Is the road to Crête de Douce unpaved?
France, europe
4.9 km
2,029 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Crête de Douce in the French Alps is calling your name, if you're up for a challenge. We're talking a summit that hits 2,029m (6,656ft), so yeah, it's high!
Now, this isn't your average Sunday drive. The road up to the peak is a rugged, unpaved path - a chairlift service road, to be exact. Get ready for some seriously steep climbs and hairpin turns that'll test your driving skills (there are eight of them!). Winter? Forget about it. This road is a no-go when the snow falls.
The fun starts where the paved D218B ends. From there, it's a 4.9 km (3.04 miles) push to the top, and you'll be climbing 568 meters in elevation. That's an average gradient of nearly 12%! So, buckle up, keep your eyes on the prize, and get ready for some breathtaking Alpine scenery. This one's for the memory books!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 4.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,029 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
moderateWhy is the Storseisundet Bridge famous?
🇳🇴 Norway
Cruising the Atlantic Road on the midwest Norwegian coast? Buckle up for the Storseisundet Bridge! This cantilever marvel is the longest of eight bridges on the route, stretching 260 meters (850 ft) with a maximum clearance of 23 meters (75 ft) above the sea. But here's the kicker: from a certain angle, it looks like a diving board to nowhere! Seriously, as you approach, it seems like you're about to drive right off the edge into the ocean. Locals even call it the "drunk bridge," because once you’re on it, the road seems to disappear before your eyes. Opened in 1989, this paved beauty is perfectly safe, despite its rollercoaster-esque twists and turns. What makes it special is how the shape changes depending on your vantage point. Drivers can’t see the curve when they're on it, making it seem like the road vanishes and any car attempting to cross will plunge into the water. It’s just an optical illusion, of course, but it's guaranteed to give you a thrill!
hardNyala Pass: this road is not for timid drivers
🇬🇷 Greece
# Nyala Pass: Greece's Heart-Pounding Mountain Challenge Looking for an adrenaline rush with a side of history? Welcome to Nyala Pass, perched at a jaw-dropping 1,868 meters (6,128 feet) in the southern Pindus Mountains of western Thessaly. This is legitimately one of Greece's highest mountain roads—and it shows. Fair warning: this isn't your typical scenic drive. The road to the summit is completely unpaved, narrow as a ribbon, and climbs at a relentless 20% gradient in places. If you get dizzy looking down from heights, you'll want to keep your eyes glued to the road ahead. Seriously, don't tackle this solo—bring a friend for moral support (and practical reasons). The main assault starts from the charming old village of Agrafa. You're looking at an 18km climb that'll gain you over 1,000 meters of elevation, averaging a stiff 5.58% gradient. The village itself sits at the end of a notoriously rough road, so expect some serious off-roading vibes from the start. Once you've conquered the pass, a stubborn mountain road continues down toward the stunning Plastira Lake. But here's where it gets real: this mountain holds profound historical weight. A Civil War monument near the summit marks one of Greece's most tragic chapters. In April 1947, a guerrilla battalion and hundreds of civilians attempted a desperate crossing of these windswept peaks, fleeing military forces. What started as a strategic march turned into a nightmare—sudden blizzards, plummeting temperatures, and treacherous gorges claimed countless lives. The mountains here have witnessed suffering most of us can barely comprehend. So yes, the drive is tough. But the story—and the views—are unforgettable.
extremeTake the Brutal Via del Sole and Discover Punta Veleno
🇮🇹 Italy
# Punta Veleno: Italy's Most Gloriously Brutal Mountain Pass Perched at 1,171 meters (3,841 feet) above sea level in Verona Province, Veneto, Punta Veleno is basically the mountain pass that makes you question your life choices—especially if you're attempting it by bike. ## The Road (If You Can Call It That) Via del Sole is a teeth-grindingly narrow, fully paved ribbon of pavement that climbs 10.7 km (6.64 miles) from Porto to Prada Alta. Fair warning: only one vehicle can pass at a time, and that's if everyone's being polite. The pass features 21 numbered hairpin turns—each one a little gift from the mountain gods—with gradients hitting a stomach-dropping 25%. Buses, trucks, RVs, automatics, and scooters? Not welcome here. ## The Views (Your Only Consolation) Hugging the eastern shore of Lago di Garda above the village of Brenzone, this route delivers knee-wobbling drop-offs straight down to Italy's largest lake. It's breathtaking in the most literal sense—both from the scenery and the sheer effort. ## The Real Challenge Don't let the total distance fool you. The middle 6.5 km is absolutely relentless, averaging over 14% gradient with some sections hitting nearly 25%. Those first and eighth turns? Prepare your quads. This is officially one of Italy's toughest climbs, earning legendary status from Giro d'Italia icon Vincenzo Torriani back in the '70s. The race has featured this punisher multiple times, and honestly? That tells you everything you need to know.
extremeAvrasya Tuneli, built underneath the seabed of Bosphorus
🇹🇷 Turkey
Cruising in Istanbul and need to hop continents? Check out the Eurasia Tunnel! This underwater marvel connects Kazlıçeşme on the European side to Göztepe on the Asian side, zipping you under the Bosphorus Strait. Since opening in December 2016, this double-decker tunnel (two lanes on each level) has been a total game-changer for Istanbul's crazy traffic. The tunnel itself stretches for 5.4 km beneath the seabed as part of a larger 14.5 km route. Rain or shine, it's open! Be warned: it is paved, but it's a fairly steep drive down to its deepest point, 106.4 meters below sea level. Stick to the 70 km/h (43 mph) speed limit, and you'll be fine. Expect to be one of about 120,000 vehicles making the daily commute. Just a heads-up: your ride needs to be under 2.8 meters tall. Oh, and don't worry about earthquakes—this baby is built to withstand a magnitude 9!