1. Route des Grandes Alpes — Lake Geneva to Menton

The Route des Grandes Alpes is the ultimate French motorcycle journey: 720 km from Thônon-les-Bains on Lake Geneva down to Menton on the Mediterranean, crossing 17 alpine passes including the Iseran, Galibier, Izoard and Bonette. It is not one road but a string of postcard passes you ride end-to-end over 4 to 6 days.

Distance: 720 km | Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced | Best season: June to early October (high passes closed in winter) | Tip: Book hotels in advance — the route is wildly popular and small mountain villages fill up fast.

2. Col de la Bonette — Highest paved road in France

At 2 802 m, the loop around the summit of the Bonette is the highest paved road in France (and one of the highest in Europe). The landscape is lunar — raw mineral mountains, stone cairns, no trees — and the road is in beautiful condition. A pilgrimage every French rider does at least once.

Distance: 24 km from Jausiers | Difficulty: Intermediate | Best season: Late June to September | Tip: The summit ring road is one-way and adds 100 m of altitude — don't skip it.

3. Gorges du Verdon — Europe's Grand Canyon

The Verdon canyon cuts 700 m deep into Provençal limestone, with turquoise water at the bottom. Two roads run along the rim: the D952 on the north side and the spectacular Corniche Sublime (D71) on the south. Combining both makes a perfect 130 km loop with constant viewpoints.

Distance: 130 km full loop | Difficulty: Intermediate (narrow in places) | Best season: April to June, September to October (very hot and crowded in July-August) | Tip: Start clockwise from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie at sunrise for empty roads and golden light on the cliffs.

4. Col du Tourmalet — The Pyrenees legend

The Tourmalet (2 115 m) is the most famous pass of the Pyrenees, made legendary by the Tour de France. The road climbs through pastures, ski stations and bare ridges, with views that open onto the Pic du Midi. Pair it with the Col d'Aspin to the east and the Col de Soulor to the west for a perfect Pyrenean day.

Distance: 30 km between Sainte-Marie-de-Campan and Lu-Saint-Sauveur | Difficulty: Intermediate | Best season: June to October | Tip: The east side (Sainte-Marie) is more technical and less crowded than the west side (La Mongie).

5. Route Napoléon (N85) — Grenoble to Cannes

Inaugurated as a memorial to Napoleon's 1815 return from Elba, the N85 covers 325 km from Grenoble through Sisteron, Castellane and Grasse down to Cannes. It threads through pre-alpine valleys and Provençal villages on smooth, fast-flowing roads — the perfect first long road trip for new riders.

Distance: 325 km | Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate | Best season: April to October | Tip: Detour through the Gorges du Cians and Daluis on the way down — red-rock canyons most riders miss.

6. Gorges du Tarn — The Massif Central jewel

The Tarn river has carved a 50 km canyon between the Causse Méjean and Causse de Sauveterre plateaus. The D907bis hugs the river bottom from Le Rozier to Sainte-Énimie, weaving through medieval villages clinging to the cliffs. The road is technical, narrow and unforgettable.

Distance: 50 km one-way | Difficulty: Intermediate (narrow, traffic) | Best season: May to June, September | Tip: Climb out to the Point Sublime viewpoint — one of the most spectacular panoramas in mainland France.

7. Col d'Izoard — The Casse Déserte

The Izoard climbs to 2 360 m and, just below the summit on the south side, crosses the surreal Casse Déserte: a lunar landscape of eroded stone pinnacles emerging from white scree. It's one of the most unique scenes in the Alps and a Tour de France monument.

Distance: 31 km from Briançon | Difficulty: Intermediate | Best season: June to October | Tip: Continue south through the Queyras to the Col Agnel (Italian border) for one of the wildest valleys in France.

8. Plateau de Valensole — The lavender ride

Between mid-June and mid-July, the Valensole plateau in Haute-Provence becomes a sea of purple. Endless rows of lavender stretch to the horizon, cut by small empty roads ideal for a slow, photogenic ride. Pair it with the nearby Verdon for a perfect Provençal weekend.

Distance: 40 km loop around Valensole | Difficulty: All levels | Best season: Mid-June to mid-July for lavender | Tip: Sunrise and sunset are magical — arrive early or stay late to avoid the day-tripper crowds.

9. Route des Crêtes — Vosges mountains

The Route des Crêtes runs 77 km along the ridge of the Vosges, from Cernay to Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. The road winds through pastures, mountain inns serving Munster cheese and tarte flambée, and opens onto the Alsace plain and Black Forest. Less famous than the Alps, often empty, always charming.

Distance: 77 km | Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate | Best season: May to October | Tip: Stop at the Grand Ballon (1 424 m), highest summit of the Vosges, for a panorama from the Black Forest to the Alps on a clear day.

10. Col de Bavella — The Corsican giant

Corsica is the secret weapon of French motorcycle riding. The Col de Bavella, in the south of the island, climbs through pine forests to a pass dominated by the granite Aiguilles de Bavella spires. The road that connects it to Solenzara on the east coast is a 30 km feast of curves above pristine river pools.

Distance: 30 km Bavella to Solenzara | Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced (narrow, technical) | Best season: May to June, September to October | Tip: Sleep in Zonza the night before to ride the col at sunrise, then swim in the Solenzara river pools on the way down.

Plan your French motorcycle trip with Vroom GPS

All these roads share one thing: they are at their best when ridden with a GPS designed for motorcycles, not cars. With Vroom GPS, you can:

• Pick the right profile: « Thrilling » to chain hairpins on the Bonette, « Touring » for the long Route des Grandes Alpes, « Eco » for the Plateau de Valensole.
• Avoid motorways and tolls automatically — no more being routed onto the A7 when you wanted the Route Napoléon.
• See the full route on the map with profile, elevation and estimated time before you set off.
• Ride in a crew with real-time positions of every rider on the map — perfect for a 6-day Grandes Alpes adventure with friends.