Page 131 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

An attractive route is via the
D1212 to Albertville, and then
via the A43, which travels over
the Italian border and through PETER BURNETT / GETTY IMAGES ©
the Tunnel de Fréjus. From here,
the N94 runs through Briançon,
and a combination of the A51,
N85 and D6085 carries you
south to Nice. You’ll cover at
least 430km.

b French Riviera
If there’s one coast road
in France you simply
have to drive, it’s the
French Riviera, with
its rocky cliffs, maquis-
scented air and dazzling French Riviera The winding coastline
Med views. Sun-seekers
have been flocking here
since the 19th century, c Aix-en-Provence
and its scenery still never TRIP HIGHLIGHT
fails to seduce. Sleepy Provence sums d Gorges du Verdon
Lively Nice and up the essence of la Complete your cross-
cinematic Cannes make douce vie (the gentle France adventure with
natural starts, but for the life). Cloaked in lavender an unforgettable expedi-
Riviera’s loveliest scenery, and spotted with hilltop tion to the Gorges du
you’ll want to drive down villages, it’s a region Verdon – sometimes
the gorgeous Corniche that sums up everything known as the Grand
de l’Estérel to St-Tropez, that’s good about France. Canyon of Europe. This
still a watchword for Cruising the back deep ravine slashes 25km
seaside glamour. Summer roads and browsing the through the plateaus
can be hellish, but come markets are the best of Haute-Provence; in
in spring or autumn and ways to get acquainted. places, its walls rise to a
you’ll have its winding Carpentras and Vaison- dizzying 700m, twice the
lanes and fragrant hills la-Romaine are particu- height of the Eiffel Tower
practically to yourself. larly detour-worthy, while (321m).
For maximum views, artistic Aix-en-Provence The two main
stick to the coast roads: encapsulates the classic jumping-off points are
the D6098 to Antibes and Provençal vibe, with the villages of Moustiers
Cannes, the D559 around its pastel buildings and Ste-Marie, in the west,
the Corniche de l’Estérel, Cézanne connections. and Castellane, in the
and the D98A to St- 54 p131 east. Drivers and bikers
Tropez. It’s about 120km can take in the canyon
via this route. The Drive » The gorges are
230km northeast of Aix-en- panorama from two
The Drive » From St-Tropez, Provence, via the A51 and D952. vertigo-inducing cliffside
take the fast A8 for about roads, but the base of the
230km west to Aix-en-Provence. gorge is only accessible
on foot or by raft.

129