What are the most spectacular roads in France?
Set against the backdrop of Western Europe, France boasts an intricate tapestry of roads that offer some of the most breathtaking drives globally.
Enthusiasts can traverse the famed balcony roads, which cling perilously to cliff faces, ascend the serpentine bends of Col du Chaussy, navigate through the historical Tunnel de Parpaillon, or challenge themselves on the towering peaks of Col de l'Iseran, Col du Jandri, and Col du Télégraphe. From the undulating vineyards and sunlit fields to majestic mountains and turquoise coastlines, France's diverse topography is a treasure trove for those keen on picturesque journeys. The iconic Route Napoleon meanders through the heart of the country, while the shimmering Corniche d'Or offers unparalleled views of the Mediterranean's azure embrace.
But France's roads are more than just pathways carved into its stunning landscapes. They are gateways to its rich tapestry of history, culture, and traditions, from medieval towns and alpine villages to sun-soaked Mediterranean beaches. So, the next time wanderlust calls you to the charm of France, rev up your engine and set forth on an adventure across its most captivating routes.
Cirque de Navacelles, a balcony road in France
Cirque de Navacelles is a deep, steep-sided canyon located in the Occitanie region in southern France. The cirque was once created by the River La Vis. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads.
Gorges du Guiers Mort, a balcony road in France
Gorges du Guiers Mort is a canyon formed by the Guiers Mort river in the Isère department in southeastern France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Col des Saisies, a fantastic road with great views to Mont Blanc
Col des Saisies is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.657m (5,436ft) 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.
A mountain road to the abandoned Station de Ski du Haut Asco
Station de Ski du Haut Asco is an abandoned ski resort at an elevation of 1.509m (4,950ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Corse department in the Corsica region, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea. It’s one of the highest roads of Corsica.
The road to Col de Viraysse: no turning around if you change you mind
Col de Viraysse is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.746m (9,009ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in France. It’s terrible narrow and the drop offs are a bit intimidating. There’s only enough room for one car to go up. There is no turning around if you change you mind. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
Aiguille de Péclet, one of the highest roads of Europe
Aiguille de Péclet is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.951m (9,681ft) 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.
An old military road to the summit of Mont Malamot
Mont Malamot is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.885m (9,465ft) above the sea level, located in the northern Cottian Alps, in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. The road to the summit is permanently closed to motorized vehicles. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
A sensational road to Lac de Fabrèges
Lac de Fabrèges is a mountain lake at an elevation of 1.241m (4,072ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.
Road trip guide: Conquering Col des Ruillans
Col des Ruillans is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.231m (10,600ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.
Col Saint Martin, an iconic road in the Alpes-Maritimes
Col Saint Martin is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.500m (4,921ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.
Col de Valberg, a nice road in the Alpes Maritimes
Col de Valberg is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.672m (5,475ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.
Col du Noyer, an iconic Tour de France climb
Col du Noyer is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.664m (5,459ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in the department of Hautes-Alpes in France.
A paved narrow bumpy road to Château de Quéribus
Perched high up on a rocky hill, Château de Quéribus is a ruined castle in the commune of Cucugnan in the Aude département, in the Occitanie region of France.
Lac de Cap-de-Long, one of the highest paved roads in the French Pyrenées
Lac de Cap-de-Long is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.161m (7,089ft) above the sea level, located in Hautes-Pyrénées, a department in southwestern France, part of the Midi-Pyrénées region.
Driving the paved road to Somport Pass in the Pyrenees
Puerto de Somport-Col du Somport is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.637m (5,370ft) above the sea level, on the border of France and Spain.
Travel guide to the top of Fort de la Marguerie
Fort de la Marguerie is a high mountain fort at an elevation of 1.842m (6,043ft) above the sea level, located in the Maritime Alps, close to the border between France and Italy.
Dare to drive the road to Mont Saccarel
Monte Saccarello-Mont Saccarel is an international high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.178m (7,145ft) above the sea level, located on the French-Italian border.
An epic road to the summit of Col d'Arnostéguy
Col d'Arnostéguy is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1.240m (4,068ft) above the sea level, located on the Spanish-French border.
A narrow road to Col du Solude
Col du Solude is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.680m (5,511ft) above the sea level, located in the Oisans region of the French Alps.
Col de Castillon, an absolute must for road lovers
Col de Castillon is a mountain pass at an elevation of 707m (2,319ft) above the sea level, located in the Maritime Alpes, in France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.
