Europe's Most Dangerous Roads Every Adrenaline Junkie Should Visit
If you’re one of those people who actively seek out extreme and dangerous sports, taking this trip through the most dangerous roads in Europe will surely fill your palette. I could try to implore you to follow safety precautions. But if you’re the kind of person who gets their kicks by throwing caution to the wind, I can only wish you good luck.
Traveling around Europe will take you to long and winding roads that will have the most breathtaking views in the region. Having a suitable backpack for your trip is essential to bring everything you need for the varying climate with each country of the continent. You can go online and read up on valuable reviews of different backpacks. Now that you’ve sorted out your travel essentials, you can now focus on these amazing places that will satisfy your cravings for the adrenaline thrill.
Here is a list of the most dangerous roads in Europe:
Atlantic Road, Norway
Atlantic Ocean Road was supposed to be a railway, it is considered to be one of the most scenic roads in Europe. However, it is also tagged as one of the most dangerous roads to traverse. The extremely curvy stretch is also composed of eight bridges. Normally, drivers avoid this road when a storm is brewing nearby, as the waves along the Norwegian coast can be gigantic. It connects the mainland to the island of Averøy via small islands in between. It spans a long stretch of 8.27 kilometers and is a National Tourist Route. It is filled with coastal scenery, history, and local culture. The sharp contrast between taking this route on a sunny summer day as opposed to a journey sprayed with thick foam in a storm is something to behold. It is still a memorable trip, whether you’re traveling when the ocean is placid or smashing over the road.
It can be described that traversing is like teetering on the edge of the ocean. It’s like traveling at the place where the land ends and the sea begins. The road curves, dips, and arches over the strong waves of the Norwegian Sea, which can quickly affect visibility in bad weather. The weather is also unpredictable, so it adds to the excitement when you’re anticipating to cross this span of a unique stretch of man-made construction.
Stelvio Pass, Italy
There are a lot of safe alternative routes in the Italian Alps, which are easier and safer. But for a thrill-seeking individual, the Stelvio Pass is a route that will surely make you realize the definition of “dangerous”. It is an uphill road to an elevated height of 2,743.2 meters and filled with 48 dangerously sharp turns. There are short concrete barriers to stop you from an unimaginably steep drop on the other side. The marvelous Alpine site should not distract you as this is the second-highest road in the Alps.
Stelvio Pass zigzags for 46 kilometers up and over northern Italy, adjacent to the Swiss border. Although it’s not the most scenic route to the Alps, it is considered to be the most chest-thumping and dramatic passes. It is built in 1820 by the Austrians to connect parts of their empire. Extreme caution is advised when driving this road in the winter because of the snow build-up which makes it very slippery.
Furka Pass, Switzerland
Also made famous by the scene in James Bond’s Goldfinger movie, where it featured a car chase between a Ford Mustang and an Aston Martin DB5 along the Furka Pass. This steep and winding road is known for its difficulty. It is elevated to 8,000 feet above sea level with multiple sharp turns, this route is closed in winter because it can be hazardously difficult for drivers during this season. Even in the spring or summer, this route can get you careening down the slope with just a simple mistake. The arduous drive is worth it when you reach the top. The view of the crystalline Rhône Glacier will surely take your breath away.
The Cat & Fiddle, UK
Famously or infamously known as The Widow Maker, The Cat & Fiddle is considered as Britain’s most dangerous route. Although driving through the road you’ll have the beautiful scenery of England’s Peak District, the hairpin bends will prove to be fatal. It stretches for 7.5 miles connecting Macclesfield and Buxton, it is called The Widow Maker because of the lives it claimed. The sharp turns and steep dips from the carriageway are bordered by hard stone walls, which makes this road stack high numbers of crashes.
The dangerous roads have a pay off of having the most beautiful scenes when traversing them or the sight on the other side of it. Drivers that are also thrill-seekers should consider taking a trip through these routes whenever they’re in Europe. You’ll not only get interesting stories about the road, but you’ll also have your own story to tell.