Route Napoléon: a road trip through Provence, the Verdon Gorge and some of France’s best driving roads
For anyone who loves driving, the N85 needs no introduction. It is one of Europe’s most famous roads and probably one of the most complete routes you can experience on a Route Napoléon sports car tour. Fast-flowing corners, constant changes of pace, spectacular scenery and a road surface that makes you want to keep driving all day long.
All of this unfolds through the landscapes of Provence, following the route taken by Napoleon during his return from Elba to Paris.
Our weekend began on Friday evening in Valbonne, just a short distance from Grasse, where we gathered for the opening dinner of the tour. A few conversations, a good glass of wine and plenty of curiosity about a region that many of us had never explored by car before.
THE PERFECT RHYTHM OF THE N85 AND THE VERDON GORGE
On Saturday morning, Provence welcomed us with clear blue skies and sunshine. Leaving Grasse behind, we joined the Route Napoléon towards Digne-les-Bains, driving some of the finest sections of the entire route.
What immediately stands out about this road is its rhythm. The miles disappear effortlessly, the corners flow naturally into one another and driving feels surprisingly relaxing. It is very different from the tight hairpins of the major Alpine passes. Here you cover a lot of ground without feeling exhausted, which is exactly why the Route Napoleon remains one of the most popular driving roads in France.
For lunch we stopped in Bauduen, overlooking the turquoise waters of Lac de Sainte-Croix. The kind of place that looks as though it belongs on a postcard and makes you want to stay longer than planned. Fortunately, the afternoon had one of the region’s greatest highlights waiting for us.
The Verdon Gorge never disappoints. Towering cliffs plunge into the canyon, creating breathtaking views around every corner. It is one of those places that manages to exceed expectations, no matter how many photographs you have seen beforehand.
After almost a full day behind the wheel, we returned to the hotel with a surprising feeling: plenty of miles covered, yet far less tired than expected. Some enjoyed a relaxing swim before dinner, while others continued discussing the day’s roads and comparing their favourite sections.
RED ROCKS, LOTUS ENTHUSIASTS AND… GOATS!
Sunday brought a completely different but equally spectacular itinerary.
After following the scenic road alongside the Barrage de Castillon, we reached the incredible Gorges de Daluis. The striking red rock formations look more like Arizona than southern France and create one of the most unique landscapes of the entire tour. Naturally, we stopped for photos to capture both the cars and the scenery.
Lunch took us to Valberg before we continued through the magnificent Gorges du Cians. Flowing roads, dramatic rock walls and constantly changing scenery made this one of the highlights of the weekend.
During the day, we also had the pleasure of meeting a few members of the local Lotus Club from the Grasse area. A short stop, a few conversations and another reminder that enthusiasm for great driving roads speaks the same language everywhere.
Later in the afternoon, we climbed the Col de Vence, one of the most enjoyable roads in Provence. Here we stopped once again for photos and drone footage before tackling the final miles back to the hotel.
Of course, no road trip would be complete without an unexpected surprise. On the way back, part of our group suddenly found itself caught in the middle of a traditional livestock migration. Within seconds, the road was filled with goats. It was certainly not the kind of traffic we had expected to encounter in Provence, but it quickly became one of the funniest stories of the weekend.
The final evening also gave us the opportunity to celebrate Mattia’s birthday. He was the one who introduced us to these extraordinary roads and convinced us that this route deserved a place on the Delightful Driving calendar.
On Monday morning, it was time to say goodbye and begin the journey home.
With one certainty: after Sardinia, we thought we had already discovered the benchmark tour of the season. The Route Napoléon reminded us that there are still roads capable of surprising even the most experienced drivers. Fast, scenic, rewarding and incredibly varied – everything you could ask for from a true road trip through France.
