French road trip plans

[RedRose123]

Planning a road trip around France this summer. Doing a circuit around France taking in-

1) Circuit de Reims-Gueux
2) NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM FRANCE (Cité de l'Automobile)
3) French Alps
4) Monaco / Cannes / Nice
5) Millau Viaduct
6) LE MANS

Should cover around 2076 miles over 11 days. Spending about 2 days at each location including travel.

Anyone who has done a similar trip and has any recommendations please add a comment. Plan on do some mountain biking and kayaking as well as visiting museums and sites.

[SmilerFTM]

You could spend the whole holiday on number 3 driving Route des Grandes Alps and never get bored

[Longers]

On your way to the museum in Mulhouse make sure you spend as long as you possibly can in the Vosges. Most people miss this area out on their way to the Alps or Black Forest but the roads there are fabulous, especially mid week when they are empty (weekends can get a bit busy).

[Big E 118]

Longers said:

On your way to the museum in Mulhouse make sure you spend as long as you possibly can in the Vosges. Most people miss this area out on their way to the Alps or Black Forest but the roads there are fabulous, especially mid week when they are empty (weekends can get a bit busy).

Vosges are pretty and nice roads, we stayed here http://en-hotel-alsace-vosges.grandhotel-gerardmer... then it's a nice drive over the hills/mountains to Mulhouse.

[SmilerFTM]

Longers said:

On your way to the museum in Mulhouse make sure you spend as long as you possibly can in the Vosges. Most people miss this area out on their way to the Alps or Black Forest but the roads there are fabulous, especially mid week when they are empty (weekends can get a bit busy).

I did that on my way to the Route Des Grandes Alps via Reims. It was a really nice drive through there

[RedRose123]

Thanks for the comments. Will help me revise my route.

[Geekman]

I lived in Nice for a while, and my job involved driving tourists around the best roads in the area. Personally, I'd skip Cannes: it's really not that impressive, particularly if you've already seen Nice.

Instead, take a drive up from Menton to Sospel, and then onto Breil-Sur-Roya. Stunning roads, amazing views, and you'll barely see another car.

[paulwirral]

Check out the test track on your exit to the museum, when we went a few years ago there were a few classic cars out the back available to hire and try out , a 3000 healey , 356 roadster , c1 corvette , mondial and a a couple of others I can't remember. It was about 40euros for 7 laps , we tried the corvette and the 356 roadster .

[Cabrony]

Make sure you include the D996 around Dijon on your way down or back up. Brilliant road.

[JonChalk]

Gorges du Tarn, for this mad bit of road:



You drive one way underneath that overhang, then back along the lower section.

and this:



Lovely twisty, winding road along the river, with villages to stop in for a coffee.

[JonChalk]

Found my old vid of a section on YT:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdm3z8Fza0Q

[RedRose123]

For the best roads, should I do a clockwise or anti-clockwise route around France?

[Wozy68]

JonChalk said:

Gorges du Tarn, for this mad bit of road:



You drive one way underneath that overhang, then back along the lower section.

and this:



Lovely twisty, winding road along the river, with villages to stop in for a coffee.

Plus one ^^^^^^^ Absolutley Fab. Top tip, stay away from Southern France in the month of August. You'l get nowhere fast in comparison to heading out June, early July or mid to late September

[JonChalk]

Wozy68 said:

Plus one ^^^^^^^ Absolutley Fab. Top tip, stay away from Southern France in the month of August. You'l get nowhere fast in comparison to heading out June, early July or mid to late September

Seconded - we always go in June.

[Springbank]

Millau is a must visit. Make sure you go to the visitor centre below the bridge.
The Tara valley is a must drive. Fantastic winding roads and a river running alongside you!
Spent 2 days there in a Griff 500 last September and it was brilliant.

[GTSilver]

RedRose123 said:

Planning a road trip around France this summer. Doing a circuit around France taking in-

1) Circuit de Reims-Gueux
2) NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM FRANCE (Cité de l'Automobile)
3) French Alps
4) Monaco / Cannes / Nice
5) Millau Viaduct
6) LE MANS

Should cover around 2076 miles over 11 days. Spending about 2 days at each location including travel.

Anyone who has done a similar trip and has any recommendations please add a comment. Plan on do some mountain biking and kayaking as well as visiting museums and sites.

Off to Mulhouse in a couple of weeks time, via Circuit de Reims-Gueux (dropped in there three years ago - places reeks of motor racing history, well worth going). Just a short three day blast but expect to put on 1500 miles (currently the run in period ends in about amount 800 miles ) having obtained a 3 day pass from Mrs GTSilver.

Will staying a couple of night in the Vosges area ( close to the Col du Grand Balloon) so one day in Cité de l'Automobile and one day seeking out some interesting roads in that region should = fun.

Happy to post some thoughts on anything that may be of use/interest once I'm back.

[RedRose123]

GTSilver said:

RedRose123 said:

Planning a road trip around France this summer. Doing a circuit around France taking in-

1) Circuit de Reims-Gueux
2) NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM FRANCE (Cité de l'Automobile)
3) French Alps
4) Monaco / Cannes / Nice
5) Millau Viaduct
6) LE MANS

Should cover around 2076 miles over 11 days. Spending about 2 days at each location including travel.

Anyone who has done a similar trip and has any recommendations please add a comment. Plan on do some mountain biking and kayaking as well as visiting museums and sites.

Off to Mulhouse in a couple of weeks time, via Circuit de Reims-Gueux (dropped in there three years ago - places reeks of motor racing history, well worth going). Just a short three day blast but expect to put on 1500 miles (currently the run in period ends in about amount 800 miles ) having obtained a 3 day pass from Mrs GTSilver.

Will staying a couple of night in the Vosges area ( close to the Col du Grand Balloon) so one day in Cité de l'Automobile and one day seeking out some interesting roads in that region should = fun.

Happy to post some thoughts on anything that may be of use/interest once I'm back.

Please post thoughts/experiences and what was great and not so great.

[A900ss]

Are you not doing Route Napoleon?

[RedRose123]

A900ss said:

Are you not doing Route Napoleon?

Plan to do Route Napoleon after Monaco.

[RedRose123]

Updated road trip plan, now just need to book ferry's and accommodation.

Any further suggestions welcome