What’s Place Charles de Gaulle?
France, europe
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hard
Year-round
Okay, so you're in Paris, right? And you absolutely HAVE to experience the Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly known as Place de l'Étoile! This crazy roundabout is where 12 avenues converge, including the legendary Champs-Élysées. Think of it as a symbol of Parisian traffic, and trust me, it lives up to the hype! It's HUGE, like 241 meters across, so you have plenty of space to get lost.
Seriously, it's a wild ride any time of day, so be prepared for some serious gridlock. If you're new to this, stick to the outer lane. Yeah, you'll have to deal with the lights, but it's way less stressful. Honestly, just surviving a lap around the Arc de Triomphe in this thing will give you bragging rights for years! It’s insane, chaotic, and totally Parisian. You'll remember this drive forever!
Related Roads in europe
moderateWhere is Col de Restefond?
🇫🇷 France
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the French Alps, wind in your hair, and the stunning Mercantour National Park stretching out around you. You're on the Route de Nice (aka C4, or Route du Col de Restefond), a totally paved road that winds its way up to the Col de Restefond. This beauty sits at a lofty 2,680m (8,790ft), making it one of the highest roads in France! This epic road links Jausiers to Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, clocking in at 47.2 km (29.32 miles) of pure driving bliss. Built way back in 1860, with the final touches added in the early '60s, the road is steeped in history, complete with old military blockhouses from the Alpine Line. Heads up, though – this high-altitude pass is usually snowed in from November to May. But when it's open, get ready for a climb! If you're tackling it from Saint Etienne de Tinée, it's a solid 23 km ascent with an average gradient of 6.6%. Expect some steeper sections near the old Casernes de Restefond, where the gradient kicks up to 8-9%. The views are breathtaking the whole way, so get your camera ready!
moderateWhere is Desfiladero de Aliaga?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the province of Teruel, Spain, and suddenly you're swallowed by the Desfiladero de Aliaga, one of Spain's most breathtaking canyon roads. This gorge, carved by the river, twists and turns for about 12 kilometers (7.45 miles) between Hinojosa de Jarque and Aldehuela, near the Embalse de Aliaga reservoir. You'll find yourself in the Comarca Cuencas Mineras, a region packed with history and stunning scenery. The road is paved, but be warned: it gets narrow in places, and can be a real challenge for larger vehicles! There are also a couple of dimly lit tunnels to navigate. Keep an eye on the weather, too, as heavy rains can make the road tricky. As you drive, you’re climbing into the Sierra de San Just mountain range. The little neighborhood of La Aldehuela has an interesting past, originally built in the late 1940s for workers at the now-defunct thermal power plant. The views are absolutely incredible. Definitely a drive to remember!
moderateWhere is Cirque de Gavarnie?
🇫🇷 France
Alright, adventure seekers, listen up! Picture this: you're in the French Pyrenees, east of Puerto de Bujaruelo, smack dab in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park and near the National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido. You're gazing up at a colossal natural amphitheater – the Cirque de Gavarnie! This isn't just any rock formation; it's a massive bowl, carved by glaciers from grey, ochre, and pink limestone. We're talking a whopping 6.5 km (4 miles) in diameter with walls that soar to 1,500 meters (4,921 ft) above sea level. And the centerpiece? Only the tallest waterfall in Europe, cascading down a dizzying 427m (1,401ft)! Good news, this is the only cirque in the area you can visit any time of year. The access road is a bit intense in places, though, so this area may require 4x4 vehicles with high clearance only.
hardThe road to Col d'Orgambide is not for the faint of heart
🇫🇷 France
Col d'Orgambide is a scenic mountain pass sitting at 992m (3,254ft) perched right on the Spanish-French border in the Pyrenees. This route connects the charming Spanish town of Orbaizeta to France's D428 road, stretching just 11.2 km (6.95 miles) as it climbs from south to north. On one side, you've got Navarre in northern Spain, and on the other, the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in southeastern France—the actual border runs straight across the summit. What makes this drive special? The winding mountain road is entirely paved (with some concrete patches) and takes you through some seriously dramatic terrain. Fair warning though: this isn't a leisurely cruise. The road gets genuinely steep in sections and is narrow—and we mean *really* narrow. Two cars passing each other? Forget about it. You'll need to be the only one navigating this stretch. But here's the payoff: those spectacular views at the summit make every hairpin turn worth it. If you're after that authentic high-altitude Pyrenees experience with stunning scenery and a healthy dose of adventure, this pass delivers.