Route Napoléon to the Corniches
5 days · 5 driving roads · 280 miles of them · best May–June, September
Golfe-Juan to Grenoble on Napoleon's 1815 road, then the Verdon gorges, the Cians, Col de la Cayolle, and the Grande Corniche into Menton. Five days from the Côte d'Azur into the southern Alps and back to the sea. Overnight Castellane or Moustiers, then Barcelonnette or Beuil, then Nice. Overnight Castellane or Moustiers, then Barcelonnette or Beuil, then Nice. Five days from the Côte d'Azur into the southern Alps and back to the sea.
Getting there
⛴ Eurotunnel Le Shuttle — Eurotunnel, about 36 min, up to 4/hour. Check sailings.
Worth knowing: Route Napoléon is 200 miles of N85 — a touring road with cameras and caravans, not a col. Verdon's balcony sections are single-track in places and terrifying with oncoming coaches; go early. Cayolle shuts in winter. The Corniches above Nice are urban, 30 limits, scooters, and the views. Avoid July and August on the coast. Crit'Air if you enter Nice's ZFE. Fuel is easy except on Cayolle.
The roads, in order
- Route Napoléon N85 · Golfe-Juan → Grenoble · 200 mi · 5–6 h (1–2 days) 📷 Citadelle de Sisteron · 🍽️ La Laiterie du Col Bayard · 📷 Prairie de la Rencontre, Laffrey
- Gorges du Verdon D952 · Castellane → Moustiers-Sainte-Marie · 28 mi · 1 h 15 min ⚠ Busy with tourist traffic July–August 📷 Point Sublime · ☕ Bar Lou Cafetié · ⛽ Proxi pumps, La Palud · 📷 Belvédère de Mayreste
- Col de la Cayolle D902 · Barcelonnette → Saint-Martin-d'Entraunes · 18 mi · 50 min ⚠ Closed roughly Nov–May (snow); narrow in the gorge ⛽ Station des 5 Cols, Barcelonnette · 🍽️ L'Auberge du Bachelard · 📷 Col de la Cayolle
- Gorges du Cians D28 · Touët-sur-Var → Beuil · 15 mi · 40 min ⚠ Occasional rockfall closures 📷 Gorges rouges narrows · 🍽️ L'Escapade, Beuil · ⛽ Le Relais du Mercantour, Beuil
- Trois Corniches – Grande Corniche D2564 (Grande Corniche) · Nice (Place Max Barel) → Menton · 19 mi · 1 h ⚠ ⚠ Heavy sightseeing traffic in summer; unguarded drops and low winter sun demand care 📷 Col d'Èze · 🍽️ Café de la Fontaine, La Turbie · 📷 Trophée d'Auguste
Drive it
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