A steep road to Crêt de l'Oeillon
France, europe
1.4 km
1,364 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: Crêt de l'Oeillon, a killer peak in central France's Loire department, chilling at 1,364 meters high. You'll find it smack-dab in the Pilat massif, part of the beautiful Pilat Natural Regional Park.
The road up, known as D63.1, is paved, so no worries there. Just keep in mind, winter brings the snow, so plan accordingly. But trust me, the views from the top are SO worth it – on a clear day, you can see the Vercors, the Écrins, and even Mont Blanc!
Oh, and the summit is home to this massive TV antenna, like 80 meters tall. It's been there since 1955 and is one of the biggest broadcasting spots in France. Park your car just below the transmitter, and get ready for a short, steep climb.
Speaking of steep, the final 1.4 km stretch gains 127 meters, averaging about a 9% gradient. It's a leg burner, but hey, even the Tour de France riders have tackled it! Get ready for some seriously stunning scenery.
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 1.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,364 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in europe
easyDriving 14 of the most scenic roads of Ireland
🌍 Ireland
**Connemara Coast Road to Clifden:** Get ready for some serious views as you climb into the Connemara mountains, offering a panoramic sweep of the coastline. Head towards Clifden, then loop back down towards Westport, passing the serene Doolough Valley and tranquil lakes along the way. **Inishowen 100:** This coastal loop hugs the edge of Ireland’s northernmost point for about 100 miles. Starting in Muff, cruise up the coast to Moville, then swing around the Malin Head loop before finishing in Burnfoot. Jaw-dropping scenery is a guarantee, with plenty of spots to stop and soak it all in. **The Burren Coast Road:** This 68km route hugs the North West Clare coast, serving up views of the Atlantic and Galway Bay. Starting in Kilfenora, head through Lisdoonvarna and up the coast to Black Head, looping back through Carran. Expect a mix of rocky Burren terrain on one side and the vast ocean on the other. **Sally Gap:** Escape Dublin and wind your way through the Wicklow mountains, enjoying the best lake and mountain scenery outside of the coastline. Take the R759 east across the mountains, then head north on the R115 to complete the loop. **Causeway Coastal Route:** Kick off your adventure in Belfast and cruise along Northern Ireland's northern coast. This 190km drive takes you to the Giant’s Causeway, the Bushmills distillery, and the seaside towns of Portrush and Portstewart. It's a one-way trip, but trust us, it's worth every kilometer. **Sheep’s Head Drive:** Starting in Bantry, this loop encircles the Sheep’s Head Peninsula, finishing up in Durrus. At only 40km, this short drive offers amazing views of the ocean on both sides. **Bray to Dublin Coastal Drive:** This route takes you through Killiney, Dalkey and Dun Laoghaire, giving you an amazing view over Dublin city and the coastline. **Dungarvan to Tramore:** Drive along the Southern coastline of Waterford, with spectacular views, between Dungarvan and Tramore. **Sperrins Drive:** Explore Northern Ireland’s stunning mountains. Starting in Strabane, navigate the twisty roads towards Sawel Mountain, the highest peak in the Sperrins. You'll be blown away by the dramatic valleys and peaks. **Glengarriff Nature Reserve Drive:** Crossing from Cork into Kerry, this drive skirts the coast out of Bantry, then passes the Glengarriff Nature Reserve. Finish by crossing the bridge into Kenmare, with the beautiful Kenmare Bay on your left. **West Cork Coastal Drive:** Starting at Timoleague, hug the sensational West Cork coastline all the way to the Old Head of Kinsale, offering views that rival any in the country. **Howth Head Loop:** Just a stone's throw from Dublin city centre, this drive takes you along the Northside coast, winding up and around Howth Head with views stretching out over the city. **Dingle Peninsula Loop:** Starting in Dingle, this loop around the westernmost point of mainland Ireland takes you to the tip of the Dingle Peninsula. Get ready for incredible views over the Atlantic and the Blasket Islands. **Shannon Estuary Drive:** Follow the Shannon Estuary westwards, looping around the southern tip of Clare and onwards to Doonbeg on the Atlantic coast.
