Route de Napoleon

[Zed 44]

I know this is a very stupid question but what road(s) comprise the Route de Napoleon going north to south? I will be finishing up an Alps tour at Bourg St. Maurice and will be heading towards the Gorge de Verdon to a place between Castellane and Rougon on the D952.

If possible, I would like to incorporate as much of the Route de Napoleon as possible without going too much out of my way.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[Dblue]

Its technically the RN85 between Grenoble and Grasse but the real heart of it is south of Digne Les Bains to Grasse. It goes right through Castellane which makes a nice stop for beer or lunch.

Edited by Dblue on Wednesday 13th March 20:16

[Slippydiff]

Dblue said:

Its technically the RN85 between Grenoble and Grasse but the real heart of it is south of Digne Les Bains to Grasse. It goes right through Castellane which makes a nice stop for beer or lunch.

Suggest a detour off theRN to do a loop through the Gorge Du Verdon if you're stopping off at Castellane for lunch.

[nagsheadwarrior]

Spent a day ragging my capri around the gorges du verdon late last april,awesome just awesome,boiled the brakes three times and barely saw anyone else,its a big area so allow a bit of hooning time!

Edited by nagsheadwarrior on Thursday 21st March 17:14

[Allyc85]

I absolutely love the Route Napoleon, last summers drive was great in an Audi S1 hire car that I didnt really care about...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvotRCLepy8

As said Castellane is a nice stop off for food, and also a dip in the river if its really hot!

[Slippydiff]

Allyc85 said:

I absolutely love the Route Napoleon, last summers drive was great in an Audi S1 hire car that I didnt really care about...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvotRCLepy8

As said Castellane is a nice stop off for food, and also a dip in the river if its really hot!

Big cut at 8 seconds Alistair

[shaunroche]

Allyc85 said:

I absolutely love the Route Napoleon, last summers drive was great in an Audi S1 hire car that I didnt really care about...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvotRCLepy8

As said Castellane is a nice stop off for food, and also a dip in the river if its really hot!

Excellent - will have to give that a try!

What camera set up were you using?

[Allyc85]

Slippydiff said:

Allyc85 said:

I absolutely love the Route Napoleon, last summers drive was great in an Audi S1 hire car that I didnt really care about...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvotRCLepy8

As said Castellane is a nice stop off for food, and also a dip in the river if its really hot!

Big cut at 8 seconds Alistair

Vital tenths to be saved everywhere my friend

shaunroche said:

Excellent - will have to give that a try!

What camera set up were you using?

That was filmed using a Drift Innovation HD170 stealth on a suction mount by the rear view mirror.

I might be selling the camera though as ive just upgraded to a Drift HD Ghost and could do with making some money back, even though it would be nice to have two!

[Borghetto]

I've driven the Route 3 times now and will be doing so again in October. Really enjoyed your video.

[Johno]

When you're down there do the little known Col de Vence . . . Superb road and little known.

Alp d'Huez isn't far off the RN85 either and is good fun . . .

[Borghetto]

Johno said:

When you're down there do the little known Col de Vence . . . Superb road and little known.

Alp d'Huez isn't far off the RN85 either and is good fun . . .

Thank's Johno, I drove the Col de Vence last November and you are right it is a Superb road. I've looked up Alp d'Huez on Google Maps and it looks very doable from Grenoble. My only concern is that as I am driving down on the last week of October, I might be getting very close to mandatory snow chains.

Edited by Borghetto on Sunday 31st March 16:38

[4pot]

Simply love Route Napoleon and the surrounding roads. Here's some footage from a trip last year. We finished the day in the Gorge du Verdon, with the sun setting after another epic days driving.

http://youtu.be/FD654EJP-l4

[Borghetto]

Thank's 4Pot, I enjoyed that - you guys weren't hanging about. It's shame you hadn't mounted the camera on the front of the car, as the view was a bit obstructed.

[porschedude1972]

Hi Guys,
We are heading down to grenoble in june with a over night stop there and then our next stop is monaco now what i want to know is can this route n85 be done in a day if we leave grenoble early in the boxster.
I think the hotel check-in closes at 8pm would this leave enough time to stop for lunch on the way?

Thanks
Ashley

[Dblue]

porschedude1972 said:

Hi Guys,
We are heading down to grenoble in june with a over night stop there and then our next stop is monaco now what i want to know is can this route n85 be done in a day if we leave grenoble early in the boxster.
I think the hotel check-in closes at 8pm would this leave enough time to stop for lunch on the way?

Thanks
Ashley

It can Ash,
Its a fair few hours though. It may be sensible to use some autoroute between Grenoble and Digne Les Bains as after that there's little alternative.
Its a twisty road in places but can be quite fast with ample opportunities to get past slower stuff

Regards
Pete

[porschedude1972]

Thanks pete
Am i right thinking the road is best after dignes les bains so that maybe an option as really want to take in as much of the views possible, as much as i would like to get the foot down i think the other half may have other ideas!!!

So your route down from Grenoble to Dignes using autoroute then onto the N85 may work out best as we havent booked anywhere else except monaco

Thanks ashley

[Borghetto]

porschedude1972 said:

Hi Guys,
We are heading down to grenoble in june with a over night stop there and then our next stop is monaco now what i want to know is can this route n85 be done in a day if we leave grenoble early in the boxster.
I think the hotel check-in closes at 8pm would this leave enough time to stop for lunch on the way?

Thanks
Ashley

I drove from Faverges De La Tour (about 40 miles north of Grenoble) to Nice on N85 all the way in about 8 hours at a very leisurely pace. You'll do Monaco easily within your timescale.