I was in the south of France a few years ago just outside of Bandol. The roads there were amazing, like something out of Disneyland... all glass smooth with well trimmed edges and surrounded by the black earth of farm fields and vineyards, it was quite the experience. One thing that really struck me is how fine their asphalt was... as if it had been milled into smaller bits than what we often see in the US. This made for an incredibly smooth ride.