The site Les others, intended for nature lovers, has offered a ranking of the most beautiful road trips in France. Not content to take it up, we have enriched it with other ideas for those who like to vroom vroom in pretty places. And it’s true that this noise is nice: “vroom vroom”.
1. The road to the Alps
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Don’t like the sea? Don’t like the mountains? Screw you. Because the Alps are undoubtedly the most beautiful region of France. We start from the Swiss border, from Lake Geneva, to reach the Mediterranean, passing through the most beautiful panoramas in the world. Massifs du Chablais, de la Vanoise and up to the Col du Mercantour, it is better to have emptied your SD card before leaving. In addition, we eat well, and we can end our journey in Nice on the terrace or push on to Italy. In total, it takes a week to make these 800 terminals. That’s wonderful.
2. The Brittany coast
From Quimper to Mont-Saint-Michel, we follow the wild coast and the coastline made of cliffs, mysterious lighthouses (Penmarc’h, in particular), the Pointe du Raz and the bay of Douarnenez. Armorica and the steep landscapes, its islands, the wind in my face and the pea coat that’s going well. You can do this trip in a big weekend and taking your time. And then we comfort ourselves, in the evening, by drinking cider and eating pancakes, the typical Breton dish par excellence.
3. The pass road, in the South-West
From Pyrénées-Atlantique to Haute-Garonne, we cross the top of the Pyrenees on the Tour de France route. Soulor, Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde lead to the Pic du Midi, the highest French point in the Pyrenees. We can make hiking stops to climb the summit and especially admire life from the Cirque de Gavarnie. Note the magnificent lakes along the route. Count a week.
4. Auvergne and its volcanoes
Through the Chaîne des Puy, by small roads, we visit prehistoric and volcanic France. The Volcan de Lemptégy is an unmissable site for the beauty of the spectacle it offers. Between two stops to enjoy the aligot, you can visit the Auvergne villages Ardes-sur-Couze style or hike on the hilly heights. The Puy de Dôme will be the subject of a not too difficult walk (the summit culminates at 1465 meters), the opportunity to wonder if it is not there, in fact, that we shot the images of Armstrong on the Moon. We can push on to Cézallier via SuperBesse, if we want to ski. Again, it takes a week.
5. The Balloons of the Vosges
The Parc des Ballons des Vosges is a wonder in itself. From the magnificent city of Colmar, we will pass by the Grand Ballon which dominates the whole massif, to reach the Markstein. Between Colmar and Gérardmer (pronounced Gérarmé), there are many lakes and Vologne not far away. Do not miss Lac Blanc and Lac de Pierre Percée. Chamois and other passing birds should stop by to say hello.
6. Go down National 7
We are happy Nationale 7. Before the motorway, the Nationale 7 was the road of the holidays, a mythical passage through France which linked Paris and Menton in 1000 km. It’s another thing to go down in the South taking the time: Fontainebleau, Moulins, Nevers, we can even stop in Lyon and Avignon. It is also a road that makes it easy to stop in the villages to taste local cuisine, far from the sanitization of the motorway. Good wines, good food, and above all nobody. A sense of unparalleled freedom.
7. The Cosmoroute Autonauts
Shortly before his death (and that of his companion), the most Belgian of Argentine writers, Julio Cortazar, imagined with her a mythical journey: connecting Marseilles from Paris, stopping at each service station. Two a day: one for lunch, the other for sleeping. An unexpected and totally crazy journey recounted in a book where the author delivers both his thoughts and describes the environment in which he evolves. A great idea to reproduce this route today, book in hand, to measure the time elapsed since the 1980s and treat yourself to an absolutely unique experience.
8. On the road to the Alsatian vineyards
A smaller road, barely 150 km, but what a beauty: between cute little villages and expanses of vineyards, a Sideways trip to discover the richness of the Alsatian wine heritage, one of the most unknown in France. Inns, starred restaurants and above all wine, pinard, booze and pleasure.
9. The Loire Valley Castles by car
You can leave from Blois (and visit the city) and then navigate between the 0 historical sites that dot the valley. Chambord, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau, the wine, the beauty of the buildings and landscapes, walks along the banks of the Loire, the vineyards and tastings, as well as the mushroom cellars. A jewel of cultural and gastronomic heritage that can be crossed by car and taking your time.
10. The Road to Freedom
A trip full of history in the footsteps of liberation. Starting from Omaha Beach (go straight to Port-en-Bessin to walk on the cliff), you will reach the Belgian border on the road taken by the Allies in 1944. 1150 km of road through France, Belgium and Luxembourg, via the Emerald Coast, via Reims, Luxembourg (which you can tour in one day), Bastogne, and even Ostend. A week is enough to go through all that when the Nazis aren’t shooting at you.