10 Best Road Trips in France
Experience the Best of France on the Open Road
When it comes to the road trip of a lifetime, nothing beats a drive through France. Blessed with très chic cities, sumptuous gastronomy and epic landscapes that encompass ice-capped mountain ranges and sun-soaked beaches, travelling on the open road here is simply a joy.
Our guide to the best road trips in France will see you navigating the high passes of the panoramic Alps, skimming the sapphire waters of the French Riviera, exploring quaint medieval towns and sipping wine in heritage vineyards. Along the way, you can stop for an éclair, visit a fairy tale castle and wander through fragrant avenues of springtime lavender.
1. Côte d’Azur & Provence
Eco paradise beloved by jetsetters
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, História
The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region boasts over 400 miles of Mediterranean coastline that’s peppered with hidden coves, picturesque capes and glamorous French Riviera resort cities. Inland, the biodiverse Camargue teems with pink flamingos and wild horses, making it the perfect place to take a road trip.
Sun yourself in Saint Tropez, visit Cannes when the international film festival is on or stop by Avignon for the UNESCO-listed Palais des Papes and the 12th century Senanque Abbey, home to a collective of monks who grow and harvest lavender. Don’t forget to tootle your way through the Rhône Valley to tour world-class wineries like Clos du Calvaire and Domaine Tour Saint Michel. Their bottles of vino are legendary.
Côte d'Azur & Provence
2. Castles of the Loire Valley
Picture book perfection
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, História
Boasting over 300 châteaux, the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley is a visual smorgasbord of royal history. In the medieval town of Tours, nearly 50 castles are open to the public, allowing a rare glimpse inside these stately fairy tale relics.
Visit the 11th century Chateau d’Usse which is famed for its vanilla-white turrets and XVIII century furniture, or marvel at the imposing Château d’Angers, which commenced construction in 1230 under Louis IX and features 17 towers, several drawbridges and manicured gardens that are sunk into its moats. The 15th century citadel, Chateau Montreuil-Bellay, is listed as a ‘monument historique’ by the French Ministry of Culture and showcases an ostentatious staircase and an ancient curved-roof wine cellar.
Castles of the Loire Valley
3. Alsace wine route
A paradise for oenophiles
Ideal para: Casais, História, Luxo
With its chocolate-box villages, undulating landscapes and passionate winemakers, is it any wonder why visitors fall madly in love with the Alsace Wine Route? Road trip through this historic region and immerse yourself in all-things viticulture, from taking part in grape harvesting to drinking world-class vino.
Make pit-stops in celebrated wine-growing towns such as Obernai, Boersch, Ribeauvillé and Colmar, which is renowned for its gorgeous half-timbered houses and quaint cobblestone lanes. Tour iconic wineries including Famille Hugel, Domaine Jean-Baptiste Adam, Dopff au Moulin and Arthur Metz, where you can taste exquisite samples of all 7 Alsatian grape varieties.
Alsace wine route
4. Normandy and the Loire Valley
Glorious gardens and age-old landmarks
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, História
Take a road trip through the Loire Valley in the spring and summer to wander Chateau de Villandry’s topiary labyrinth and its monumental garden. Every year, the castle grounds are illuminated with more than 2000 candles during its Nights of a Thousand Lights festivities. You can book your spot through the venue’s ticket office.
In Normandy, pay homage to D-Day’s fallen soldiers on the landing beaches before visiting the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Église. Don’t forget to swing by the tiny island of Mont St Michel, home to a UNESCO-listed monastery that dates to the Middle Ages, and the Etretat coastline’s sinking pale cliffs.
Normandy and the Loire Valley
5. French Riviera
Upscale resort haven
Ideal para: Casais, Luxo, Alimentação
Situated on the sun-baked Mediterranean coast in southeastern France, the glitzy French Riviera has made a name for itself as a celebrity enclave and playground for the rich. Here, A-listers and aristocrats flock to its powder-soft beaches, upscale hotels, luxurious superyachts and Michelin-starred restaurants.
