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.

Gorges du Guiers Mort is a canyon formed by the Guiers Mort river in the Isère department in southeastern France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Cirque de Navacelles is a deep, steep-sided canyon located in the Occitanie region in southern France. The cirque was once created by the River La Vis. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads.

Col des Saisies is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.657m (5,436ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes. 

Station de Ski du Haut Asco is an abandoned ski resort at an elevation of 1.509m (4,950ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Corse department in the Corsica region, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea. It’s one of the highest roads of Corsica.

Aiguille de Péclet is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.951m (9,681ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of the French Alps. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Col de Viraysse is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.746m (9,009ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in France. It’s terrible 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 you mind. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Mont Malamot is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.885m (9,465ft) above the sea level, located in the northern Cottian Alps, in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. The road to the summit is permanently closed to motorized vehicles. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Lac de Fabrèges is a mountain lake at an elevation of 1.241m (4,072ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.

Col des Ruillans is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.231m (10,600ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Col Saint Martin is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.500m (4,921ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.

Col de Valberg is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.672m (5,475ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.

Col du Noyer is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.664m (5,459ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in the department of Hautes-Alpes in France.

Perched high up on a rocky hill, Château de Quéribus is a ruined castle in the commune of Cucugnan in the Aude département, in the Occitanie region of France.

Lac de Cap-de-Long is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.161m (7,089ft) above the sea level, located in Hautes-Pyrénées, a department in southwestern France, part of the Midi-Pyrénées region.

Puerto de Somport-Col du Somport is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.637m (5,370ft) above the sea level, on the border of France and Spain.

Fort de la Marguerie is a high mountain fort at an elevation of 1.842m (6,043ft) above the sea level, located in the Maritime Alps, close to the border between France and Italy.

Col d'Arnostéguy is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1.240m (4,068ft) above the sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.

Monte Saccarello-Mont Saccarel is an international high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.178m (7,145ft) above the sea level, located on the French-Italian border.

Col du Solude is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.680m (5,511ft) above the sea level, located in the Oisans region of the French Alps.

Col de Castillon is a mountain pass at an elevation of 707m (2,319ft) above the sea level, located in the Maritime Alpes, in France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.

Col de la Vallée Étroite is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.735m (8,973ft) 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 Europe.

Col de Joux Plane is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.697m (5,567ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in Haute-Savoie, France. For cyclists, it’s renowned as one of the six major passes of the French massif, along with the Galibier, Izoard, L’Alpe d’Huez, Mont Ventoux and the Tourmalet.

Val Thorens is a ski resort at an elevation of 2.300m (7,545ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Ouvrage du Gondarn is a fort located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France, at an elevation of 2.347m (7,700ft) above the sea level.

Cratère Commerson is a volcanic crater at an elevation of 2.328m (7,637ft) above the sea level located on the eastern side of Réunion island in the Indian Ocean.

Col d'Aspin is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.489m (4,885ft) above the sea level, located in the French Pyrenees in the department of the Hautes-Pyrénées.

Located in the Lozère department in southern France, Les Détroits is a thrilling experience. The road still remains an adrenaline-pumping journey and is definitely not for the faint of lungs, heart, or legs. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads.

Pierre-sur-Haute is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.631m (5,351ft) above the sea level, located in the Massif Central, in south-central France. It is in the Sauvain and Job communes, with the boundary between the Rhône-Alpes and Auvergne regions passing through the site. The access is closed to private vehicles.

Col des Gets is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.170m (3,838ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.

Col du Bouchet is a high mountain peak at 3.004m (9,855ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Col de l'Arpettaz is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.581m (5,187ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Col du Portillon/Coll de Portilló is an international  high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.293m (4,242ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrenees, a mountain range on the border between France and Spain.

Located in the Ariège department in southwestern France, the Grotte du Mas d'Azil is a 500 metre long tunnel dug by the Arize River in the Ariege Pyrenees. It is the only cave in Europe that can be crossed by car.

Crête de la Pendine is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.705m (8,874ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Col de Mantet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.760m (5,774ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France. The road is incredibly narrow with a steep unprotected drop to one side throughout. It's also regularly covered in snow making it even more trecherous.

Lac des Bouillouses (also called Llac de la Bollosa) is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.016m (6,614ft) above the sea level, located in Pyrénées-Orientales, in France.

Col de Mallemort is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.543m (8,343ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, in the southwestern part of the Alps, in France. The road to the summit is extreme. It’s terrible 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 you mind.

Col du Petit Mont Cenis is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.184m (7,166ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Col de la Faucille is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,323m (4,341ft) above the sea level, located in the department of Ain in the French Jura.

Col dés Ves is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.793m (9,163ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of the French Alps. It’s  one of the highest roads of Europe.

Coll d'Ares is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.513m (4,964ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrenees on the border between France and Spain.

Route de l'Authion, also known as D68, is a very scenic drive in the Mercantour National Park, Alpes-Maritimes, in France. Along the road there are several forts and military ruins.

Col de Lagues is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.408m (4,619ft) above the sea level located in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.

Col de l’Herpie is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.970m (9,744ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department in the Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.

Col de Pause is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.542m (5,059ft) above the sea level, located in the Ariège department of the region of Occitanie, in France.

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