How long is Route Napoleon?
France, europe
325 km
N/A
easy
Year-round
Get ready for an epic road trip along Route Napoleon, a seriously stunning drive that snakes through the French mountains, linking the glitzy French Riviera to the rugged southern Pre-Alps. It's basically following in the footsteps of Napoleon himself when he made his daring escape from Elba back in 1815!
We're talking about 325 km (200 mi) of pure driving bliss on perfectly paved roads (routes N85, D1085, D4085, and D6085 to be exact).
The adventure kicks off in Golfe-Juan, a charming coastal town on the Côte d'Azur where Napoleon first stepped ashore on March 1st, 1815. From there, you'll wind your way through Provence, hitting spots like Cannes and Grasse before heading inland. Expect to pass through picturesque towns like Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey, Castellane (home of the Napoleon Bridge!), and Barrême. You'll conquer the Col des Leques (1,146 m), cruise along the Bléone river, and even spot a castle where Napoleon supposedly spent the night. Sisteron and Gap are on the itinerary before tackling the Col Bayard (1,248 m) and pushing on to Grenoble.
Trust me, this drive is worth it. Imagine charming towns and villages begging to be explored and Imperial Eagle statues marking your way. The road itself is a masterpiece, designed for speed and showcasing your car's performance. Inaugurated in 1932, this historical route is dotted with monuments and commemorative plaques.
Give yourself around 8 to 9 hours to complete the whole route. Napoleon took a week with a thousand men in tow, but you might want to spread it out over a few days to soak up the incredible views. Just keep your eyes peeled for the brown eagle signs, and get ready for the ride of your life!
Where is it?
How long is Route Napoleon? is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 43.8843, 6.4394
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 325 km
- Difficulty
- easy
- Coordinates
- 43.8843, 6.4394
Related Roads in europe
extremeA wild balcony road through Gorges de Galamus in France
🇫🇷 France
# Gorges de Galamus: France's Heart-Pounding Canyon Drive Picture this: you're winding through the stunning Occitanie region in southern France, straddling the border between the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales departments, carved into cliffs by the Agly River. Welcome to Gorges de Galamus, one of France's most legendary balcony roads. The D7 stretches a thrilling 9.7 km (6 miles) between Cubières-sur-Cinoble and Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet, and honestly? It's not for the faint of heart. This paved road gets genuinely narrow—we're talking two-car-passing-impossible narrow. Those 1,000-foot drops to the river below are real, and the stone walls offer minimal reassurance. High winds are pretty much guaranteed, making it a road that demands respect and attention. Summer traffic can be intense. July and August bring afternoon traffic lights and potential 15-minute waits, thanks to alternating traffic regulations in place since 2003. Year-round driving is possible, but expect challenges. The road narrows so dramatically in places that you might need to reverse around blind corners, and beginner riders should honestly skip this one. The good news? Approximately every 100 meters there's a passing spot—handy since this road was originally built for horse-drawn carriages that literally couldn't turn around. The scenery is absolutely stunning, especially from the restaurant and parking area near Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet. Just remember: you can't stop safely for the driver to enjoy the views while driving. Nearby, you can tackle two impressive castle ruins—Château de Peyrepertuse and Château de Queribus—plus the scenic "Grau du Maury" with its panoramic mountain vistas. All within 40 km of breathtaking driving. Just bring water on hot days, and watch out for storm winds.
hardA Most Tricky Scenic Drive to Lac de la Glère
🇫🇷 France
# Lac de la Glère Tucked away at 2,152 meters (7,060 feet) in the stunning Néouvielle range of the French Pyrenees, Lac de la Glère is an alpine gem worth the adventure. Located in the Hautes-Pyrénées region of southwestern France, this pristine mountain lake sits in some seriously remote territory. Here's the real talk: the road up here is completely unpaved and basically a no-go zone from October through June (unless conditions are unusually favorable). Mountain weather is notoriously moody, so come prepared for anything. A 4x4 is seriously recommended if you want to tackle this properly. The trail itself is steep with some gnarly hairpin turns that'll keep you on your toes, so save this one for when you're feeling confident behind the wheel. Once you make it to the lake, you'll find the charming Refuge de la Glère, a mountain hut that's been welcoming hikers and adventurers since 1953. The scenery alone makes the challenging drive worthwhile—you're looking at some of the most dramatic alpine landscape France has to offer.
hardCol du Farguet
🇫🇷 France
Okay, adventure awaits on the Col du Farguet, a seriously scenic mountain pass tucked away in the Alpes Maritimes of southeastern France! You'll be cruising at an altitude of 1,084 meters (3,556 feet), so prepare for some breathtaking views. Now, heads up: the road to the top is a gravel track, and it gets pretty steep and narrow in sections. After it rains, this route can transform into a muddy, slippery challenge, and might even become impassable, even if you're rocking a 4x4. On a dry day, though, most 2WD vehicles with good clearance should be able to manage it at a slow pace – just watch out for washboarding, ruts, and dips!
moderateA 5-star road to the top of Puerto de Santa Ines in Soria
🇪🇸 Spain
# Puerto de Santa Inés: A Spanish Mountain Adventure Looking for an epic mountain drive? Head to the Puerto de Santa Inés in Soria, Spain – a stunning high-altitude pass sitting pretty at 1,755 meters (5,757 feet) in the heart of Castile and León. The summit is home to a ski resort, so you know you're going somewhere special. The SO-830 stretches 27.5 kilometers (17 miles) between Montenegro de Cameros and Vinuesa, running north-south through the dramatic Iberian System mountains. The route is paved throughout, though you'll encounter some seriously steep sections – we're talking gradients up to 12%, so definitely keep that in mind if you're towing anything. The good news? This road stays open year-round, which is pretty impressive for a mountain pass. Just keep an eye on winter weather reports – when things get gnarly, authorities occasionally close it temporarily. But most of the year, you're free to tackle this scenic beauty whenever you like. The mountain scenery alone makes this drive absolutely worth adding to your road trip bucket list.