When driving in France most tourists just tend to jump onto the autoroute system – which can be expensive due to the heavy use of tolls. However, France is home to some of the best driving roads in the world. As car insurance and motorhome insurance specialists, we’ve put together this list of some of the best drives in France that all car enthusiasts should experience.
Route des Grandes Alpes
Starting at Lake Geneva in the French Alps, this spectacular route takes you 425 miles to the sunshine of Nice on the Cote d’Azur.
You’ll experience a variety of different landscapes on your way down to the coast; from some of the highest and most beautiful mountain passes in Europe to glistening lakes, snow-capped peaks and alpine forests.
There are plenty of places to stop off on your journey – in the winter you could try skiing in one of the famous resorts, such as Morzine or Chammonix or go for a stroll around one of the mountain lakes in the summer and take in the views.
Route Napoleon
This 200-mile route replicates the journey taken by Napoleon in 1815. This famous drive starts at Grenoble, in the foothills of the Alps and makes its way down to the end point of our first driving route, near Nice!
It takes in some truly stunning countryside and gives ample opportunity to explore some of the charming towns along the way and sample the local cuisine. One of the most popular locations to visit en route is the village of Sisteron in the Alpes de Haute Provence, which sits at the foot of a mountain.
This really is a route to try if you love driving and beautiful scenery and it frequently features in the top ten drives in the world.
Millau Viaduct
The Millau viaduct is one of the world’s tallest bridges (standing at 343 metres high) and is definitely worth driving across, if it’s only for the stunning scenery on either side of this awe-inspiring structure.
The bridge is located near Millau in southern France and spans the valley of the River Tarn and was constructed to ease the traffic problem in the Tarn valley caused by holiday-makers heading to Spain.
There is a toll to use the bridge, but it’s an experience you’re not likely to forget for a long time!
Troyes to St Etienne via Dijon
This stunning route takes you 270 miles through the heart of French culture. You’ll wind your way past vineyards in the Champagne region making it the ideal spot to stop for a glass of bubbly after a long days driving.
On your way you can stop in Dijon to sample some of the famous French mustard, take in the pretty architecture and taste some of the delicious French gastronomy before making your way down to St Etienne.
Cote d’Azur
The Cote d’Azur is home to some of the most beautiful countryside and beaches, so it’s little surprise that the rich and famous flock there all year round.
Start your driving trip in the glamorous town of St Tropez travelling through the world-renowned Cannes (home of the famous film festival), on to Antibes and the largest city on the Cote d’Azur, Nice. You’ll eventually make your way to the micro-state of Monaco on the Italian border. Whilst you’re there you can follow in the tyre tracks of F1 drivers by driving on the Circuit de Monaco.
Before you travel on any of these routes make sure you’ve read our guide to driving in Europe and don’t forget your travel insurance.
Have you visited any of these destinations? Or are you planning to? Let us know on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
