French Tour. Calais to Nice

SCORPION · Post by **SCORPION** » Mon 07 May, 2007 11:26

I'm hoping to drive the Z1 from Calais to Menton (near Nice) either in June or September.
Has anyone got any recommended routes or "must see"s.
I would prefer to avoid motorways as I want to do it at a leisurely pace.

PhoenixCoupe · Post by **PhoenixCoupe** » Mon 07 May, 2007 13:11

It's a bit out of the way, but, if you go due south from Paris, through Clermont Ferrand, you can cross the Millau Bridge (as often see on Top Gear). If memory serves me correctly, it's the A75. Then you can drive up the coast to Nice through Montpellier and Marseilles.

SCORPION · Post by **SCORPION** » Mon 07 May, 2007 13:18

PhoenixCoupe wrote:It's a bit out of the way, but, if you go due south from Paris, through Clermont Ferrand, you can cross the Millau Bridge (as often see on Top Gear). If memory serves me correctly, it's the A75. Then you can drive up the coast to Nice through Montpellier and Marseilles.

Yes, Millau and Nimes (Pont du Gard) are 2 places on my list. Just got to work out some routes. Just sent off for the Logis de France - always useful for interesting Hotels and Restaurants.

stu · Post by **stu** » Mon 07 May, 2007 13:56

Evo raves about the route Napoleon, which takes you somewhere in the parish, but not the passes into Italy.

PhoenixCoupe · Post by **PhoenixCoupe** » Mon 07 May, 2007 14:34

I think the Route Napoleon goes from somewhere around Cannes to Grenoble, basically around the base of the Alps. It's the route the little Frenchman took when returning from exile in Elba in 1815 when he was on his way to overthrow the Louis the 17th or 18th - I'm not really that au fait with French royalty...

Don't think it crosses into Italy at any point though.

stu · Post by **stu** » Mon 07 May, 2007 16:48

Oops, typo corrected and

SCORPION · Post by **SCORPION** » Mon 07 May, 2007 16:54

It's looking good so far.
Grenoble to Cannes via route Napoleon. Then return via Nimes and Millau. All I need to work out now is the Calais to Grenoble and Millau to Calais "bit".
I'm starting to worry about my 3000miles annual limit so I may have to take some shortcuts down farm tracks.

garyw · Post by **garyw** » Mon 07 May, 2007 16:58

I've looked at the route a few times, hopefully next year I will make it.

I've looked at taking the car train through France one way.
Its about £250 but does save two days travelling, Tolls, petrol, hotel and importantly mileage..

Taking the train back would be my preferred choice as I alway want to just get home..

garyw

SCORPION · Post by **SCORPION** » Mon 07 May, 2007 17:19

garyw wrote:I've looked at the route a few times, hopefully next year I will make it.

I've looked at taking the car train through France one way.
Its about £250 but does save two days travelling, Tolls, petrol, hotel and importantly mileage..

Taking the train back would be my preferred choice as I alway want to just get home..

garyw

No hurry on the return, I just want to meander back. I've been to the South of France many times (the in-laws live there) I just fancied taking a leisurely drive down and back, stopping when we see somewhere nice.

muppet · Post by **muppet** » Mon 07 May, 2007 17:35

cnharris wrote:No hurry on the return, I just want to meander back. I've been to the South of France many times (the in-laws live there) I just fancied taking a leisurely drive down and back, stopping when we see somewhere nice.

sounds good

komis · Post by **komis** » Mon 07 May, 2007 18:56

Take the Napoleon route and you will NOT regret it

Stay off the motorway though! Amazing twisties and spectacular scenery, you won't want it to end!

jhb1 · Post by **jhb1** » Thu 10 May, 2007 23:17

Great road. And if you like sea food try the festival of the moules between Antibes and NICE. More moules (a volante) frites than you can shake a stick at that wont bust your wallet

Racing Tortoise · Post by **Racing Tortoise** » Tue 15 May, 2007 09:05

I've done London to Menton and back in the Z1 as my parents have a place in Roquebrune-Cap Martin. Very good fun and the car is a surprisingly good long-distance tool.

My favoured route takes two days:

First Calais to Reims on the Autoroute (quick 2hr blat).

Then a route nationale (RN) diversion to Epernay for lunch and a case or two of champagne at chateau prices.

From Epernay I like to take the RNs through pretty countryside for most of the way to Beaune.

Then an overnight stop in Beaune for great food and even better wine is much recommended.

From Beaune take the autoroute south until you see signs for Gap/Digne-les-Bains and then take the RN in that direction. South of Gap, there are some splendid little cols with no traffic on them at all (bar the odd wild boar or two) and gorgeous scenery (plus huge commercial orchards!). Plus lots of great little local places to stop for a bit of baguette and saucisson.

