Driving to Milan in September

[K0409964]

I was hoping to tap in to the collective wisdom of the Piston Heads forum.

I am driving to Milan in September for the GP and I was looking for some recommendations for some good (great) roads, both through France and the Alpes.

Leaving Thursday morning and not to worried about missing Friday practice so can arise in Milan on Friday evening.

Thanks in advance for replies.

[Shakermaker]

I can certainly recommend the Gorges du Verdin in the south of France which leads to Monaco, it's the same road where Clarkson tested an Audi against the rock climber dude. It's a fab road.

[996TT02]

Well the Gorges du Verdon are actually river gorges, but yes, the Route Napoleon is quite a stunning road but over in a day or less. I would start the interesting driving a bit earlier than that, with the Route des Vins D'Alsace, then decide whether you will be doing some Swiss alpine passes, or the Route Napoleon, or the Route des Grandes Alpes.

[MG Mark]

Go up the old road from France/Switzerland over the top of tbe Grand St Bernard Pass to Aosta - a great traditional Alpine road - put on the shades, play " On Days like these" and pretend you're in a Miura, as it is the road for the opening sequence of The Italian Job.

MG Mark

[K0409964]

Thanks guys, unfortunately a Boxster not Miura, but still should be fun.

[Pookington]

We're planning on doing this trip next year so will monitor this thread for advice.

[6pi]

The Saint Bernard is supposed to be great but it involves driving through Switzerland, and you don't want to be caught speeding there...

The alternative is using the motorway from Calais to Burgundy, then through Burgundy on smaller roads, Aix-les-Bains, Albertville and to Italy trhough the Mont Cenis road (one of my favourite).

[DJM7691]

If you would like a more creative route back, the Stelvio Pass is the best road I have ever driven. It runs from Bormio to Merano in Northern Italy, its a fair way across but plenty of nice roads to enjoy between!

[K0409964]

Thanks, I will fire up Google maps and start planning!

[Shwar25]

I did the same journey a few years back, we crossed to Dunkirk, then went Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy.

I drove from Leeds to Dover on the Thursday, late ferry which we disembarked from around midnight. We stopped in a town call Prum in Germany for breakfast, then the next stop was in Sempach, Switzerland before we tackled the Alps.

We arrived in Milan Friday evening, and left after the race, overnighting in Switzerland. We travelled back through Germany, stopping at a rather closed Nurburgring (Someone had binned it) before travelling up to Amsterdam for another overnight stay, travelling home on Tuesday.