Best French Roads and Regions
Discussion
My wife and I plus two friends are planning a tour of France to coincide with our trip to Le Mans this year. Before and after the race we'll be burbling around France and I'd like to try and make the most of this. Can anyone recommend any must see regions or roads in France?
Thanks,
Steve
Thanks,
Steve
OmiGod - motoring Valhalla.
This route is the ultimate antidote to the torture of (most of our!) daily grinds.
Imagine the unadulterated indulgence of hammering up through Grasse in your Griff, roof and hoof equally horizontal, as you spear up, faster and faster through the plateaux, V8 venom spewing petroleum ignited flaming vomit from the down changes, small sheep and other mamals diving for cover.
I thunk I've just
Still, you'll still get skinned alive by that daemon of Les Alpes; the immortal, undefeated champ of the mountain pass - Twingo Man...your fate is sealed.
>> Edited by derestrictor on Friday 3rd January 17:01
This route is the ultimate antidote to the torture of (most of our!) daily grinds.
Imagine the unadulterated indulgence of hammering up through Grasse in your Griff, roof and hoof equally horizontal, as you spear up, faster and faster through the plateaux, V8 venom spewing petroleum ignited flaming vomit from the down changes, small sheep and other mamals diving for cover.
I thunk I've just
Still, you'll still get skinned alive by that daemon of Les Alpes; the immortal, undefeated champ of the mountain pass - Twingo Man...your fate is sealed.
>> Edited by derestrictor on Friday 3rd January 17:01
derestrictor,
you forgot to mention the engine's
ROOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR when passing villages in small alleys, which have similar acoustics to tunnels 
Now I've upset Twingo-man, when the clutch failed in 1994 in Draguinan, and I went down to St. Tropez in third gear
Being a Landrover S3, the clutch forgot to fail the next day, and the rest of my France-journey, as if it never happened
you forgot to mention the engine's
ROOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR when passing villages in small alleys, which have similar acoustics to tunnels Now I've upset Twingo-man, when the clutch failed in 1994 in Draguinan, and I went down to St. Tropez in third gear
Being a Landrover S3, the clutch forgot to fail the next day, and the rest of my France-journey, as if it never happened
Great idea - France really has got some superb roads 
I once did a 2000 mile trip to Monaco and back, and whilst I can't remember the precise roads we took, I can say the roads generally got more challenging and enjoyable the further south you got ie when you got into the hills and mountains
A few more suggestions -
On a motorsport flavour, the old race circuit at Reims is well worth visiting, whilst the old grandstands and pits are still standing - pretty well preserved. Some nice photo opportunities. And you can still drive the entire old road circuit (now public roads) to get a flavour of what the old boys, in the days of Moss and Fangio, got upto.
To a lesser extent, Rouen (just east of Le Havre) was also an old road race circuit, but unfortunately the pits and grandstands have now been raised to the ground. You can still drive most of the old race circuit - again now public roads. Worth a detour if you're going past.
In terms of roads, I'd say the best roads in France are to be found inland from the South coast of France. In particular the whole strip south of Grenoble offers lots of great driving opportunities in fantastic scenery. Something to do with the Alps?!
La Route Napoleon is widely regarded as one of the best driving roads in France. This runs from Grenoble to Cannes - road number RN85. It's approximately 200 miles from one end to the other. I haven't driven it yet but I'd imagine it would be superb on a tour, and will have some superb scenery through the mountains, ending up on the south coast.
Further west from here, North of Montpellier, is the Cevennes region. Car magazine several years ago reckoned this area to contain Europe's best roads. I'll see if I can find the mag to see if they recommend any road numbers.
Classic Cars magazine recently did an article called 33 Great Roads - their list of the best driving roads in the world. A lot of them I'd agree with, so in France they had two -
Falaise to Alencon D909. This is pretty close to Le Mans, and not a long route.
A little circular tour just south west of Grenoble taking in St Jean en Royans and La Chapelle en Vercors roads D518,D76,D178,D54. Bound to be quiet roads.
Have fun
SFV
I once did a 2000 mile trip to Monaco and back, and whilst I can't remember the precise roads we took, I can say the roads generally got more challenging and enjoyable the further south you got ie when you got into the hills and mountains
A few more suggestions -
On a motorsport flavour, the old race circuit at Reims is well worth visiting, whilst the old grandstands and pits are still standing - pretty well preserved. Some nice photo opportunities. And you can still drive the entire old road circuit (now public roads) to get a flavour of what the old boys, in the days of Moss and Fangio, got upto.
To a lesser extent, Rouen (just east of Le Havre) was also an old road race circuit, but unfortunately the pits and grandstands have now been raised to the ground. You can still drive most of the old race circuit - again now public roads. Worth a detour if you're going past.
In terms of roads, I'd say the best roads in France are to be found inland from the South coast of France. In particular the whole strip south of Grenoble offers lots of great driving opportunities in fantastic scenery. Something to do with the Alps?!
La Route Napoleon is widely regarded as one of the best driving roads in France. This runs from Grenoble to Cannes - road number RN85. It's approximately 200 miles from one end to the other. I haven't driven it yet but I'd imagine it would be superb on a tour, and will have some superb scenery through the mountains, ending up on the south coast.
Further west from here, North of Montpellier, is the Cevennes region. Car magazine several years ago reckoned this area to contain Europe's best roads. I'll see if I can find the mag to see if they recommend any road numbers.
Classic Cars magazine recently did an article called 33 Great Roads - their list of the best driving roads in the world. A lot of them I'd agree with, so in France they had two -
Falaise to Alencon D909. This is pretty close to Le Mans, and not a long route.
A little circular tour just south west of Grenoble taking in St Jean en Royans and La Chapelle en Vercors roads D518,D76,D178,D54. Bound to be quiet roads.
Have fun
SFV
Bugger... I was just finding the link to a thread about the Route Napoleon
Superb driving..
Here's something else that might help..
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=8189&f=45&h=0
and this
www.pistonheads.com/roads/europe.asp?area=france#0
>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Friday 3rd January 18:44
Superb driving..
Here's something else that might help..
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=8189&f=45&h=0
and this
www.pistonheads.com/roads/europe.asp?area=france#0
>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Friday 3rd January 18:44
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