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 de l’Asco is an incredible defile located in the Haute-Corse department in the Corsica region, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads.

Fort de la Redoute is a high mountain fort at an elevation of 2.346m (7,696ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France, near the Italian border.

Col d'Ornon is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.360m (4,462ft) above the sea level, located in the Dauphiné Alps, in the department of Isère in France.

Col des Veaux is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 540m (1,771ft) above the sea level, located on the French-Spanish border.

Col de Perty is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.302m (4,271ft) above the sea level, located in the Drôme department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.

Parking des Millefonts is a high mountain parking at an elevation of 2.040m (6,692ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.

Col de Riou is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.949m (6,394ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitan region of south-western France.

Col d’Eylac is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.442m (4,730ft) above the sea level, located in Auvergne, in south-central France. 

Colle delle Chaberton is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.674m (8,772ft) above the sea level, located in the French Alps, in the département of Hautes-Alpes.

Collet du Plan Nicolas is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.406m (7,893ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Planche des Belles Filles is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.148m (3,766ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Saône department of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, in France.

Luz Ardiden is a ski resort at an elevation of 1.720m (5,643ft) located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitan region of south-western France. It has featured several times as a summit finish in the Tour de France and Vuelta a España races.

Mont Vial is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.527m (5,009ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. It’s one of the few peaks of the backcountry behind Nice that is recognisable from the sea.

Col de la Celle Vieille is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.099m (6,886ft) above the sea level, located in the Mercantour National Park, on the French-Italian border.

Mont de la Chambre is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.844m (9,330ft) 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.

The D914 road, also known as Route d’Espagne, is a very scenic drive through the Côte Vermeille, in south west France.

Prat d'Albis is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.201m (3,940ft) above the sea level, located in the Ariège department in southwestern France in the Occitanie region.

Col des Posettes is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.997m (6,551ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Col de la Fréte o de la Chiaupe is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.494m (8,182ft) above the sea level, located in the Graian Alps, in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

The Tour de Madeloc or Route Madeloc is a very small road located near the Spanish border and Cap Cerbere, in southern France. The drive starts in Banyuls-Sur-Mer and ends in Colliure. The road is called D86 and is part of the Route des Cols. There are labels to lead you to the street in both villages.

Lac du Barrage d'Ossoue is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.842m (6,043ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées, a department in southwestern France.

Grand Col is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.939m (9,642ft) 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 Fresse is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.777m (9,110ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of the French Alps. It'sone of the highest roads of Europe.

Col des Gondrans is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.347m (7,700ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Located in the Aude department in southern France, Gorges de l'Aude is a narrow canyon to the south of Quillan, itself south of Carcassonne. It’sone of the famous French balcony roads.

Col de Thorens is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.118m (10,229ft) 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 la Chal is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.460m (8,070ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Fort de la Platte is a military fortress at an elevation of 2.009m (6,591ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Pas de Morgins is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.378m (4,520ft) above the sea level, located on the border of France and Switzerland.

Col de la Vaccia is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.193m (3,914ft) above the sea level, located in the Corse-du-Sud department of France on the island of Corsica.

Mont Faron is a mountain pass at an elevation of 584m (1,916ft) above the sea level, located on southern France’s Mediterranean coast, overlooking the city and roadstead of Toulon.

Route Départementale D662 is a very scenic drive located in the Lot department in south-western France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Col de la Core is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.395m (4,577ft) above the sea level, located in the Ariège department of France in the Pyrenees.

Col du Festre is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.441m (4,727ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.

Located in the Alpes-Maritimes, in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in southeastern France, Pont de la Mariée (Bride's Bridge) is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Roche de Mio is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.716m (8,910ft) above the sea level, located in the Graian Alps, 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 la Sinne is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.438m (4,717ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Expect sections up to 15% near the summit.

Col de Solaison is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.500m (4,921ft) above the sea level, located in Haute-Savoie, in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France, bordering both Switzerland and Italy.

Coll des Molles is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.089m (6,853ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France, near the border with Spain and the Autonomous Community of Catalonia.

Col de la Bataille is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.313m (4,307ft) above the sea level, located in the Drôme department in southeastern France.

Pointe de la Masse is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.790m (9,153ft) 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.

Mont Chiran is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.905m (6,250ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the south of France.

Located in the Haute-Savoie department of France, Tunnel des Montets is a mountain tunnel used by trains which also allows road traffic to avoid theCol des Montets mountain pass when there is heavy snowfall or avalanche danger.

Col du Lisey is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.086m (6,843ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, in the Midi-Pyrénées.

Mont Bouquet is a mountain pass at an elevation of 628m (2,060ft) above the sea level, located in the Gard department in southern France.