bad and old road to the top of Col de Sarenne
Col de Sarenne is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.004m (6,574ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department of the Rhône-Alpes region of France. It’s one of the most demanding roads of the country.
Gorges du Guil is a scenic balcony road in France
Gorges du Guil is the name of a canyon located in the Hautes-Alpes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Gorges de Daluis is a balcony road in France
Gorges de Daluis is a deep, narrow canyon on the upper Var river located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Col de la Colombière: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Col de la Colombière is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.613m (5,292ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.
Larche Pass is an awe-inspiring drive in the Alps
Col de Larche-Colle della Maddalena is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.005m (6,578ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Italy and France.
A curvy road with 75 hairpin turns to Col de la Lombarde
Col de la Lombarde-Colle della Lombarda is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.354m (7,723ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Italy and France.
Col de Vergio is Corsica's highest paved pass
Col de Vergio is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.478m (4,849ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of the Haute-Corse and the Corse-du-Sud departments of France on the island of Corsica. It’s said to be Corsica's highest road pass. It’s one of the highest roads of Corsica.
Col du Pré is a narrow quiet road with lots of hairpins
Col du Pré is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.703m (5,587ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.
Cime de la Bonette is the highest paved road of the Alps
Cime de la Bonette is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.806m (9,206ft) above the sea level, on the boundary of Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence departments in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
D13 is a challenging balcony road in France
D13 is a very challenging road located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of the Occitanie Region, in France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
The Three Corniches are 3 roads with dramatic coastal views in Cote d'Azur
From Nice eastward toward Menton, in the south of France, in the beautiful Côte d'Azur, three roads known as Les Trois Corniches are carved into the mountainside running between the sea and mountains and offering dramatic coastal views. They are some of the world’s great drives.
A paved road to Port de Pailhères heading deep into the Pyrenees
Port de Pailhères is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.001m (6,565ft) above the sea level, located in the Ariège department, in the region of Occitanie, in France.
The wild road to Col du Granon in the French Alps
Col du Granon is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.413m (7,916ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.
The abandoned Tunnel du Mortier in France
Located in the Isère department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in France, Tunnel du Mortier is an abandoned high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 1.370m (4,494ft) above the sea level.
Port d’Aula is one of the most beautiful roads of the Pyrenees
Port d’Aulà is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.265m (7,431ft) above the sea level, located on the border of France and Spain.
An epic road to Port de Balès in the French Pyrenees
Port de Balès is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.760m (5,774ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of the Hautes-Pyrénées and the Haute-Garonne departments, in the Occitanie region of France.
Driving Route des Cretes along the Mediterranean Sea in Provence
Located in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in France, Route des Crêtes is a very scenic drive and one of the steepest roads of the country, with parts up to 23%. The road is closed if there's too much wind - people could be blown off the 300 meter high cliffs.
Little Saint-Bernard Pass is an absolute must for road lovers
Little St Bernard Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.188m (7,178ft) above the sea level, located at the Italian-French border. Keep reading to find out more about when and how you can take the drive, as well as some of the notable sights you’ll see.
Take the Scenic Route and Discover Col de la Charmette
Col de la Charmette is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.284m (4,212ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.
Col de la Montee du Fond is a brutally tough road in France
Col de la Montée du Fond is a high mountain pass at 3.007m (9,865ft) above the sea level, located in Orelle, a commune in the Savoie department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.