The Most Beautiful Road Trips in France
From significant sceneries, thrilling roads, and exciting cars, France boasts a gaping selection of routes for beautiful road trips. And even though the country is decently linked by its high-speed trains and domestic flights, France begs to be explored on the open road. Road trips can be magical as you drive through the ever-changing landscape and climates, and there are many picturesque villages and towns to revere as you go along.
Here Some of the Most Beautiful Road Trips to Take in France:
Follow the Footsteps of History in Normandy
Normandy is an excellent choice for an eventful road trip in France as you are bound to see numerous attractions along. Following this section of the country by car means that visitors can blend Normandy’s famous D-Day beaches, colorful harbor towns, and impressive white-cliff coastline comfortably.
The trip can start at Vierville-Sur-Mur where troops landed on Omaha Beach on 6 June 1994. There, you can visit the Memorial Museum of Omaha Beach as well as the Normandy American Cemetery. Other historical visits along the coastline you can also visit are the Merville Battery Museum and Logues-Sur-Mer battery- a big gun defense built by the Germans.
Going further north, to the east up the coast is Honfleur, the picturesque, which was one of Claude Monet’s favorite. You can spend more time in the region for some exciting encounters when you stop at Étretat, at the north of Honfleur for some exhilarating white-cliff walks.
>>Driving Distances and Times from Paris
Drive through the volcanic tracks of the Auvergne
Volcanic tracks can be scintillating to tread, especially in an area like Auvergne in central France. Rural and craggy, the region covers around 15% of the country and its Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Park is the biggest one in the continent. Attracting visitors for its unique build, the incredible park is home to about 450 inactive peaks.
A road trip around Auvergne can be unique because compared to other means of transport, you enjoy a better chance of seeing splendid natural attractions. Attempt to reach Puy de Dome, the highest summit, from where you can have vantage views of the volcano heads marking the landscape and of the high, broad volcanic plateau of Cézallier, which has many lakes. Do not forget your hiking boots too because you will need them to take on this exciting area.
Take a majestic trail in the Loire Valley
A long time ago, the Loire Valley used to be enchanting to the French aristocrats who will come to get away from the summertime heat of Paris. Apart from its famed winemaking areas, there are several reasons to visit the region. You will see old castles in large numbers where you can have a few stops to appreciate ancient architecture.
Depending on where you start and finish your journey, the picturesque D952 road will take you past all the remarkable parts of the regions, from the elegant towns of Amboise and Saumur to the bigger cities like Angers. Explore the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Park located at the south of the Loire River for castle visits and the stylish roadside picnic spots.
>>How to Get From Paris to Loire Valley
>>Things To Do In Loire Valley
Enjoy the coast of Western France
Among other things like the quaintest of ocean view, explore the coast in west France for some splendid experience where you can start from Bordeaux and reach the Atlantic coast. In the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park, the beaches are definitely some of the most pleasing stuff to see with white sands.
This is a road trip perfect in the summer. You can start at the impressive town of Arcachon, which lies on Arcachon Bay, and heads south towards the Spanish border. On the way, make a stop at the imposing Dune du Pilat- Europe’s tallest sand dune- and Biarritz, the surfing capital of the country. If you are not in a hurry, discover secret beach spots and enjoy some toothsome seafood.
Steer far From the Trodden Trail
Many have waxed lyrical about road trips in Provence and rightly, so the region deserves the hype as it is a beautiful part of France. However, there is a rather unpopular charm on the western side of France, and that is the Regional Park of the Catalan Pyrenees. Astride in both France and Spain, this area is enchanting to discover and explore by car in warmer seasons.
You can climb west from the Mediterranean where you will first come across Ceret, one of the artist towns in the country. The beautiful N116 road links Perpignan to the border of Spain and hikers will want to set up camp near Pic du Canigou, the mountain peak that offers up extraordinary views just south of this road.
Escape with Napoleon via the Route Napoleon
This offers a chance to tread the path followed by Napoleon over 200 years ago. Mostly trailing the route Nationale 85 in south-east France, the Route Napoleon follows the 200-mile journey embarked by the general on his 1825 escape from Elba to Grenoble. It took him and his thousand men a week to complete the journey by foot, but today it could be completed in 5 to 6 hours if you are not big about photos and comfort breaks.
Well popular with tourists searching for a more captivating scenic drive to the south of France, the path begins (or ends) in Cannes and winds its way through towns and villages, before climbing to the craggy Prealps at Grenoble.
See Alsace’s Vineyard Route
Fantastic cuisines and incredible wines are part of what makes France popular. That makes it tourists’ best destination for a riveting road trip, especially along the Alsace-Lorraine region. While the area is famous for its wines and culinary art, it is a cultural mishmash. It is well known to be the home of Joan of Arc. Going on a road trip in the Alsace-Lorraine area means you will be covering the respected Alsatian Wine Road.