The steep rough road to Col de la Vallée Étroite is not for the faint of heart
Col de la Vallée Étroite is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.735m (8,973ft) 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 Joux Plane, one of the six major passes of the French Alps
Col de Joux Plane is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.697m (5,567ft) above the sea level, located in the Alps in Haute-Savoie, France. For cyclists, it’s renowned as one of the six major passes of the French massif, along with the Galibier, Izoard, L’Alpe d’Huez, Mont Ventoux and the Tourmalet.
A military unpaved road to Fort du Gondran
Ouvrage du Gondarn is a fort located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France, at an elevation of 2.347m (7,700ft) above the sea level.
Val Thorens, one of the longest and biggest climbs in France
Val Thorens is a ski resort at an elevation of 2.300m (7,545ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
A scenic road to Cratère Commerson
Cratère Commerson is a volcanic crater at an elevation of 2.328m (7,637ft) above the sea level located on the eastern side of Réunion island in the Indian Ocean.
The Mythical Road to Col d'Aspin
Col d'Aspin is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.489m (4,885ft) above the sea level, located in the French Pyrenees in the department of the Hautes-Pyrénées.
A wild road to Pierre-sur-Haute
Pierre-sur-Haute is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.631m (5,351ft) above the sea level, located in the Massif Central, in south-central France. It is in the Sauvain and Job communes, with the boundary between the Rhône-Alpes and Auvergne regions passing through the site. The access is closed to private vehicles.
Les Détroits-D907 is a balcony road in France
Located in the Lozère department in southern France, Les Détroits 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.
Col des Gets, a classic road trip in the Alps
Col des Gets is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.170m (3,838ft) above the sea level, located in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. The pass is traversed by the scenic Route des Grandes Alpes.
A wild road to Col du Bouchet in the Massif de la Vanoise
Col du Bouchet is a high mountain peak at 3.004m (9,855ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
Col de l'Arpettaz: If you like hairpins, this is the road for you
Col de l'Arpettaz is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.581m (5,187ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
A dizzying road to Col du Portillon
Col du Portillon/Coll de Portilló is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.293m (4,242ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrenees, a mountain range on the border between France and Spain.
Driving Inside the Earth: Grotte du Mas d'Azil Is the Only Road Through a Cave in France
Located in the Ariège department in southwestern France, the Grotte du Mas d'Azil is a 500 metre long tunnel dug by the Arize River in the Ariege Pyrenees. It is the only cave in Europe that can be crossed by car.
Col de Mantet: this road is not for the sissies
Col de Mantet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.760m (5,774ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France. The road is incredibly narrow with a steep unprotected drop to one side throughout. It's also regularly covered in snow making it even more trecherous.
The road to Crête de la Pendine is not for the faint of heart
Crête de la Pendine is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.705m (8,874ft) above the sea level, located in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.
Lac des Bouillouses, an absolute must for road lovers
Lac des Bouillouses (also called Llac de la Bollosa) is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.016m (6,614ft) above the sea level, located in Pyrénées-Orientales, in France.
Adventure along the wild road to Col du Petit Mont Cenis
Col du Petit Mont Cenis is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.184m (7,166ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Col de la Faucille, a great paved road in the Jura Mountains
Col de la Faucille is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,323m (4,341ft) above the sea level, located in the department of Ain in the French Jura.
An old military road to Col de Mallemort
Col de Mallemort is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.543m (8,343ft) above the sea level, located in the Cottian Alps, in the southwestern part of the Alps, in France. The road to the summit is extreme. It’s terrible narrow and the drop offs are a bit intimidating. There’s only enough room for one car to go up. There is no turning around if you change you mind.
Travel guide to the top of Col dés Ves
Col dés Ves is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.793m (9,163ft) 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.
Col d'Ares, a 5 stars road in the Pyrenees
Coll d'Ares is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.513m (4,964ft) above the sea level, located in the Pyrenees on the border between France and Spain.
Travelling through the scenic Route de l'Authion
Route de l'Authion, also known as D68, is a very scenic drive in the Mercantour National Park, Alpes-Maritimes, in France. Along the road there are several forts and military ruins.
Travel Guide to Col de Lagues
Col de Lagues is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.408m (4,619ft) above the sea level located in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.
Courage is required to drive to Col de l’Herpie
Col de l’Herpie is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.970m (9,744ft) above the sea level, located in the Isère department in the Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.
Travel guide to the top of Col de Pause in the Pyrenees
Col de Pause is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.542m (5,059ft) above the sea level, located in the Ariège department of the region of Occitanie, in France.