Country guide
The best driving roads in France
62 hand-picked driving roads in France, every one mapped from real geometry and fact-checked, including 11 world icons.
Roads6211 world icons
Combined956 mi1,539 km of driving
High point2,757 m9,045 ft
The five to build a trip around
Our ranking, icons first, with the reasoning on the table. All 62 roads follow below.
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1
1,183 msummitRoute Napoléon (Grasse to Castellane)
The most renowned stretch of the historic Route Napoléon, sweeping from the perfume town of Grasse up into the Provençal Alps.
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2
1,900 msummitMont Ventoux
The Giant of Provence, a bare limestone climb to 1,909 m.
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3
1,860 msummitAlpe d'Huez
Twenty-one hairpins of Tour de France legend above Bourg-d’Oisans.
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4
17 mi35 minCol du Galibier
A Tour de France giant on the Route des Grandes Alpes.
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5
2,701 msummitCol de la Bonette
The summit isn’t a col so much as a loop, the tarmac circling right around the Cime de la Bonette at 2,802 metres.
France 59 roads
Col de l'Échelle6 mi · 13 min · 7 hairpinsView the roadbook ›

Route Napoléon (Grasse to Castellane)

Alpe d'Huez

Col du Galibier

Mont Ventoux

Col de la Bonette

Col de Turini

Col d'Izoard

Col d'Aubisque

Col de l'Iseran

Col du Tourmalet

Gorges du Verdon

Col de Montgenèvre

Col de la Schlucht

Cirque de Troumouse

Col de la Forclaz de Montmin

Col de Vence

Gorges de l'Ardèche

Col du Petit Saint-Bernard

Gorges de Daluis

Col de la Croix Fry

Col de la Faucille

Col du Portet

Gorges de la Bourne

Hourquette d'Ancizan

Cirque de Gavarnie

Col d'Agnès

Gorges de la Nesque

Cirque de Navacelles

Col de la Lombarde

Col du Mont Cenis

Col de Braus

Col de la Colombière

Col de Marie-Blanque

Col de Peyresourde

Col de Vars

Col du Granon

Col du Soulor

Col du Télégraphe

Combe Laval

Gorges du Cians

Lacets de Montvernier

Port de Pailhères

Col Agnel

Port de Larrau

Col des Aravis

Route des Crêtes du Verdon

Col du Lautaret

Col du Glandon

Gorges du Tarn

Route des Crêtes

Cormet de Roselend

Col de la Cayolle

Col d'Allos

Col de Joux Plane

Col du Grand Colombier

Col d'Aspin

Col de la Croix de Fer

Col de la Madeleine
Corsica 1 road
Réunion 2 roads
Drive them all in one trip
The Route des Grandes Alpes
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Driving in France: common questions
What is the best driving road in France?
Col de l'Échelle is the place to start. A narrow, tranquil forest crossing from the wild Claree valley into Italy, the quiet cult alternative to the busy Montgenevre.
How many great driving roads does France have?
62 hand-picked and fact-checked roads, including 11 world icons, 956 miles of driving in all, every one mapped from real road geometry.
When is the best time to drive in France?
Most of the roads here are at their best in autumn and summer.
What is the highest road in France?
Col de l’Iseran is the highest, climbing to about 2,757 m (9,045 ft).