Starting from Marlenheim north of Strasbourg, make your way through the beautiful little village can offer a wine that is quite distinct for the region. You might also consider getting someone who does not drink to sit behind the wheel as you drive through the Alsatian landscape. You may no longer be able to drive that well once you get to taste every single wine that the French Vineyard Route has to offer.
Taste the Finest Wines at La Cote d’Or
Perhaps you may know Cote d’Or as a celebrated brand of Belgian chocolates, but this small French department in Burgundy happens to be known for its exotic wine. And as you already know, Alsace is France’s official vineyard. But there are swaths of great vineyards throughout the French landscape. One of them is the Cote d’Or.
This is one of the shortest road trips you can ever take in France. It may only be 40 miles long, but it will make you feel like it is 400 miles. The reason is that there are many beautiful short stops along the path that takes you from Dijon to Santenay.
At Dijon, it is essential to mount the tower of Philipe Le Bonne to get a magnificent view of the city. There is the 13th-century Eglise Notre-Dame too. Passing the vineyard between Dijon to Beaune is exciting. And you can make a stop at Vosne-Romanee to bring home the most collectible wine in the world- the Romanee-Conti. It is said that a case of 8 bottles of this Pinot Noir can fetch $250,000 on a good year. Santenay may not boast of well-known vineyards but the wines there unquestionably come at more reasonable prices. A place you should also visit is the village of Volnay where you get to go on a cellar tour and wine-tasting.
Immerse Yourself in the Glory of Provence and Languedoc’s Scenic Route
Endowed with flower fields that cover the landscape, the area of Provence and Languedoc is perfect for beauty buffs and nature aficionado. The dramatic Bastides will have you amazed in no time while the beautiful scenery provides a stunning backdrop for a remarkable experience.
Kick off the visitation in Avignon, drive all the way to the Uzes where you can rediscover yourself. There is the Haribo Candy Museum too for the sweet-toothed road tripper and the Le Jardin Medieval d’Uzes for the garden fan. You may continue driving south to Nimes and explore the 2-millennia old Roman du Gard aqueduct. The Maison Carree is also a beautiful place you should see. From Arles to Camargue and Aigues Mortes, there are many French stories to amuse you.
Driving into Provence makes your expedition even more fantastic. The breathtaking roads start at L’Isle-Sur-la-Sorgue, snaking its way through the Luberon before stopping in Roussillon. The lavender fields of Valensole can make for a more exhilarating road trip in this part of the country.
Enjoy Bordeaux Countryside to the Biarritz
The strip of road from Bordeaux to the Biarritz Coat offers a variety of road trip that is perfect for those who want a more mellowed journey. It is the ideal antidote for a comfortable life and one that is certain to have anyone feel lively afterward.
The road from Bordeaux to the medieval village of Saint-Emilion boasts of the country’s other popular vineyard paths. Visit the Chateau La Dominique or Chateau Soutard for a sample of their wine. Les Cordeliers should be on your itinerary too. You can make a stop for the incredible arts and gorgeous gardens of Domaine des Lass before taking lunch at the enchanting village of Navarrenx.
Barcus offers road trip adventurers an exciting drive up to the surrounding mountains. At Saint Jean Pied de Port, the road opens up to the camera-perfect views of the Pyrenees, and you can drive along until you get to Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Park your car and head to the Playa de Saint-Jean-de-Luz where its waters beckon you to take a dip.
Adorn Montpellier to Nice Coastal Road Trip
The 202-mile road trip from Montpellier to Nice gives a strikingly attractive view of the Mediterranean. You will be hugging the coastline and provide you with a taste of the French Riviera from Toulon. From Montpellier, you can make a stopover at Aigues-Mortes for lunch while adoring the Tour Carbonniere and the Constance Tower.
Driving through the Camargues wetlands may give you quite a unique chance to see the wild white horse that has made the area very popular. Just along the way to Arles, there are also vineyards and burst forth to catch your attention. You can keep driving towards Aix-en-Provence and spend a few hours at the beach. Pack your luggage and drive towards Cassis and sample the Crème de Cassis, a black currant-derived dark-red, sweet liqueur.
There is still more to see. From Cassis, keep on driving until you reach Marseille. The old port has restaurants that serve incredible seafood dishes. The Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde is also a must-see for its architecture and the city views that are offered. The end to your trip should be Nice; although it would be difficult not to make a stopover at stylish Saint-Tropez and playground of the rich, Cannes.
Dinan around Normandy and Brittany
While this is not a popular side of France and even among tourists, it makes it more exciting for a road trip. If you happen to be attracted by low profile places for unique experiences, Dinan should top your list. Take the time to get lost for an hour or two in the winding streets of the historic town center, before climbing St. Catherine Tower for a beautiful view of the valley below. It is a lovely place to add to your tour of France- even if it is not as well as Southern France, it remains one of the most gripping Medieval towns.
Do you have any other good ideas for road trips in France? Leave your comments below.