Visit the medieval mountaintop commune of Èze for its panoramic patio bistros that teeter on the cliff edges or hire a convertible and wend your way along the coastal roads to stop at Grasse, the perfume capital of the world. If you want to people watch, spend a few days on Cannes’ palm-fringed beaches, eating ice cream at the Saint Tropez marina or partying in the nightclubs of outrageously expensive Monaco.
French Riviera
6. Languedoc and Provence
All about the good life
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, História
Divided by the mighty River Rhône, the regions of Languedoc and Provence offer an unforgettable road trip through France’s southern landscapes. This multi-day extravaganza will see you taking in the majestic Pyrenees Mountains, gloriously fragrant lavender fields, sun-kissed olive groves and family-owned vineyards.
In Languedoc, ascend into the mountains to visit the medieval village of Sainte-Enimie with its charming cobblestone streets and age-old limestone houses, or stop at the famed Roquefort Cheese Caves for a tasting in the cellars. When you’ve crossed into Provence, wend your way along the backroads to the 15th century Oppede or explore Palais Longchamp in Marseilles (home of the Musée des Beaux-Arts).
Languedoc and Provence
7. Route Napoleon
France’s answer to the Grand Canyon
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, História
The Route Napoléon is the course that was taken in 1815 by the French emperor Napoléon Bonaparte on his return from exile in the Italian island of Elba. Today, the Route Napoléon is celebrated as one of France’s most scenic road trips, winding its way along panoramic motorways through both the Maritime Alps mountain range and the rugged snow-capped Alps.
Begin in the seaside resort of Golfe-Juan, venture through the French Riviera and then head to the hillside town of Grasse to stop for the most aromatic of perfumes. You’ll also take in the historic village of Castellane, which is famed for its turquoise Verdon River and 12th century chapel, and the striking commune of Sisteron beneath the imposing Baume Rock.
Route Napoleon
8. Toulouse to Montpellier
An off-the-beaten-path adventure
Ideal para: Casais, História, Foto
Toulouse, the capital of France’s southern Occitanie region, is a characterful city that’s affectionately named ‘La Ville Rose’ because of its many buildings that have been crafted with terra-cotta bricks. Situated close to the Spanish border, it’s the perfect place to begin a 2-and-a-half-hour drive along the Mediterranean coast to see the historic inland city of Montpellier.
Along the way, explore the fortified hilltop town of Carcassonne, which boasts a medieval citadel and a 12th-century castle. Then, veer south to the Catalonian-influenced Perpignan to marvel at its Palace of the Kings, a Gothic- Romanesque masterpiece. Wine lovers can stop at Terra Vinea, a unique winery set in an old gypsum mine, that’s enhanced with colourful illuminations and atmospheric music.
Toulouse to Montpellier
9. Wine villages in Burgundy
Gorgeous grape-growing region
Ideal para: Casais, História, Alimentação
Long considered one of France’s greatest viticultural regions, Burgundy is renowned for its sensual, aromatic and velvety wines that are made in picture-postcard hamlets and medieval villages. Here, you can sample top-notch pinot noir and chardonnay near towns like Cluny and Meursault, before dining at upscale little bistros and rustic farm-style eateries.
Take a tour of Domaine Du Château De La Chaize, a prestigious 17th century estate that specialises in haute couture cuvée wines or drop into Antonin Rodet to sip vino in the family’s vineyard, accompanied by delectable charcuterie and cheeses. Maison Jambon is an award-winning, fifth-generation wine grower that offers a fabulous day out. Taste medal-winning vintages in its Saint Lager cellar.
Wine villages in Burgundy
10. La Route des Grandes Alpes
Sky-high vistas and cosy hamlets
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, História
Showcasing some of the world’s most spectacular mountainous scenery, the Route des Grandes Alpes runs between glittering Lake Geneva and the fashionable French Riviera. Beginning in the lemon capital of Menton, this magnificent drive will take you over 23 high-passes, like Col de la Bonette, before ending in Thonon-les-Bains on the edge of Lake Leman.
If you’re a keen forest hiker or hillwalker, the Queyras Regional Nature Reserve is not to be missed, nor is the Cascades de Ceillac waterfall. Visit Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, a photogenic commune in the Mercantour National Park, where you can enjoy a delicious bite to eat at its sweet selection of restaurants.
La Route des Grandes Alpes
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