The best motorcycle roads in France
France may be the best country in Europe for a long motorcycle tour. It has the highest paved passes in the Alps, the Pyrenees along its southern border, the gorges and plateaus of Provence and the Massif Central, and a network of quiet departmental roads that link them with almost no traffic. Fuel stops, small hotels and good lunches are never far away.
This list ranks the roads we would build a trip around. The Alps take most of the places, because nowhere else in France packs so many great climbs so close together, but the Pyrenees, the Vosges and the southern gorges all earn their spots. Every entry gives the road number, a rough length, the months it is open and at its best, and where to stay.
The high passes in the Alps and Pyrenees close for winter, and their opening dates move with the snow every year. Before you lock in a route over the Iseran, Galibier or Bonette, check the current status with the department road authority.
1. Route des Grandes Alpes
- Road
- D902 and others
- Length
- About 700 km
- Best season
- Late June to September
The great French Alpine traverse runs from Thonon-les-Bains on Lake Geneva to Menton on the Mediterranean, crossing more than a dozen passes on the way, including the Colombière, Iseran, Galibier, Izoard and Bonette. It is about 700 km, and five days is a good pace with time to stop. Every day brings a different landscape, from green pastures in the north to dry, sun-baked rock in the south. Ride it north to south so the Mediterranean is your reward at the end.
2. Col de l'Iseran
- Road
- D902
- Length
- About 50 km
- Best season
- Late June to September
At 2,764 metres the Iseran is the highest paved through pass in the Alps, linking Val d'Isère in the Tarentaise with Bonneval-sur-Arc in the Maurienne. The northern climb past the ski resort is wide and fast; the southern side toward Bonneval is the better ride, with tight bends, bare rock and snow walls early in the season. It is often the last French pass to open, and it can be cold and windy at the top in midsummer. Bring a warm layer and check it is open.
3. Col du Galibier
- Road
- D902
- Length
- About 35 km
- Best season
- June to October
The Galibier reaches 2,642 metres between Valloire and the Col du Lautaret, and it is one of the most famous climbs of the Tour de France. From Valloire the road winds up an open valley before the final steep switchbacks to the summit tunnel and the old road over the top. The descent to the Lautaret gives a huge view of the Meije glaciers. Ride it with the Col du Télégraphe from Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne for one of the best hours of riding in France.
4. Cime de la Bonette
- Road
- D64
- Length
- About 50 km
- Best season
- Late June to September
The D64 between Jausiers and Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée climbs to a loop around the Cime de la Bonette at about 2,802 metres, the highest paved road in France. The landscape on the way up is lunar: scree, old military buildings and almost no trees. The road is narrow, with poor edges and few barriers, so it rewards a calm pace. The southern descent into the Tinée valley is long and beautiful. Base yourself in Barcelonnette and add the Col de la Cayolle and Col d'Allos for a full loop.
5. Gorges du Verdon
- Road
- D952, D23 and D71
- Length
- About 100 km
- Best season
- April to October
The deepest canyon in France cuts through the limestone of Provence, with roads along both rims that make a full loop of around 100 km. The D952 on the north side has the Route des Crêtes (D23), a dead-end balcony road from La Palud with viewpoints straight down into the gorge. The D71 on the south side, the Corniche Sublime, is narrower and more exposed, with tunnels and the Balcons de la Mescla. Ride it outside midsummer, when the campervans and heat are at their worst.
6. Route Napoléon
- Road
- N85
- Length
- About 325 km
- Best season
- April to October
The N85 follows the route Napoleon took from the coast at Golfe-Juan to Grenoble after his escape from Elba, about 325 km through the hills of Provence and the southern Alps. The section from Grasse through Castellane to Digne is the best: wide, well-surfaced, sweeping bends through dry hills and pine forest, with long sight lines and little traffic outside summer weekends. It is a main road, so it is quick rather than technical, and it makes a perfect link from the Riviera to the Alps or the Verdon.
7. Col du Tourmalet
- Road
- D918
- Length
- About 40 km
- Best season
- June to October
The highest paved pass in the central French Pyrenees reaches 2,115 metres between Luz-Saint-Sauveur and Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, and no climb has featured more often in the Tour de France. Both sides are steady, well-surfaced climbs with long views over the high mountains; the eastern side past La Mongie ski station is the more open. The summit is busy with cyclists on summer mornings. Ride it with the Aubisque, Soulor and Aspin on the same day for a classic Pyrenean loop.