At Digne-les-Bains you pick up the Route Napoleon over the mountains to Grasse. Usually by the time I hit the descent down to Grasse it's evening and the mountains are bathed in a wonderful warm orange light as the sun sets. Stunning. Just ensure you fill up in Digne because I've had great difficulty finding open petrol stations in the evening on the Route Napoleon.

From Grasse, it's best to take the autoroute to Menton, which takes no more than 30-40 mins.

Whizzing along the Corniches in the Z1 is a wonderful way to travel.

Nick_in_Suffolk · Post by **Nick_in_Suffolk** » Wed 30 May, 2007 03:56

Just one thought on using the train. If you have a convertible (even one designed to travel at very high speed) the train company will insist that your top is down for the entire journe. We were going to take my wife's Z4 last year (having taken her previous Compact the year before on the train) but decided that we did not wish to risk the car getting soaked if it rained. In the end we took my M3 and drove both ways. A blessing in disguise since I am not sure we would have coped with the extreme heat in the Z.

The Millau bridge is spectacular as is the whole of the motorway south from Clermont Ferrand.

Racing Tortoise · Post by **Racing Tortoise** » Fri 01 Jun, 2007 11:49

That's very dumb! I've looked into the train before (I needed to get a 1965 Fiat 500 from Menton to London) but it always seems to be mega-expensive (nearer 450 quid than 250 quid) which put me off when using a proper car.

garyw · Post by **garyw** » Fri 01 Jun, 2007 12:15

http://www.raileurope.co.uk/frenchmotorail/

from £199... but average does look to be £400

thats alot of petrol....

I'm looking at doing it one way to make the savings.. considering the Tolls down the SOF can be £70
I'm sure the drive the other direction would be worth it though..

garyw

The Colonel · Post by **The Colonel** » Mon 18 Jun, 2007 20:56

cnharris wrote:I'm hoping to drive the Z1 from Calais to Menton (near Nice) either in June or September.
Has anyone got any recommended routes or "must see"s.
I would prefer to avoid motorways as I want to do it at a leisurely pace.

I did this journey just a few weeks ago.

I had to steam down in one day so just stuck to the autoroutes via Riems, Dijon, Lyon etc, but coming back went via Millau as someone else suggested above.

Driving out of Montpellier and then onto the A75 going up to bridge is probably the best road I have ever driven on. The road conditions, clear of heavy traffic, scenery and just an all round good drive made all the more amazing that it isnt a toll road (except for the bridge, 5.40euro).

Stayed on the A75 as far as Clermont and then took the RN as far as Orleans, then diverted accross on the N154 (IIRC) to Chartres (where I stayed overnight) onto Everux, Rouen and then meandered across to the tunnel via Abbeville.

I'd only done 1000miles in the Z4 before the journey, added another 2000 while in France, mostly on the journey there and back, and I was really pleased at how comfortable and effortless the whole journey was. More like a mini GT, and with going easy plenty of range too.

stu · Post by **stu** » Tue 19 Jun, 2007 19:17

The Colonel wrote:2000 miles while in France

and no pictures? Shame on you

That bridge on TG looked sooo spectacular and being an Engineer, the scale of these things really impresses me.

The Colonel · Post by **The Colonel** » Wed 20 Jun, 2007 20:26

stu wrote:and no pictures? Shame on you

Of the bridge? Sadly not. Didn't keep camera by my side, and didn't get my act together to stop. It's not that easy, and for such a large structure, they've kept it marvellously well hidden...from the the point of view of approaching on the motorway at least.

What I would say is that having seen it in the flesh, so to speak, no picture of it will ever do it justice. YOU MUST SEE IT!!!!

That bridge on TG looked sooo spectacular and being an Engineer, the scale of these things really impresses me.

Me Architect and fully agree. Ever seen the Megastructures programme showing it being put together? Never gets old.

Anyhow, here's a pic of Menton, taken from Cap Martin (panorama courtesy of Picasa)

And the Z, on the road from St Raphael to Cannes.

SpunkyM · Post by **SpunkyM** » Thu 21 Jun, 2007 07:26

Z looks great. Did you stay overnight in the Menton / Monaco / Nice area?

The Colonel · Post by **The Colonel** » Thu 21 Jun, 2007 09:14

SpunkyM wrote:Z looks great. Did you stay overnight in the Menton / Monaco / Nice area?

Thanks. It's the first and, so far, only photo I have of it. Carefuly composed to avoid the fly masacre all over the front end.

I have an appartment in Menton. It is my most favourite place in the whole world (despite all the French people. (joke ->

)).

