French Road Trip?
Discussion
There are a lot.
From presonal experiance I would recommend the following in France:
D996 (old road from Reims to Dijon
N75 (Route de Lyon)
N85 (Route Napoleon)
Also check out the usual suspects like the Col De turini, Stelvio Pass etc. Google for sites called Alpine Roads and Great Biker Roads which both have lots of details on the most popular roads and passes in Europe.
From presonal experiance I would recommend the following in France:
D996 (old road from Reims to Dijon
N75 (Route de Lyon)
N85 (Route Napoleon)
Also check out the usual suspects like the Col De turini, Stelvio Pass etc. Google for sites called Alpine Roads and Great Biker Roads which both have lots of details on the most popular roads and passes in Europe.
I didn't know that the Stelvio pass is in France 
The N51 (Reims> Epernay> Sezanne> Troyes) is a good road when travelling down. A bit straight but enjoyable none the less.
The N71 (Troyes> Châtillon-sur-Seine> Dijon) is even better and has some nice twisting, flowing sections.
I took the autoroute down to Lyon & Grenoble, after that the Alps are your oyster.
Around Grenoble you've got the Vercors Cols - Col de la Machine, Col de Rousset, l'Alpe d'Huez, Les Petits et Grands Goulets, La Mure to Mens (particularly brilliant) etc.
Or you can skip Lyon and Grenoble and head towards the very high Alps and make a bee-line towards Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
Then you can head down the Col de l'Iseran (the highest pass in Europe and a fantastic drive) then down the Col du Galibier, Col de l'Izoard, Col de Vars, Col de la Bonnette.
Then you can head towards the Col de Turini and then Nice to rest for a day or so.
Then if you're not feeling too knackered, head towards Mont Ventoux - there's other great roads around that area there too.
Like DaveyS2 said - do your research on the sites he recommended and you can come up with a plan of your own.
One of the most important things is to pick the right time to go. Avoid going when the Tour De France is running and when the rest of Europe is on their summer holidays. The roads will be clogged with slow motorhomes and general traffic moving at 25mph. Mid-to-late June or September are probably the best times.
The N51 (Reims> Epernay> Sezanne> Troyes) is a good road when travelling down. A bit straight but enjoyable none the less.
The N71 (Troyes> Châtillon-sur-Seine> Dijon) is even better and has some nice twisting, flowing sections.
I took the autoroute down to Lyon & Grenoble, after that the Alps are your oyster.
Around Grenoble you've got the Vercors Cols - Col de la Machine, Col de Rousset, l'Alpe d'Huez, Les Petits et Grands Goulets, La Mure to Mens (particularly brilliant) etc.
Or you can skip Lyon and Grenoble and head towards the very high Alps and make a bee-line towards Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
Then you can head down the Col de l'Iseran (the highest pass in Europe and a fantastic drive) then down the Col du Galibier, Col de l'Izoard, Col de Vars, Col de la Bonnette.
Then you can head towards the Col de Turini and then Nice to rest for a day or so.
Then if you're not feeling too knackered, head towards Mont Ventoux - there's other great roads around that area there too.
Like DaveyS2 said - do your research on the sites he recommended and you can come up with a plan of your own.
One of the most important things is to pick the right time to go. Avoid going when the Tour De France is running and when the rest of Europe is on their summer holidays. The roads will be clogged with slow motorhomes and general traffic moving at 25mph. Mid-to-late June or September are probably the best times.
Edited by Super_Marv on Wednesday 30th December 22:10
Townsend,
I'll second what Davey S2 said about using the bikers websites for good tips, I did a trip last year based on routes I found on these sites. La Route Des Grand Alpes is probably better than the Route Napoleon, and takes you through the some of the areas that Super Marv mentioned
Here is a link to the brief write up I did of my trip http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?id=177487
Whatever you do have great fun, and tell us what it was like
I'll second what Davey S2 said about using the bikers websites for good tips, I did a trip last year based on routes I found on these sites. La Route Des Grand Alpes is probably better than the Route Napoleon, and takes you through the some of the areas that Super Marv mentioned
Here is a link to the brief write up I did of my trip http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?id=177487
Whatever you do have great fun, and tell us what it was like
petefcat7 said:
Townsend,
I'll second what Davey S2 said about using the bikers websites for good tips, I did a trip last year based on routes I found on these sites. La Route Des Grand Alpes is probably better than the Route Napoleon, and takes you through the some of the areas that Super Marv mentioned
Here is a link to the brief write up I did of my trip http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?id=177487
Whatever you do have great fun, and tell us what it was like
Welcome to PH Pete. Nice write up on your trip.I'll second what Davey S2 said about using the bikers websites for good tips, I did a trip last year based on routes I found on these sites. La Route Des Grand Alpes is probably better than the Route Napoleon, and takes you through the some of the areas that Super Marv mentioned
Here is a link to the brief write up I did of my trip http://www.blatchat.com/t.asp?id=177487
Whatever you do have great fun, and tell us what it was like
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