KIRCHBERG TO BALLON D’ALSACE, VOSGES, FRANCE

This one-day adventure is a perfect demonstration of what makes the region so special. Starting in Kirchberg, the route threads together a succession of mountain passes, each with its own character and driving rhythm, before culminating at the magnificent Ballon d’Alsace. From flowing ridgeline sweepers to tightly coiled mountain hairpins, the Vosges delivers an extraordinary variety of driving experiences without the crowds often associated with the more famous Alpine passes.

And this particular drive has a special significance for New Roads. In October 2026, Steve and Henry, whilst having some spare time on the content road trip, they put the New Roads app through its paces on the very roads it had helped them discover. It was a live test of the platform’s ability to find roads that deliver genuine driving enjoyment, rather than simply moving drivers between destinations.

The journey begins in Café Decolatte, Kirchberg, where the D466 and smaller departmental roads provide a measured introduction to the mountains. The landscape is initially enclosed by dense woodland, with the road climbing steadily through a series of bends that demand concentration without feeling overly technical. It’s an opportunity to settle into the car, find a comfortable rhythm and begin to appreciate the remarkable variety of roads that lie ahead.

The first major landmark is Col du Hundsruck, a beautifully situated mountain pass where the road begins to reveal the more technical character of the southern Vosges. Here, the bends tighten, the elevation changes become more pronounced and the driving demands a little more attention. 

From Hundsruck, the journey continues towards Col Amic, another wonderful stretch of mountain road that combines woodland sections with more open views across the surrounding hills. The road flows naturally with the contours of the landscape, offering a welcome balance between technical corners and more relaxed sections where you can take in the scenery. 

The D431G then carries the route towards Col du Grand Ballon, bringing the journey into some of the highest and most spectacular terrain in the Vosges. At 1,424 metres, Grand Ballon is the highest summit in the mountain range, and the surrounding roads offer expansive views that can stretch towards the Black Forest and, on clear days, the distant Alps. The scenery becomes increasingly dramatic as the tree line gives way to open mountain pastures and wide horizons.

The journey then turns towards Col du Bramont, where the character of the route changes once again. The D430 and D34 introduce a more intricate combination of corners, more technical, with tighter bends and changing road surfaces demanding greater attention. The descent and subsequent climb towards Col d’Oderen offer another layer of driving enjoyment, with woodland roads weaving through the mountain landscape and occasional glimpses of the valleys below.

This central section is arguably the most demanding part of the day. Rather than a single uninterrupted stretch of sweeping tarmac, the road continually changes character, moving between tighter mountain sections, short flowing straights and junctions that connect one pass to another.

The D486 and N66 begin the transition towards the Ballon d’Alsace, another of the Vosges’ great mountain landmarks. The landscape becomes increasingly imposing as the road climbs towards the high ground, with the D465 leading into the final mountain section. It is a road with a rich motoring history and a place that has attracted drivers, cyclists and adventurers for generations.

For Steve and Henry, this was where the October New Roads test drive became particularly memorable.

Arriving at the viewpoint near Auberge du Ballon d’Alsace as the sun began to set, they found themselves surrounded by one of those extraordinary mountain scenes that makes you forget about everything else. The fading autumn light stretched across the Vosges, illuminating the rolling peaks and valleys while the cars sat against a backdrop that could have been designed for the perfect automotive photograph.

Beyond the viewpoint lay the Route du Ballon d’Alsace, a road that Steve and Henry discovered the day before and is the very definition of a hidden gem. Eight hairpins of pure joy, flowing down the mountainside in a beautifully connected sequence that seemed almost designed to test the balance and agility of a properly sorted driver’s car.

We’ve added this section of road to the test as it’s one not to be missed.

Eight hairpins might not sound like much on paper, but sometimes a short stretch of exceptional tarmac can leave a bigger impression than an entire day of driving. The sound of the engines reverberating off the mountains is something you’ll never forget.

The finish at Pizza Goupil in Giromagny brings the day to a relaxed conclusion, with the prospect of a well-earned pizza and plenty of stories from the road.

This is a road trip that captures exactly what New Roads stands for. Great driving doesn’t have to mean spending weeks planning it. In five minutes Steve and Henry had planned this drive over a latter and is now one of their most memorable drives they’ve shared together.