hardDriving the infamous D220-Les Travers, a French balcony road
🇫🇷 France
# Route Departementale 220: France's Jaw-Dropping Mountain Corniche If you're hunting for one of France's most dramatic scenic drives, head to the Isère department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. Route Departementale 220—locals call it Les Travers—is a short but utterly spectacular mountain road that'll have your heart racing for all the right reasons. This 5.7 km (3.54 miles) ribbon of asphalt winds west to east from D1091 to D213, hugging the mountainside as it makes its way toward Les Deux Alpes. And here's the thing: you'll be driving along a genuine cliff face with nothing but a foot-high wall between you and a absolutely insane drop down to the valley. The views toward Col de Sarenne are seriously stunning. Now, let's be real—this road is no joke. The most dramatic section is genuinely narrow (we're talking traffic lights at the tightest spots), with single-track portions and overhanging rock that demand serious respect. Heavy vehicles aren't even allowed, which tells you something. It's one of France's most famous balcony roads near Bourg d'Oisans, and for good reason. Fair warning though: it's busier than you'd expect for such a wild route, so if you were hoping for a peaceful cycling adventure, you might want to look elsewhere. The road typically stays open year-round, but winter snow and falling rocks can force closures, so check conditions before you go. Ready for the experience? This is balcony driving at its finest.
easyBolu Mountain Pass (D655)
🇹🇷 Turkey
# The Bolu Mountain Pass: Turkey's Best-Kept Scenic Drive If you're heading between Ankara and Istanbul, skip the tunnel under the Bolu Mountains and take the old D655 road instead—seriously. You'll climb through some seriously lush landscape to around 1,500 meters, winding through dense forests of black pine, fir, and beech that feel more Alpine than Turkish. This region is genuinely one of Turkey's greenest spots, with a climate that'll remind you way more of Central Europe than the dusty Anatolian plains you might be picturing. The road curves right through Abant Nature Park and the Bolu Mountain forests in a way that makes every kilometer feel special. The real star, though? The Yedigoller (Seven Lakes) National Park. Seven small lakes nestle in a forested valley—they're actually landslide-formed, which is pretty cool geologically—and when autumn rolls around, the show is unreal. We're talking New England-level color displays here: reds, oranges, and golds mixed throughout the coniferous and deciduous forest. It's genuinely stunning. Oh, and fair warning for food lovers: Bolu has a serious culinary reputation throughout Turkey. The whole region is famous for its cuisine, and there's even a culinary school here. So don't expect to drive through hungry—you'll want to stop and eat.
hardTravel Guide to Pas de la Graille
🇫🇷 France
# Pas de la Graille: A Curvy Alpine Adventure Nestled in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region of southeastern France, Pas de la Graille sits pretty at 1,597m (5,239ft) above sea level. Also called Col de Frère Jean, this mountain pass connects to the Signal de Lure via a seriously twisty, challenging paved route that'll keep you on your toes. The road—marked as D53—is narrow and steep with hairpin turns galore. You'll wind through dense forests most of the way, though the steepness actually creates some gorgeous peekaboo viewpoints through the trees. Fair warning: as you descend, the road gets a bit rougher and uneven, but nothing too scary. This roughly 45km (28-mile) stretch runs north-south from Saint-Étienne-les-Orgues to Valbelle, with the real climb happening over the first 18km (11.2 miles) from the starting town. The gradient stays pretty consistent—think 6-8% for most of it—which makes maintaining a steady pace totally doable. Once you break free from the forest with about 5km to go, things ease up considerably, dropping to 4%, then almost flatting out at just 1% for that final kilometer. It's the kind of road that rewards you with stunning views and a real sense of accomplishment. Perfect for anyone looking to tackle some proper Alpine scenery.