SCORPION · Post by **SCORPION** » Fri 31 Aug, 2007 18:48

It's on - we go next week !
Ferry booked - Dover to Calais, £68.40 return.
First night booked just outside Calais the rest we find as we go.
The route:
Calais,
Chaumont
Besancon
Annecy
Briancon
Gap (Route Napoleon)
Digne les Bains
Cannes
Menton for a few days
Camargue
Arles
Nimes
Millau (bridge)
Clermont-Ferrand
Orleons
Calais

No real plan, just go as we please. As my son says "why have a plan ? If the plan goes wrong you get stressed - no plan, no stress."

Will try to get many photos.

spokey · Post by **spokey** » Fri 31 Aug, 2007 19:36

Sounds fantastic! Let us know how it goes! And lots of pics!

SCORPION · Post by **SCORPION** » Mon 24 Sep, 2007 20:23

Did the coarse. Got back yesterday.
2840 miles (just inside my 3000 limited - hardly used the car this year), superb roads, accommodation (Logis), food, weather (1 morning of rain in 18 days), wine.
Sorry about quality of photos - not my camera and I'm a lousy photographer.
Car
Car behaved superbly. Had to keep roof up when travelling but going over the mountain passes with the doors open was brilliant.
Highlights:
Empty roads, value for money (except beer in bars), mountain passes with doors down, Nimes Roman amphitheatre (pity Rammstein weren't there but I have got the video), waking up one morning in a lakeside hotel in the Massif Central to see 3 hot air baloons go past at window level.
Lows
Can't think of any.
Tips
I bought the Aldi european travel kit, I think it was only about £7. Contains bulbs inc H1,H4, H7, fuses, GB stickers (not required) and headlight deflectors. I didn't expect them to work but they did. Instructions include projector lights and they were spot on even on the Zed.
Accommodation:
Used the Logis all except one night, could not fault them. Will try to write up seperate article.
Customs
Delayed on way out - had to demo doors to everyone in kiosk at French and UK customs.
Got pulled over by French customs on return. I wound down the window and he was telling his mates it was a Z1. Asked me to open the boot then asked me to shut it. Reckon he only wanted me out of the car to see the doors work.
Regrets
Wish I'd talked Janet into taking the picture of the car in front of Arles amphitheatre - she was too embarrassed as there were hundreds of onlookers.

jhb1 · Post by **jhb1** » Mon 24 Sep, 2007 20:37

Absolutely stunning.

Fantastic pics.

Now just have to convince the wife.

This will help though.

stevethechef · Post by **stevethechef** » Wed 19 Oct, 2011 10:13

[quote="Racing Tortoise"]I've done London to Menton and back in the Z1 as my parents have a place in Roquebrune-Cap Martin. Very good fun and the car is a surprisingly good long-distance tool.

My favoured route takes two days:

First Calais to Reims on the Autoroute (quick 2hr blat).

Then a route nationale (RN) diversion to Epernay for lunch and a case or two of champagne at chateau prices.

From Epernay I like to take the RNs through pretty countryside for most of the way to Beaune.

Then an overnight stop in Beaune for great food and even better wine is much recommended.

Please could you give the name of your favoured lunch stop in Epernay and overnight stop in Beaune.
We are planning our route to some January sunshine in Menton.

Thanks Steve

pingu · Post by **pingu** » Wed 19 Oct, 2011 17:36

Too late now, but just a thought for anyone else doing Millau. Take a detour and drive under it. It's an incredible sight.

If you don't want to detour, there is a service area with viewing area on the northern end of the bridge.

billi · Post by **billi** » Thu 17 Nov, 2011 18:28

i just came across this post and just had to reply, i went over the bridge a couple of years ago on the motorbike and thats what we did . we went around the other side and sat under the bridge and got to say was just as impressive under it as going over it.

. am planning to go and do it in the z next year hopefully with the roof down all the way.

zedwheels · Post by **zedwheels** » Thu 17 Nov, 2011 19:52

Hi billi, if you do go next year and you fancy some company let us know.

Titan · Post by **Titan** » Thu 17 Nov, 2011 22:12

pingu wrote: Take a detour and drive under it. It's an incredible sight.

It sure is (even when the sun ain't shining)

maurice the martian · Post by **maurice the martian** » Fri 18 Nov, 2011 08:06

Great pics,and no doubt many happy memories.
Roll on next year for our trip,cant wait
Maurice

Mouldy · Post by **Mouldy** » Fri 18 Nov, 2011 16:54

Titan wrote:
pingu wrote: Take a detour and drive under it. It's an incredible sight.
It sure is (even when the sun ain't shining)

I have to agree, but we were lucky enough to have the opportunity of seeing it in brilliant sunshine from the viewing area off the A75 on the approach to the Viaduc (French spelling) and from under it when we were there earlier this year.

