What are the most spectacular roads in France?

France is a paradise for the lovers of the most spectacular roads, providing 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 worth the drive.

Located in the eastern 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 travelling to the country, be sure to experience a drive through the Best Balcony Roads. Dramatically carved out 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, 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 la Moutière is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,450m (8,038ft) above 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, and there is no turning around if you change your mind.

Gorges de la Bourne is a very scenic canyon located on the boundary between the Isère and Drôme departments, in France. It's one of the French balcony roads.

Pavé de la Croix Blanche is an iconic cobbled section located in the Nord department of the Hauts-de-France region, in France.

Col de Rosael is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.993m (9,819ft) above 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.

Col d'Aubisque is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.713m (5,620ft) above sea level, located in the Aquitaine region of France. It’s one of the most iconic climbs in the country.

Gorges du Loup (Wolf Gorge) 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 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.

Combe de la Fayolle is a very daunting ravine located in the Isère department of France. Avoid the drive if you don’t like heights. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Col de Méraillet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.612m (5,288ft) above sea level, located in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.

Col du Tourmalet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,115m (6,939ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in France. It is one of the most famous climbs on the Tour de France race.

Col de Sarenne is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.004m (6,574ft) above sea level, located in the Isère department of France. It’s one of the most demanding roads in the country.

Gorges de Daluis is a deep, narrow canyon on the upper Var River located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Gorges du Guil is a very scenic canyon located in the Hautes-Alpes department of France. It’s one of the defiant French balcony roads.

Col de la Colombière is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,613m (5,292ft) above sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department of France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.

Col de Larche-Colle della Maddalena is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.005m (6,578ft) above sea level, located on the border of Italy and France.

Col de la Lombarde-Colle della Lombarda is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.354m (7,723ft) above sea level, located on the border of Italy and France.

Col de Vergio is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.478m (4,849ft) above sea level, located on the island of Corsica. It’s said to be Corsica's highest road pass. It’s one of the highest roads of Corsica.

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.

Col du Pré is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,703m (5,587ft) above sea level, located in the Savoie department of France.

D13 is a very challenging road located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Cime de la Bonette is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.806m (9,206ft) above sea level, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Located in the Isère department in France, Tunnel du Mortier is an abandoned high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 1.370m (4,494ft) above sea level.

Port de Pailhères is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.001m (6,565ft) above sea level, located in the Ariège department, in France.

Col du Granon is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.413m (7,916ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.

Port d’Aulà is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.265m (7,431ft) above sea level, located on the border of France and Spain.

Port de Balès is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.760m (5,774ft) above sea level, located in the Occitanie region of France.

Located in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône 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 St Bernard Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.188m (7,178ft) above 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. 

Col de la Charmette is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.284m (4,212ft) above sea level, located in the Isère department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.

Col de la Montée du Fond is a high mountain pass at 3.007m (9,865ft) above sea level, located in Orelle, a commune in the Savoie department, in France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Pic Maïdo is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.189m (7,181ft) above sea level, located in Réunion, an overseas department of France in the Indian Ocean, to the east of Madagascar.

Col de l'Échelle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.762m (5,781ft) above sea level located in the Hautes-Alpes department of France.

Cime de Caron is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.182m (10,439ft) above sea level located in the Savoie department in France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Route Departementale 220 (D220) is a short mountain road located in the Isère department of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Col de la Pierre Carrée is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.849m (6,066ft) above sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department of France. It’s the highest pass in the north French Alps that is open all year round.

Col du Fréjus is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.546m (8,353ft) above sea level, located on the Franco-Italian border.

Col d'Èze is a mountain pass at an elevation of 532m (1,745ft) above sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France.

Col de l’Espaul is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.752m (5,748ft) above sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France.

Col de la Croix de Fer is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.071m (6,794ft) above sea level located in the Savoie department of France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.

Col de la Platrière is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.220m (7,283ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department of France.

Located in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, the high mountain road from Val Thorens to Orelle is one of the highest roads of Europe, topping out at 3.007m (9,865ft) above sea level.

Col de Portet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.215m (7,267ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department of the Occitanie region, in France.

Étang de Soulcem is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 1.649m (5,410ft) above the sea level, located in the Ariège department of the Occitanie region of France, near the Andorran border.

Col d'Allos is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.250m (7,382ft) above the sea level, located in the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.

Gorges du Hourat is a very scenic canyon located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, in France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

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