Route des Grandes Alpes, Scenic route from Lake Geneva to Mediterranean Sea, France.
The Route des Grandes Alpes extends over 720 kilometers through the French Alps, crossing 17 mountain passes and four national parks between Thonon-les-Bains and Nice.
The Touring Club of France initiated the construction of this alpine route in 1909 to connect northern and southern valleys, completing the project in 1937.
The route passes through numerous alpine villages where travelers can discover traditional mountain architecture, regional gastronomy, and local customs of the French Alps.
The road remains accessible from June to October, requiring drivers to verify pass conditions and weather forecasts before starting their journey through the high mountains.
At Col de l'Iseran, travelers reach the highest paved mountain pass in the Alps at 2,770 meters, offering views of surrounding peaks and valleys.
Location: Haute-Savoie
Location: Savoie
Location: Isère
Location: Hautes-Alpes
Location: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Location: Alpes-Maritimes
GPS coordinates: 45.45392,7.03977
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:37
France offers motorcyclists a diverse landscape, from Alpine peaks to Mediterranean coasts, including wine regions. The country is suitable for all riding styles, with demanding mountain roads, winding coastal routes, and rural paths. Key routes include the Col de la Bonette, reaching 2802 meters and connecting Ubaye to Tinée over 26 kilometers. The Gorges du Verdon feature 21 kilometers of rock-carved road, passing through tunnels and 700-meter-high cliffs. The Routes of the Great Alps cross 16 passes over 684 kilometers between Lake Geneva and the Mediterranean, with a total ascent of 15,700 meters. Mount Ventoux, accessible via three routes and standing at 1912 meters, passes through lavender fields and vineyards in Provence. Regions display striking contrasts: Corsica alternates between cliff roads and pine forests, the French Riviera combines coast and mountainous hinterland, and Dordogne winds between limestone cliffs and medieval villages. Lake Annecy connects water bodies with forested mountain passes. These routes feature technical curves, varied landscapes, and cultural sites.
Écrins National Park
90.2 km
Meije
76.1 km
Pic de Neige Cordier
75.3 km
Grand Galibier
64.3 km
Lautaret Garden
68.4 km
Glacier d'Arsine
73.8 km
Téléphériques des glaciers de la Meije
73.6 km
Ouvrage Les Rochilles
59.7 km
Pic Gaspard
75.3 km
Réserve naturelle nationale des pics du Combeynot
69.1 km
Le Pavé
75.6 km
Aiguillette du Lauzet
64.9 km
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de La Grave
73.3 km
Laurichard Glacier
69.9 km
Pic de Chamoissière
74.1 km
Church of St Peter and St Paul of the Hières
71.9 km
Église Saint-Claude du Casset
67.9 km
Église Saint-Matthieu
73.7 km
Rochers de la Grande Paré
60.7 km
Col du Bec
73.8 km
Bench
70.7 km
Monument Henri-Desgrange
66.1 km
Église Saint-Martin de Villar-d'Arêne
71.7 km
Roche Olvéra
63.2 km
Pont sur le Maurian, La Grave
72.6 km
Ensemble religieux de La Grave
73.4 km
Chapelle des Pénitents de La Grave
73.3 km
L'Alpe du Lauzet
65.1 kmReviews
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