A journey on the legendary Pista del Marroquí
Spain, europe
9 km
1,000 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising along the Pista del Marroquí, an old road clinging to the cliffs in Ourense, up in the Galicia region of northwest Spain. Seriously stunning!
This isn't your average Sunday drive, though. Nestled way up in the Macizo Galaico-Leones mountains, this 9-kilometer stretch is a bit rough around the edges. You'll find pavement for most of it, but there are some unpaved sections towards the end that add a little extra thrill. Let's just say it's cozy – definitely a one-car-at-a-time kind of road. Fair warning: it's not maintained and has some serious drop-offs – we're talking hundreds of meters!
Here's the cool part: it was built way back between 1927 and 1940 to help build a railway line from Vigo to Madrid. It's named after the engineer, Augusto Marroquí. Legend has it that so many workers died building the railway (around 12,000!), that it got the nickname "Camiño dos Mortos" – the Track of the Dead.
The road basically hugs the railway line, acting as a service road for workers, supplies, and the injured. You'll be winding between 800 and 1000 meters above sea level, with unbelievable mountain views. Be aware that a landslide has blocked part of the road, so you can't drive the whole thing. There's a place called Mirador de Sierra Alta nearby for taking pictures.
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 9 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,000 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
Related Roads in europe
hardMonte Lagazuoi
🇮🇹 Italy
Monte Lagazuoi is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.572m (8,438ft) above the sea level, located in the Veneto region of northern Italy. It’s one of the highest roads of the country. Located in the Dolomites, halfway between Cortina d'Ampezzo and the Badia Valley, the road to the summit is rocky and gravel. It’s totally impassable in winters. Only 4x4 vehicles. From the top, at the cross, the horizon broadens even more towards Val Badia. parking lot, the road to the top is 1.94 km (1.20 mi) long. At the summit is a mountain hut known as Rifugio Lagazuoi, built in 1964/65, and the WWI Open Air Museum. The mountain range is well known for its wartime tunnels. The road to the summit is a ski-station service road pretty steep, with some sections up to 25%. Forte del Monte Scale Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
hardHow to get by car to Skaloti Gorge in Crete?
🇬🇷 Greece
# Skaloti Gorge: Crete's Hidden Mountain-to-Sea Adventure Tucked away on the south coast of Crete, the Skaloti Gorge is a wild 2 km ride that'll take your breath away—literally and figuratively. This unpaved beauty winds its way from the Manikas plateau down to the charming seaside village of Skaloti, sitting pretty at the base of the White Mountains in the Fragokastelo region. Running north to south between Kallikratis and Skaloti, this route cuts right through the heart of the gorge and even passes by the historic Agios Manolis church. Fair warning though: you're looking at a rough-and-tumble gravel track with only patches of concrete to break up the chaos. The narrow sections? Yeah, they're *really* narrow—we're talking barely enough room for two vehicles to squeeze past each other. Climbing to a stomach-dropping 943 meters above sea level, the road dishes out 14 hairpin turns and some seriously steep descents that'll test your nerve and your brakes. The loose gravel surface means high-clearance vehicles are definitely your best bet here. But push through those switchbacks and you'll reach an absolutely stunning viewpoint at the summit, where the Libyan Sea stretches out before you and the Fragokastelo coastal plain sprawls beneath your feet. As you descend toward Skaloti, the canyon walls turn almost vertical—it's dramatic, it's stunning, and it's not for the faint of heart.
hardThe road to Rikoti Pass isn’t an easy one
🇬🇪 Georgia
Okay, adventure-seekers, listen up! There's this totally epic mountain pass in Georgia called Pereval Rikotskiy, sitting pretty high at 1,011m (3,316ft). It's perched right on the edge between Shida Kartli and Imereti, connecting the east and west of the country. Now, this isn't your grandma's Sunday drive. The road, aka შ 56, is paved, but hold on tight – it's steep, like up to 10.6% steep in places, and pretty narrow. Think twisty-turny fun with a side of "wow, that's a drop!" Nestled in the Likhi Range of the Greater Caucasus mountains, this 4.4km (2.73 miles) stretch is a feast for the eyes. Imagine lush green scenery and views so stunning they'll make your jaw drop. Seriously, bring your camera! Word is, the old Tbilisi-Kutaisi highway route was a bit much, so they built the Rikoti Pass Tunnel back in '82 to make things easier. But guess what? The original road is still there, totally open, and waiting for you if you’re up for the challenge. Ditch the tunnel and take the road less traveled!
moderateWhere is Buzau Pass?
🇷🇴 Romania
Okay, so picture this: you're cruising through the Eastern Carpathians in Romania, wind in your hair, headed for the Buzău Pass! This isn't just any road; it's a slice of history connecting Buzău County and eastern Transylvania. Back in the day, this 21.8-km stretch was the go-to invasion route for Turks and Tatars eyeing Transylvania. The DN10 highway winds its way up to 642 meters (2,106 ft), offering some sweet views of the Buzău Mountains. The road is paved, but be prepared for some seriously curvy sections – perfect for that scenic drive! Starting in Cașoca and ending in Crasna, the landscape alone is worth the trip. Get ready to feel the road and soak in some amazing Romanian scenery!