8. Col d'Aubisque and Col du Soulor
- Road
- D918
- Length
- About 30 km
- Best season
- June to October
West of the Tourmalet, the D918 climbs to the Col du Soulor and then runs along a narrow ledge called the Cirque du Litor to the Col d'Aubisque at 1,709 metres. The ledge section is one of the most spectacular stretches of road in the Pyrenees, with a sheer drop on one side, short tunnels and very little barrier. Cows and horses graze on the road near the top. Ride it slowly, enjoy the views, and continue down to Laruns and the Ossau valley.
9. Route des Crêtes (Vosges)
- Road
- D430, D431 and D61
- Length
- About 80 km
- Best season
- May to October
The Route des Crêtes follows the ridge of the Vosges from the Col du Bonhomme south to Cernay, passing the Grand Ballon, the highest point of the range at 1,424 metres. It was built as a military road and stays high for most of its length, with long, open sweepers, views over the Alsace plain to the Black Forest and farmhouse inns serving hearty lunches. Snow closes the high section in winter. Drop down to the Alsace wine villages in the evening for the full experience.
10. Col de Turini
- Road
- D2566
- Length
- About 30 km
- Best season
- April to October
The Turini climbs to 1,607 metres in the hills behind Nice and Monaco, and it is famous as a stage of the Monte Carlo Rally. Both sides are packed with hairpins through dense forest, with a narrow, grippy surface and almost no straight sections. Approach from Sospel for the tightest climb, or from La Bollène-Vésubie for the classic rally stretch. It is lower than the high Alps, so it opens earlier and closes later, and it is an easy morning ride from the coast.
11. Gorges du Tarn
- Road
- D907bis
- Length
- About 50 km
- Best season
- April to October
In the Massif Central the Tarn has cut a deep limestone canyon between Ispagnac and Le Rozier, and the D907bis follows the river through it for about 50 km. The road hugs the cliff, passing through short rock tunnels and stone villages such as Sainte-Énimie and La Malène. It is narrow and slow in summer, but quiet and beautiful in spring and autumn. Climb out onto the Causse Méjean or the Causse de Sauveterre plateaus, then follow the Gorges de la Jonte east from Le Rozier.
How to plan a trip around these roads
For the Alps, either ride the Route des Grandes Alpes north to south over a week, or base yourself in two places, such as the Maurienne valley and Barcelonnette, and ride day loops over the passes. For the Pyrenees, a base around Luz-Saint-Sauveur or Argelès-Gazost puts the Tourmalet, Aubisque and Gavarnie within easy reach.
Late June to mid-September is the window when every high pass is normally open. Early July and September are quieter than the August holidays, when French families fill the mountain roads.
- French motorways are tolled; the passes and departmental roads are free.
- In France you must carry a high-visibility vest on the bike, and gloves are compulsory for riders and passengers. Check the official French road safety rules before you go.
- Fuel stations in the high Alps are sparse and some close at lunchtime or on Sundays. Fill up in the valleys.
- Cyclists are everywhere on the famous climbs in summer. Pass wide and patiently.
More of the best motorcycle roads
Questions riders ask
What is the best motorcycle road in France?
The Route des Grandes Alpes is the best long ride, crossing the French Alps from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean. For single passes, the Col de l’Iseran, Col du Galibier and Cime de la Bonette are the highlights.
When are the French Alpine passes open?
Most high passes open in June and close in October or November, depending on snow. The highest, such as the Iseran and Bonette, can open as late as the end of June. Check the department road authority for current opening status before you go.
What kit is compulsory for motorcyclists in France?
France requires an approved helmet with reflective stickers, gloves for riders and passengers, and a high-visibility vest carried on the bike. Rules change, so check the official French road safety guidance before you travel.
Which is the highest road in France?
The road around the Cime de la Bonette reaches about 2,802 metres. The highest through pass is the Col de l’Iseran at 2,764 metres.
How long does the Route des Grandes Alpes take?
About 700 km. Five days is a comfortable pace with time to stop; strong riders do it in three or four. Allow a spare day in case a pass is closed by weather.