What are the most spectacular roads in France?

France is a true paradise for those wishing to experience the most spectacular roads, and it provides 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 listed as the most spectacular in the world.

Located in the western 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 traveling to the country, be sure to experience a drive through the best balcony roads. Dramatically carved out of 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, as 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.

In France there are a few balcony roads: hair-raising lanes cut into the sides of sheer cliffs. It’s a kind of road not for those who fear heights. There is little room for error on these roads. It's normal for your palms to sweat looking at those photos, imagine what it must have been like before the barriers. Dramatically carved out rock on the side of mountains, the balcony roads are a unique experience for any rider.

Col du Chaussy is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,533m (5,029ft) above sea level, located in the Savoie department, in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. The road to the summit starts with the famous “Lacets de Montvernier,” a special 3 km stretch with 17 hairpins as the road virtually climbs a cliff. It's an improbable road clinging to the edge of the cliff, making it one of the most scenic drives in the world.

Passage du Gois is a natural passage flooded twice a day by the high tide leading to the island of Noirmoutier in France. Pack an inflatable boat for driving this 5km road because just say, for some crazy reason, you mix up the tide times, then – like vehicles in the past – you might disappear beneath the salty brine.

Built between 1844 and 1851, Les Grands Goulets is a legendary road located in the Drôme department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The road was closed to vehicles and pedestrians in 2005, with vertigo guaranteed. It's one of the famous French balcony roads.

Frequently recognized as the most magnificent road in the French Alps, this road through Combe Laval was constructed between 1861 and 1898 and originally served for the transportation of timber from the Forêt de Lente to St-Jean-en-Royans. It’s one of the most famous French balcony roads. The road was carved out here not for the view, but to make the forestry activity profitable.

Col de Turini is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,610m (5,282ft) above sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. It's one of the most scenic drives in the world. Helter-skelter corners and changeable weather conditions mean this road is far from safe.

Route des Grandes Alpes is the name of a legendary trip from the mountains to the sea, across the French Alps. This fabulous route takes you from Lake Leman to the Mediterranean, climbing 16 passes that are among the highest in the Alps.

Route Napoleon is a very scenic drive winding through the spectacular mountains of France, running from the French Riviera to the southern Pre-Alps. It follows the route taken by Napoleon in his 1815 escape from Elba to Grenoble.

Route de Presles is a challenging mountain road located in the Isère department, region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, in France. It’s one of the most spectacular balcony roads in the country.

Parpaillon Tunnel is a defiant high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 2,650m (8,694ft) above sea level, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

Col de la Bonette is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,715m (8,907ft) above sea level, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.

Col du Mont-Cenis is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,094m (6,870ft) above sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.

Col de l'Iseran is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,764m (9,068ft) above sea level, located in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in France.

Gorges de Galamus is a very scenic canyon located on the boundary of Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales departments, of the region of Occitanie, in France. It is one of the most famous French balcony roads.

Gorge du Cians is a very scenic canyon with stunning red rocks located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Explore the breathtaking Clue d’Aiglun, a stunning canyon nestled in France's Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region. Known for its challenging yet scenic road, this destination offers a thrilling drives and picturesque landscapes. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads.

Col du Galibier is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.645m (8,678 ft) above sea level, located in the French Alps. The legendary road to the summit is one of the most impressive climbs in the country.

Gorges du Nan is a spectacular canyon carved by Le Nant River in France. The delightful road cut into the face of a cliff running through the gorge is one of the most famous French balcony roads.

Col du Jandri is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.165m (10,383ft) above sea level, located in France. It's one of the highest roads in Europe.

4 unlit tunnels, 10 hairpin turns, severe drop-offs, and narrow (very narrow) sections make Road D219 one of the scariest drives in Europe. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Col de Braus is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,002m (3,287ft) above sea level, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in France. It’s one of the most famous hairpinned roads in the world.

Col de la Traversette is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,369m (7,772ft) above sea level, located in the Savoie department in France. It’s said to be the place where Hannibal Barca and his army, along with elephants, entered Italy.

Les Ecouges is a very challenging drive located in the Isère department in France. With provocative verticality and derisory barriers, the balcony section is as hair-raising as it is short and narrow. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Millau Viaduct is the tallest bridge in the world. It’s located in southern France and crosses the River Tarn in the Massif Central mountains. It stands as an iconic example of modern bridge engineering and has become a symbol of France. It's one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Gorges de la Pierre-Lys is a very scenic canyon located in the Aude department of France. It's one of the French balcony roads.

Col du Télégraphe is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,566m (5,138ft) above sea level, located in the Savoie department, in France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.

Calanques de Piana is an amazing series of rock formations located on the west coast of the island of Corsica, halfway between Ajaccio and Calvi. If you don't like winding roads, this may be a problem. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Gorges du Verdon is a narrow canyon located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the most French balcony roads.

Col de la Machine is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,011m (3,316ft) above sea level, located in the Drôme department in France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Pic du Midi de Bigorre is a high mountain peak located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitan region of France. A minor gravel road south of the peak tops out at 2.675m (8,776ft) above the sea level. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Tunel Bielsa-Aragnouet is an international high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 1,820m (5,971ft) above sea level, located on the border of Spain and France.

Situated in Western Europe, France stands as the largest country in the European Union. Renowned for its diverse landscapes, France boasts an array of mountainous terrain, with the Alps and the Pyrenees emerging as its prominent mountain ranges. These majestic peaks are home to some of the highest roads in Europe, offering breathtaking vistas and challenging routes for adventurers and road enthusiasts alike.

Clue de Barles is a canyon with dramatic views located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department of France. It’s one of the most scenic French balcony roads.

Col de Montgenèvre is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.854m (6,083ft) above sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.

Clue de Saint Auban is a spectacular gorge carved by the Esteron River in France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Gorges de la Nesque is a spectacular canyon located in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Col de la Cayolle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.339m (7,673ft) above the sea level, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Set high in the French Pyrenees, Route des Cols des Pyrénées is a very exciting journey through the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, crossing 34 remarkable mountain passes, with an elevation gain of 15,937 meters.

Located on the northeast of the island of Corsica, in France, Cap Corse Road is one of the best coastal drives in the world.

Col d'Izoard is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,367m (7,765ft) above sea level located in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France.

Clue de Gréolières is a very scenic canyon located in the heart of the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads. Escape from the Cote d'Azur jet set by driving the scenic Route de Thorenc like James Bond did in Goldeneye.

Mont Ventoux is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.912m (6,273ft) above the sea level, located in France.

Route de la Bérarde is a legendary drive located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Stay safe. This road is passable, but it can be impressive because it is winding and narrow. Crossings are difficult in some places. It's one of the French balcony roads.

Col del Sommeiller is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,993m (9,819ft) above sea level, located on the French-Italian border. It's one of the highest roads in Europe. This beautiful 26-kilometer climb above Bardonecchia has it all: hairpins, alpine dams, a lake at the summit, and views to die for.

Col de Tende (Colle di Tenda) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,876m (6,154ft) above sea level, located on the border of France and Italy. If you like hairpin bends, this climb is a must. It's one of the most hairpinned roads in the world.

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