When it comes to taking a road trip in France, there are plenty of opportunities given that it’s one of the biggest countries in Europe. Route des Grandes Alpes is one of the most amazing routes that take you the most astounding road trip through beautiful parts of the French Alps. Discovering beautiful landscapes cruising through most scenic roads, mountains massifs, and local hospitality that can’t be matched, well you can’t ask for more than this.
The iconic Route des Grande Alpes starts in Lake Geneva and follows all the high mountain passes south until the French Riviera. This route does it in reverse with a little detour to Lake Annecy and Gorge du Fier. The remote countryside drive on this route is serene and as tranquil as it could get, as you start from Menton and come back to it sipping in the most refreshing and heart-stopping beautiful landscapes.
This French road trip itinerary covers much of the country and is of varying lengths, so there will be something to suit everyone for sure. The distance between Lake Geneva to French Riviera is around 602.3 km, so it is recommended to plan a trip of 3-5 days. You can cover this route by car, which is a great option to do touring – either with your camper or a rental car. It allows you to camp along the way, and take your time exploring as you go.
What is Route de Grandes Alpes?
Route des Grandes Alpes, one of the most famous road trips in France, runs through some of the most beautiful parts of the French Alps. Starting in Lake Geneva and winds south over the highest mountain pass until you reach the French Riviera. This iconic route from the mountains passes, across the Alps, provides an excellent way for sightseeing, meeting locals, and witnessing the high peaks, along with Alpine villages. Some of the popular attractions you will come across on this mind-boggling journey of La Route des Grandes Alpes include Le Queyras, Col du Galibier, and Vallée de la Tinée.
Places to Explore on Route des Grandes Alpes
With around 16 mountain passes through in the Alps, Route des Grandes Alpes road trip is full of adventures and has not a single iota of dreariness to it. Some of the popular highlights of the trip include:
01 Lake Annecy
The snow-capped and steep wooded mountains rising majestically above the turquoise waters of Lake Annecy provide a serene view. With the historic town of Annecy, famous lakeshore villages such as Talloires and fairy-tale castles like Duingt and Menthon, Lake Annecy is one of the city’s most spectacular settings.
It is also one of France’s largest lakes although smaller than the Bourget and Lake Geneva. For the best experience of the lake, you can either take a cruise from Annecy or drive around the lake with stops at Menthon, Veyrier, Talloires, le Bout-du-Lac, Saint-Jorioz, and Sévrier.
02 Gorge du Fier
Just 10 km from Annecy, the river has carved out one of the most magnificent examples of erosion by running water, the Gorges du Fier, which is considered to be one of the natural wonders of the Alps. Situated at the end of the medieval castle of Montrottier, the deep, narrow gorges are one of the oldest attractions of the Alps. Since 1869 a suspended footbridge, perched above the stream, has been erected to enable visitors to explore the gorges.
Wander deep into the giant gorge with the River Fier flowing at its base, and stop to praise the boulders stacked up high in all their shapes and forms. The play of light and shadow makes extraordinary faces appear along the length of the rock face. Also, discover a multitude of Giants’ Kettles carved out by the river over thousands of years.
03 Mont Blanc
Located in the Alps, Mont Blanc is the massif that lies along the French-Italian border and reaches into Switzerland. It is the highest peak in Europe that extends southwestward from Martigny, Switzerland, for about 40 km and has a maximum width of 16 km. Surrounding the sierra are the Graian Alps in the south, the Chamonix Valley and Savoy Alps in the west, the Pennine Alps in the northeast, and the Valley of Courmayeur in the east. The region has come to form the largest Alpine tourist center, with cable cars and various facilities for winter sports.
04 Incredible mountain views
Route des Grandes Alpes is a famous mountain road that runs from the mountains to the sea, across the French Alps. This route takes you from Lake Leman(Lake Geneva) to the Mediterranean climbing passes offering the most beautiful views of Europe with an exceptional natural and cultural environment.
This legendary route from the French Alps, winding its way over mountain passes like Col d’Eze, Col de Castillon, Col de La Bonette, and Col d’Izoard along with secluded valleys. Do not forget to bring your camera, as the winding road crosses some of the spectacular mountain landscapes.
05 French Riviera
Situated to the east of the point where the Alps meet the Mediterranean, French Riviera is an area that enjoys great weather all year round. The Mediterranean coast of southeastern France is sprinkled with some of the world’s most popular beaches, resorts, and places, including Monaco, Cannes, Nice, and Saint Tropez. French Riviera, aka Côte d’Azur, is also home to many celebrities like Elton John and Brigitte Bardot. The region is also popular for the Nice Carnival, Cannes Film Festival, Monte Carlo Beach, and St. Tropez.
Places to Eat on Route de Grandes Alpes
You can find many great restaurants on your road trip from Lake Geneva to French Riviera via Route des Grandes Alpes. The following is the list of few eateries that you can find useful on this trip:
- Le Chalet du Port: Outdoor seating & serves great cocktails
- LE COUAC: french restaurant with bar
- Le Girelier: serves seafood
Where to Stay on Route de Grandes Alpes
Starting from Menton, the Route des Grandes Alpes is full of some amazing destinations, mountain passes offering great accommodations. Hotels on the Route des Grandes Alpes offers stays vary from the bed, and breakfast options like homestays, guesthouses to local hotels, and campers. Following are a few picks for hotels for your Route de Grandes Alpes road trip:
- Residel: 20 Chemin des Aires, 74320 Sévrier, France
- Fasthôtel Annecy: 2 Rue Gustave Eiffel, 74600 Seynod, France
When it comes to taking a road trip in France, there are plenty of opportunities given that it’s one of the biggest countries in Europe. Route des Grandes Alpes is one of the most amazing routes that take you the most astounding road trip through beautiful parts of the French Alps. Discovering beautiful landscapes cruising through most scenic roads, mountains massifs, and local hospitality that can’t be matched, well you can’t ask for more than this.
