Caen to Monaco.

[Huntsman]

Caen to Monaco is 750 miles. Its not actually Monaco, its Sospel up in the hills above Menton.

Route planners suggest Paris, Lyon, Dijon, Avignon, Aix, Nice, Menton.

We're going to do it over 2 days, I don't mind driving a little further for a more intersting route, but I do want mainly motorway.

I'm thinking Paris, Beaune, Geneva, Turin, Cuneo and over the mountains to Sospel.

Swiss Carnet not an issue and we'll need one for later in the trip.

Thoughts?

[HumbleJim]

Sounds like a good route except Paris.
I manage to get through Paris ok (usually it depends on timings) but would rather spend a bit more time on the road avoiding it.

[audidoody]

>Route planners suggest Paris, Lyon, Dijon, Avignon, Aix, Nice, Mento

For the quickest way I would go Calais - Reims - Troyes - Beaune - Lyon - Avignon - Aix - Nice

No need to wrestle with the Paris Périphérique if you don't have to.

Also, when approaching Lyon, take the A46 towards Marseilles. It will route you around Lyons Centre which can be a huge ball ache this time of year and back onto the Autoroute du Soleil

Do you specifically want to go to Geneva and Turin?

Edited by audidoody on Wednesday 23 July 08:50

[Huntsman]

audidoody said:

>Route planners suggest Paris, Lyon, Dijon, Avignon, Aix, Nice, Mento

For the quickest way I would go Calais - Reims - Troyes - Beaune - Lyon - Avignon - Aix - Nice

No need to wrestle with the Paris Périphérique if you don't have to.

Also, when approaching Lyon, take the A46 towards Marseilles. It will route you around Lyons Centre which can be a huge ball ache this time of year and back onto the Autoroute du Soleil

Do you specifically want to go to Geneva and Turin?

Edited by audidoody on Wednesday 23 July 08:50

Calais not an option, the ferry to Caen is booked, we live in Southampton, Portsmouth ferries are 20 mins away, its never worth the drive to Dover. We go the night before, get a cabin and have dinner onboard.

Thanks for the advice about Lyon, no specific reason for Geneva/Turin, other than it keeps us away from the busiest areas of France.

Primary goal is to avoid as much traffic as possible, nice over night stop.

[Le TVR]

Caen - Tours - Bourges - Vienne - Aix - Menton - Sospel

Far too many roadworks on the Auxerre/Beaune/Lyon side.

Overnight stop in Montlucon (Inter-Hotel de l'Universe).

[Puggit]

Le TVR said:

Caen - Tours - Bourges (quick diversion to Sancerre) - Vienne - Aix - Menton - Sospel

Fixed that for you

[joncon]

we went caen - le mans - tours - millau - cannes

bit of a diversion , but worth it for millau viaduct

[chilistrucker]

joncon said:

we went caen - le mans - tours - millau - cannes

bit of a diversion , but worth it for millau viaduct

[NDA]

Huntsman said:

Caen to Monaco is 750 miles. Its not actually Monaco, its Sospel up in the hills above Menton.

Route planners suggest Paris, Lyon, Dijon, Avignon, Aix, Nice, Menton.

We're going to do it over 2 days, I don't mind driving a little further for a more intersting route, but I do want mainly motorway.

I'm thinking Paris, Beaune, Geneva, Turin, Cuneo and over the mountains to Sospel.

Swiss Carnet not an issue and we'll need one for later in the trip.

Thoughts?

When are you going?

I would stay West all the way down to Narbonne - the drive across East is nice... good weather too.

[Huntsman]

NDA said:

When are you going?

I would stay West all the way down to Narbonne - the drive across East is nice... good weather too.

9/10 Aug. Thanks for the input, but that's a bloody long route to Monaco!

We've already been through Millau more than once and don't need to see it again, I'm looking for the most traffic free route Caen to Sospel, pretty much decided on Geneva, Mont Blanc, Turin, Cuneo.

[Le TVR]

Huntsman said:

I'm looking for the most traffic free route

http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/maintenant,langen.html

This is an interactive map showing roadworks, traffic delays etc in real time. Should help avoid any major problems.

If that link doesnt work try:

http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/maintenant.html

and click on english

Edited by Le TVR on Thursday 24th July 07:57

[Huntsman]

Le TVR said:

http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/maintenant,langen.ht...

This is an interactive map showing roadworks, traffic delays etc in real time. Should help avoid any major problems.

If that link doesnt work try:

http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/maintenant.html

and click on english

Thanks, I'll study that in the next couple of weeks.

[Amateurish]

Huntsman said:

9/10 Aug. Thanks for the input, but that's a bloody long route to Monaco!

We've already been through Millau more than once and don't need to see it again, I'm looking for the most traffic free route Caen to Sospel, pretty much decided on Geneva, Mont Blanc, Turin, Cuneo.

You won't actually enter Switzerland using that route so no vignette needed.

[Huntsman]

Amateurish said:

You won't actually enter Switzerland using that route so no vignette needed.

Yes, thanks, I realised that later, after Sospel we're headed to Lauterbrunnen for a few nights so we'll need it then.

Then Lake Konastance, then Fussen to see the castle, then home, I'm extracited!

[Rids64]

I recently drove from Asti in Italy to Nice via Cuneo, Tende and Sospel (which looked like a lovely place, just didn't have time to stop). The Italian side was fairly dull but once into France the drive was superb, gorges and hairpins everywhere. Be aware that the Tunnel de Tende is traffic light controlled single file and as the tunnel is about 4km queues can build up. I only waited 10 mins on a weekday morning.
If you drive out the other side of Sospel there's a good run up to L'Escarene and then you're not far from the Col de Turini...

[Huntsman]

Rids64 said:

I recently drove from Asti in Italy to Nice via Cuneo, Tende and Sospel (which looked like a lovely place, just didn't have time to stop). The Italian side was fairly dull but once into France the drive was superb, gorges and hairpins everywhere. Be aware that the Tunnel de Tende is traffic light controlled single file and as the tunnel is about 4km queues can build up. I only waited 10 mins on a weekday morning.
If you drive out the other side of Sospel there's a good run up to L'Escarene and then you're not far from the Col de Turini...

Excellent info, thanks, sounds like the bog old Jag steering and suspension is in for a workout.

[omniflow]

I did this journey many years ago in an Alfasud Sprint - well to Cannes anyway.

LeMans
Tours
Bourges
Montlucon
Clement Ferand
Overnight in Le Puy (lovely place)
Orange and then autoroute the rest of the way.