This road in France can only be used twice daily, then it vanishes underwater
- There’s a road in France that can only be used twice a day before it disappears
- Waves cover it under four meters (13 feet) of water
- The Passage du Gois is a causeway that links the Gulf of Burnëf and Beauvoir-sur-Mer with the picturesque island of Noirmoutier
Published on Apr 09, 2024 at 8:07 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Apr 10, 2024 at 3:10 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Adam Gray
There’s a road in France that can only be used twice a day before it’s engulfed and disappears under four meters (13 feet) of water.
The Passage du Gois, sometimes known as Le Passage de Gôa, is a causeway that links the Gulf of Burnëf and Beauvoir-sur-Mer with the picturesque island of Noirmoutier.
It sits in Vendée on the Atlantic coast of France and acts as a fascinating example of the ferocious power of nature.
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But the 4.125-km (2.6-mile) stretch of road has something else unique about it, other than amazing sea views.
Drivers are only permitted to use it twice a day for a few hours before it floods.
Half-land, half-waterway: the stone-paved road vanishes beneath the waves during high tide as the sea level rises.
This means drivers must watch out for approaching waves.
This can be safely gauged by special side panels on the road, and special digital panels that let people know whether the road is passable.
These panels are regularly updated with sea level warnings and issue speed-limit reminders.
Over the years, people have become trapped on the long stretch of road by rising water levels, and there have even been deaths.
Despite the island boasting 40 km (25 miles) of secluded, sandy beaches lined with quaint beach huts and an abundance of rock pools, tourists are advised against using the road unless necessary.
However, nearly 10,000 locals live on the island of Noirmoutier all year round.
They’ve learned to respect the warning panels when arriving, departing, or transporting supplies from the mainland.
If an accident does occur, scalable emergency towers are available for people to climb and wait for help to arrive.
Not unlike the school bus that got stranded in a Dubai flood and was rescued by a hero Toyota driver.
Aside from adding a little spice to your drive, drivers must check the tide times before crossing the Gois Passage.
It’s possible to get across an hour and a half before, and an hour and a half after low tide.
In the past, the only way to reach the island of Noirmoutier was by boat, as it wasn’t always connected to the mainland.
However, over the last few centuries, the Bay of Bourgneuf silted to create a causeway and Le Passage du Gois was first mentioned on a map in 1701.
Since then, it’s twice been featured in the world-renowned Tour de France bicycle race.
Cars that would deal with the sudden influx of water include the Tesla which underwent the first real-world wade test on a Cybertruck to see if it really can be a ‘boat’.
In addition, an EV launched in China that can go ‘swimming’ and fully submerge underwater.
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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
