Where is the road located?
France, europe
N/A
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Alright, picture this: you're cruising along the southern coast of France, practically spitting distance from Spain and the turquoise waters of the Med. You're about to tackle the Route Madeloc, or Tour de Madeloc, a tiny ribbon of road that winds its way between Banyuls-Sur-Mer and Collioure.
This isn't your average Sunday drive. The road hugs the Pyrénées-Orientales, shooting straight up from almost sea level to a decent height in no time. The views? Epic. Think vineyards stretching as far as you can see and panoramic vistas of the coastline.
Now, the road surface is mostly decent (some bits are even new!), but hold on tight because it’s seriously twisty and unbelievably narrow. We're talking so narrow that even passing a motorbike can be a squeeze. Get ready to reverse if you meet another car – seriously! And did I mention the lack of guardrails? Yeah, there's a drop-off right beside you the whole time. No pressure!
So, here's the deal: only tackle this if you're a confident driver, especially with reversing. Keep it slow – like, 20 km/h slow – so you can react to anything coming around the next bend. Surprisingly, local vineyard owners use this road all the time.
Need a breather? There are a couple of spots with orientation tables and safe places to pull over for photos. And near the junction for the tower, there's a rest area with stone benches, perfect for soaking up the views (just no shade, FYI).
Speaking of the tower, yes, this road is named after the Tour de Madeloc! You can get pretty close, but the final stretch to the tower is closed to cars. Trust me, you don't want to drive it anyway. It's even narrower and rougher, with a hairpin turn from hell. Just park and walk.
Along the way, you'll cross a few minor passes. Don't miss the old Château de l'Étang, which has been beautifully restored and is now a museum. Major renovations were done by the famous Vauban, so you know it's impressive! This whole drive is a photographer's dream, so pack both your telephoto and wide-angle lenses to capture those stunning views. Get ready for some epic photos!
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