The iconic Route des Grande Alpes starts in Lake Geneva and follows all the high mountain passes south until the French Riviera. This route does it in reverse with a little detour to Lake Annecy and Gorge du Fier. The remote countryside drive on this route is serene and as tranquil as it could get, as you start from Menton and come back to it sipping in the most refreshing and heart-stopping beautiful landscapes.
This French road trip itinerary covers much of the country and is of varying lengths, so there will be something to suit everyone for sure. The distance between Lake Geneva to French Riviera is around 602.3 km, so it is recommended to plan a trip of 3-5 days. You can cover this route by car, which is a great option to do touring – either with your camper or a rental car. It allows you to camp along the way, and take your time exploring as you go.
What is Route de Grandes Alpes?
Route des Grandes Alpes, one of the most famous road trips in France, runs through some of the most beautiful parts of the French Alps. Starting in Lake Geneva and winds south over the highest mountain pass until you reach the French Riviera. This iconic route from the mountains passes, across the Alps, provides an excellent way for sightseeing, meeting locals, and witnessing the high peaks, along with Alpine villages. Some of the popular attractions you will come across on this mind-boggling journey of La Route des Grandes Alpes include Le Queyras, Col du Galibier, and Vallée de la Tinée.
Places to Explore on Route des Grandes Alpes
With around 16 mountain passes through in the Alps, Route des Grandes Alpes road trip is full of adventures and has not a single iota of dreariness to it. Some of the popular highlights of the trip include:
01 Lake Annecy
The snow-capped and steep wooded mountains rising majestically above the turquoise waters of Lake Annecy provide a serene view. With the historic town of Annecy, famous lakeshore villages such as Talloires and fairy-tale castles like Duingt and Menthon, Lake Annecy is one of the city’s most spectacular settings. It is also one of France’s largest lakes although smaller than the Bourget and Lake Geneva.
For the best experience of the lake, you can either take a cruise from Annecy or drive around the lake with stops at Menthon, Veyrier, Talloires, le Bout-du-Lac, Saint-Jorioz, and Sévrier.
02 Gorge du Fier
Just 10 km from Annecy, the river has carved out one of the most magnificent examples of erosion by running water, the Gorges du Fier, which is considered to be one of the natural wonders of the Alps. Situated at the end of the medieval castle of Montrottier, the deep, narrow gorges are one of the oldest attractions of the Alps. Since 1869 a suspended footbridge, perched above the stream, has been erected to enable visitors to explore the gorges.
Wander deep into the giant gorge with the River Fier flowing at its base, and stop to praise the boulders stacked up high in all their shapes and forms. The play of light and shadow makes extraordinary faces appear along the length of the rock face. Also, discover a multitude of Giants’ Kettles carved out by the river over thousands of years.
03 Mont Blanc
Located in the Alps, Mont Blanc is the massif that lies along the French-Italian border and reaches into Switzerland. It is the highest peak in Europe that extends southwestward from Martigny, Switzerland, for about 40 km and has a maximum width of 16 km. Surrounding the sierra are the Graian Alps in the south, the Chamonix Valley and Savoy Alps in the west, the Pennine Alps in the northeast, and the Valley of Courmayeur in the east. The region has come to form the largest Alpine tourist center, with cable cars and various facilities for winter sports.
04 Incredible mountain views
Route des Grandes Alpes is a famous mountain road that runs from the mountains to the sea, across the French Alps. This route takes you from Lake Leman(Lake Geneva) to the Mediterranean climbing passes offering the most beautiful views of Europe with an exceptional natural and cultural environment. This legendary route from the French Alps, winding its way over mountain passes like Col d’Eze, Col de Castillon, Col de La Bonette, and Col d’Izoard along with secluded valleys. Do not forget to bring your camera, as the winding road crosses some of the spectacular mountain landscapes.
05 French Riviera
Situated to the east of the point where the Alps meet the Mediterranean, French Riviera is an area that enjoys great weather all year round. The Mediterranean coast of southeastern France is sprinkled with some of the world’s most popular beaches, resorts, and places, including Monaco, Cannes, Nice, and Saint Tropez. French Riviera, aka Côte d’Azur, is also home to many celebrities like Elton John and Brigitte Bardot. The region is also popular for the Nice Carnival, Cannes Film Festival, Monte Carlo Beach, and St. Tropez.
Places to Eat on Route de Grandes Alpes
You can find many great restaurants on your road trip from Lake Geneva to French Riviera via Route des Grandes Alpes. The following is the list of few eateries that you can find useful on this trip:
- Le Chalet du Port: Outdoor seating & serves great cocktails
- LE COUAC: french restaurant with bar
- Le Girelier: serves seafood
Where to Stay on Route de Grandes Alpes
Starting from Menton, the Route des Grandes Alpes is full of some amazing destinations, mountain passes offering great accommodations. Hotels on the Route des Grandes Alpes offers stays vary from the bed, and breakfast options like homestays, guesthouses to local hotels, and campers. Following are a few picks for hotels for your Route de Grandes Alpes road trip:
- Residel: 20 Chemin des Aires, 74320 Sévrier, France
- Fasthôtel Annecy: 2 Rue Gustave Eiffel, 74600 Seynod, France
- Hôtel Lou Paouvadou: 10 Boulevard de la Paix, 83120 Sainte-Maxime, France
- Hôtel Lou Paouvadou: 10 Boulevard de la Paix, 83120 Sainte-Maxime, France