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 Colle-Saint-Michel is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.431m (4,694ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, in France.

Sanson Pass (also known as Colla di Sanson, Bassa di Sanson o Baisse de Sanson) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.694m (5,557ft) above the sea level, located in the Ligurian Alps, a mountain range on the border between France and Italy.

Refuge du Plan du Lac is a high mountain refuge in the Alps at an elevation of 2.370m (7,775ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Col de Port is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.249m (4,098ft) above the sea level, located in the French Pyrenees between Massat and Tarascon-sur-Ariège in the "massif de l'Arize". 

Col de Portel is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.432m (4,698ft) above the sea level, located in the Ariège department in southwestern France.

Passage de la Grande Clue is a short balcony road located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. It was bypassed by a tunnel and totally closed to motor vehicles.

Val Pelouse is an abandoned ski station at an elevation of 1.728m (5,669ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Mont Chauve d'Aspremont is a mountain peak at an elevation of 835m (2,739ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.

Située en Europe occidentale, la France est le plus grand pays de l’Union Européenne. C’est un pays très montagneux. Les deux chaînes de montagnes les plus importantes du pays sont les Alpes et les Pyrénées.

Tanarello Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.042m (6,699ft) above the sea level, located on the French-Italian border between Liguria, Piemonte and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It belongs to the Ligurian Alps. The road to reach the pass is a gravel dirt track.

Col d'Orgambide-Collado de Orgambide is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 992m (3,254ft) above the sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.

Col de Tramassel is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.620m (5,314ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region of France.

Refuge de Laval is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.008m (6,587ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Col de Rousset is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.254m (4,114ft) above the sea level, located in the Drôme department in southeastern France. The road winds its way between Die and the village of Chamaloc in a setting that still feels like Provence, with its lavender fragrance.

Col de Bleine is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.439m (4,721ft) above the sea level, located in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, in France.

Mont Revard is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.562m (5,125ft) above the sea level, located in the Bauges Massif near Aix-les-Bains in Savoie, France. The pass is traversed by the D913 road.

Madone de Fenestre is a high mountain sanctuary at an elevation of 1.904m (6,246ft) above the sea level, located in the Mercantour National Park, in the Alpes-Maritimes, a department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in the extreme southeast corner of France.

Clue de Carajuan is a very scenic drive located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads. Driving on this narrow road between walls of cliffs and gorges is a delight.

Col de Bostmendieta is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.054m (3,458ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département, in France.

Coll de Sansa is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.770m (5,807ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.

Punta Bagna is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.730m (8,956ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Col de Lauzun is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.809m (9,215ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe. 

Col des Voltes is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.823m (5,980ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.

Col de l’Infernet is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.355m (7,726ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Passage de la Petite Clue is a short balcony road located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. It was bypassed by a tunnel and totally closed to motor vehicles.

Col de la Llose is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.866m (6,122ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in the Occitanie region of Southern France.

D89 is a very scenic paved mountain road located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France, near the Spanish border, on the way to Puigmal (also called Puigmal d'Err).

Col de Pierre Plate is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.027m (3,369ft) above the sea level, located in the Lozère department in southern France.

Mur de Péguère, also known as Col de Péguère, is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.375m (4,511ft) above the sea level, located in the department of Ariège, in the Occitanie region of southwestern France. It’s a killer climb: on paper it only averages 7.9 per cent, but that’s thanks to some relatively gently lower slopes.

Clue de la Maglia is a very scenic drive located on the isolated valley of Maglia River near the village of Breil-sur-Roya in Alpes-Maritimes department of southeastern France. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads. Driving on this narrow road between walls of cliffs and gorges is a delight.

Barrage de la Girotte is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 1.753m (5,751ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Col des Montets is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.461m (4,793ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department of France.

Strada militare dello Chaberton is an extreme high mountain track climbing up to the fort on top of French Mont Chaberton at an elevation of 3.131m (10,272ft) above the sea level, in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Col de la Bâthie is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.884m (6,181ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Col du Mollard is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.638m (5,374ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

La Tovière is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.682m (8,799ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. It’sone of the highest roads of the country.

Located in the heart of the French Alps, Courchevel Airport is an altiport at an elevation of 2.014m (6,607ft) above the sea level. It’s ranked as the seventh most dangerous airport in the world.

Cim de Coma Morera is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.205m (7,234ft) above the sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.

Défilé de Joucou is a very narrow canyon located in the department of Aude, region Languedoc-Roussillon, in southern France where even the road barely fits. Pictures don’t do it justice.

Mont-Aigoual is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.567m (5,141ft) above the sea level, located on the border of the Lozère and Gard departments in southern France. At the peak you have unlimited views and the highest manned weather station in France.

Col de Soudet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.540m (5,052ft) located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.

Glacier du Varet is a high mountain glacier at an elevation of 2.883m (9,458ft) 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.

Passo di Collardente-Pas de Colle Ardente, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.617m (5,305 ft) above the sea level, located in the Maritime Alps on the border between Italy and France. The pass is traversed by the spectacular Via del Sale.

Le Mauvais Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.779m (5,836ft) above the sea level located in the department of Hautes-Alpes in France, close to the Italian border.

Col des Annes is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.721m (5,646ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.