Going Global: France A Road Trip Under Water

Imagine a road that vanishes beneath the waves, only to reappear twice a day, inviting you to cross before it disappears again. Welcome to Passage du Gois, a captivating causeway in France that offers a unique road trip adventure like no other. Located on the Atlantic coast in Bourgneuf Bay, this 2.6-mile-long road connects the town of Beauvoir-sur-Mer to the enchanting island of Noirmoutier.

Timing is everything on this journey, as the Passage du Gois is only accessible for a limited window: one and a half hours before and after low tide. During this time, travelers can drive across the causeway, shaving 20 minutes off the time it would take to reach Noirmoutier using the alternative Noirmoutier Bridge. However, when the tide rises, the road is engulfed by 4 to 13 feet of water, making it disappear until the next low tide.

Planning ahead is essential, and the Noirmoutier tourist office provides a real-time tidal table to ensure a safe crossing. Despite its fleeting nature, the road attracts thousands of visitors each year. In 2021 alone, 387,823 crossings were made, solidifying Passage du Gois as a bucket list destination for many. One traveler described it as “beautiful, powerful, unique, and spectacular,” while another marveled at the experience of seeing it at high tide and then driving across it at low tide.

The history of Passage du Gois is as fascinating as its disappearing act. Millions of years ago, intersecting ocean currents deposited enough silt to create a natural passageway between Noirmoutier Island and the mainland. The first recorded mention of the causeway dates back to 1689 by military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre, Marquis de Vauban, and it appeared on a map in 1701. Over the centuries, the road was reinforced with buoys, foundations, stone walls, and ramps, eventually being paved and widened in the 1930s to enhance the traveler experience.

Passage du Gois is more than just a road; it’s a venue for special events that add to its allure. The causeway has been featured in the Tour de France twice, in 1999 and 2011, and hosts the annual Les Foulées du Gois race, where thousands of runners dash across the wet expanse. In 2024, the road was part of the Olympic torch tour for the Paris Games. Luxury car brand Porsche also tested its “Wet Mode” feature here, highlighting the road’s unique conditions.

Despite its beauty, Passage du Gois is known as one of the world’s most dangerous drives, due to the risk of being caught by the tides. To ensure safety, rescue towers are strategically placed along the road for those who might find themselves stranded.