You get tantalising glimpses of it as you approach it from every direction and it is such an immense structure that dominates the skyline in the area. Although, if you look carefully at the photos from above the road deck, you can see some cars crossing it, you really only get a sense of the scale by actually visiting it yourself.

The countryside around it is fantastic too and we were so impressed that we hope to be able to head for Millau, Gorge du Dourbie and surrounding areas again at the end of June next year!!

Titan · Post by **Titan** » Fri 18 Nov, 2011 17:15

Nice pictures Mouldy

Mouldy wrote: you really only get a sense of the scale by actually visiting it yourself

The display in the information building on the D41a under the south side was very good.
It showed umpteen red London buses stacked up to give an impression of height
But the bit that got me was the footprint of the columns which just fit into the plan area of a tennis court

I guess this is down to the English architect

billi · Post by **billi** » Sun 20 Nov, 2011 15:18

hi zedwheels , sounds good we will be on our hols end of march and begining of april next year so will let you know ok. havnt seen you up the prom lately !! will still keep a eye out for you yeh. am going to try and put a couple of pics up when i understand how to!! so bare with me ok

. like the pics Mouldy brings back good memories when we went down on the bikes a couple of years back. did you go down the tarn gorge?? that is a awsome sight

Mouldy · Post by **Mouldy** » Sun 20 Nov, 2011 18:49

billi wrote: . . . . like the pics Mouldy brings back good memories when we went down on the bikes a couple of years back. did you go down the tarn gorge?? that is a awsome sight

Billi - certainly did and it certainly is, but please don't tell everyone . . . . . . I don't want to be tripping over Forum members when we go back next year, hopefully in the wife's Crossfire

Here's a few shots to remind you of the stunning scenery;

zedwheels · Post by **zedwheels** » Sun 20 Nov, 2011 19:09

Simply awsom, great photo's and looks like some brilliant weather for the drive.
I just gotta go there!

simonbud100 · Post by **simonbud100** » Sun 20 Nov, 2011 20:08

We stopped off at Millau Viaduct / Tarn Gorge area last year on the way back from Carcassonne. I absolutely love the Massif Central region for it's sheer natural, rugged beauty.

For me the only down side was the trip was done in the VW and not in the Z3 (Mrs SB100 refused to be limited to one small case!)

We stayed for a couple of nights in a chateau overlooking the Viaduct which was recommended by a member of this forum. The photo below was taken from our hotel room.

Another view of the Tarn Gorge, spectacular. The roads are actually very good but get VERY busy during the summer months. I plan on going back to canoe it.

Mouldy · Post by **Mouldy** » Sun 20 Nov, 2011 21:04

simonbud100 wrote: . . . . . . . .

Another view of the Tarn Gorge, spectacular. The roads are actually very good but get VERY busy during the summer months. I plan on going back to canoe it.

We went for the last two weeks of June to miss the crowds. I have read that the Gorge du Tarn gets extremely crowded during July and August, so as our son is now in his twenties and with no other children to consider, we take advantage of the lower prices that a lower season holiday can offer.

Roll on the 18th June 2012.

simonbud100 · Post by **simonbud100** » Sun 20 Nov, 2011 21:24

Mouldy wrote:
simonbud100 wrote:

We went for the last two weeks of June to miss the crowds. I have read that the Gorge du Tarn gets extremely crowded during July and August, so as our son is now in his twenties and with no other children to consider, we take advantage of the lower prices that a lower season holiday can offer.

Roll on the 18th June 2012.

We went in August and it was very busy with tourist traffic and minibusses towing canoe trailers etc, June would be an ideal time to go.

I am now very jealous!

Titan · Post by **Titan** » Sun 20 Nov, 2011 21:52

As a footnote, my picture was taken on 1 Sept
It was quiet

But cloudy

zedwheels · Post by **zedwheels** » Mon 21 Nov, 2011 21:05

Hi simonbud.
When your canoeing down the river next year will you have your zeddy on a M/// raft behind you.

simonbud100 · Post by **simonbud100** » Mon 21 Nov, 2011 22:16

zedwheels wrote:Hi simonbud.
When your canoeing down the river next year will you have your zeddy on a M/// raft behind you.

Probably not, the river is a bit too shallow in some places

billi · Post by **billi** » Tue 22 Nov, 2011 21:44

hi everyone, i went in late june on the bike and it was quiet . it was hot mind , we stayed in the town of Millau and had a great time but the good thing about going around that time was when we got up to clermont ferrand we caught the french music festival and thats a realy good night out.

. thanks for all those photos it realy is a fantastic part of france and realy do want to go back

. i went to lake garda on the bike last august and that was just as lovely. but now i think the z should do a bit of europe yeh

zroadster.net

French Tour. Calais to Nice

French Tour. Calais to Nice

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