Roads of France
Plan the perfect driving adventure with this helpful guide! Learn more about the things to consider before driving the most spectacular roads of France.

Gorges de Saint-Georges, a balcony road in France
The Gorges de Saint-Georges is a canyon formed by the Aude River, in the Occitanie region of southern France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

Col des Tentes is a paved road in the Pyrenees
Col des Tentes is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.208m (7,244ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrenees, a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain.

A gravel road to Col des Laquets in the French Pyrenees
Col des Laquets is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.637m (8,651ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitan region of south-western France. It's one of the highest roads of France.

Col du Pourtalet is an international road in the Pyrenees
Col du Pourtalet is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.798m (5,898ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Spain and France. The pass offers the most beautiful views of Ossau Valley.

A gravel road to Col de la Légette in the French Alps
Col de la Légette is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.776m (5,826ft) above the sea level, located in in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

Travel the D290 road through Gorges de l'Ardeche
D290 is a panoramic road located in southern France’s Ardèche department. It runs along one rim of the Gorges of the Ardèche, providing views over a striking, arid landscape with an immense defile of limestone cliffs which can reach heights of 300 metres high.

Col de Vars is a steep (10%) paved road in the Alps
Col de Vars is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.108m (6,916ft) above the sea level, located between the departments of Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.

The Wild Road to Cormet d'Arêches
Cormet d'Arêches is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.109m (6,919ft) above the sea level, located in Arêches-Beaufort, in Savoy, a region of France which comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Dauphiné in the south.

The gravel Col des Lessières is one of the highest roads of Europe
Col des Lessières is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.936m (9,632ft) above the sea level located in the Tarentaise Valley, in the Savoie department of southeastern France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Col du Clapier is where Hannibal crossed the Alps
Col du Clapier is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.480m (8,170ft) above the sea level, located on the Italian-French border.

Travel guide to the top of Col des Glières
Col des Glières is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.440m (4,724ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. There is a 2 km gravel stretch.

The breathtaking road to Col de Caron in the Massif de la Vanoise
Col de Caron is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.996m (9,829ft) above the sea level, located in Orelle, a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Travel Guide to Lac de la Sassière in the Tarentaise Valley
Lac de la Sassière is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.462m (8,077ft) above the sea level located in the Tarentaise Valley, Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region, in south-eastern France.

A scenic paved road through the Gorges du Tarn
Gorges du Tarn is a canyon formed by the Tarn River, located to the north of Millau, in the Lozère department of the Massif Central, northern Langudoc-Roussillon, in southern France. It’s one of the scenic French balcony roads.

A lonely narrow road to Pré de Madame Carle
Pré de Madame Carle is a natural site at an elevation of 1.879m (6,164ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Pas de Peyrol-Puy Mary is the highest road pass in the Massif Central
Pas de Peyrol (also called Puy Mary) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.589m (5,213ft) above the sea level, located in Auvergne, France. It’s the highest road pass in the Massif Central, n south-central France.

Lac de Roterel is a bumpy scenic road in the Alps
Lac de Roterel is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.941m (6,368ft) above the sea level located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France, near the Italian border.

A challenging road to the top of Col de Salèse
Col de Salèse is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.036m (6,679ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.

The legendary Col de la Madeleine is beautiful but heartbreaking
Col de la Madeleine is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.998m (6,555ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It’s one of the emblematic French Alps mountain passes.

Col de l’Hysope: a fabulous narrow road to the top
Col de l’Hysope is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.236m (4,055ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of south-eastern France.

Col de Cibières is a gravel road in the Alps
Col de Cibières is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.525m (8,284ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.

Alpe d'Huez is a mythical climb with 21 hairpin turns
Alpe d’Huez is a cycling legend. It’s the most famous mountain climb in the Tour de France. Located in southeastern France, in the Isère département in the Rhône-Alpes region, the ski resort sits at an elevation of 1.860m (6,100ft) above the sea level.

Gorges du Guiers Vif is a balcony road in France
Gorges du Guiers Vif is a very scenic canyon located in the Isère department in southeastern France. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads. It's normal for your palms to sweat looking at those photos, imagine what it must have been like before the barriers.

A great road to Cormet de Roselend in the Alps
Cormet de Roselend is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.991m (6,532ft) 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.

D43 is a scenic balcony road in France
Located in the Lot department in south-western France, the D43 road 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.

A winding scenic road to Col de la Couillole
Col de la Couillole is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.678m (5,495ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.

An awe-inspiring road to Col du Cap Nestès in the Pyrénées
Col du Cap Nestès is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.683m (5,521ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.

Col de Vé Gautier: good road quality and pleasant grading
Col de Vé Gautier is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.099m (3,605ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of south-eastern France.

A wild paved road to the top of Col du Négron
Col du Négron is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.242m (4,074ft) above the sea level, located in the Drôme department in southeastern France.

Col du Glandon: one of the toughest climbs in the French Alps
Col du Glandon is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.930m (6,332ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It’s one of the toughest climbs in the French Alps.

Superbagnères, the road continually snakes its way up ahead
Superbagnères is a ski station at an elevation of 1.804m (5,918ft) above the sea level, located deep in the heart of the Pyrenees, in France.

Col de l’Holme, a sensational drive
Col de l’Holme is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.207m (3,959ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department in southeastern France.

Mont du Chat, one of the toughest (paved) climbs in France
Mont du Chat (Cat Mountain) is a brutal mountain pass at an elevation of 1.504m (4,934ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It’s said to be one of the toughest (paved) climbs in France, with a 15% gradient in parts.

Gorges de Chouvigny, a balcony road in France
Gorges de Chouvigny is an incredible canyon located in the Allier department in central France. The gorge is carved by the La Sioule river. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads.

Cirque de Troumouse: a road with 31 hairpin turns
Cirque de Troumouse is a high alpine cirque located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.

An Explorer's Guide to the Col de la Bailletta
Col de la Bailletta is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.852m (9,356ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department (Rhône-Alpes region) in southeastern France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
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