10 Highlights of a Driving Tour of France
France is a fantastic country when it comes to driving; wide, flat roads, rolling countryside and plenty of pit stops for patisserie and fromage mean that, once you have mastered the driving on the right hand side of the road thing, the experience can be much more pleasurable than the cramped, noisy roads in the UK. As a landmass, France is also much larger than the UK, which means you can go much further and explore wherever the feeling takes you. If you are planning a trip to the Continent on wheels, then here are 10 highlights of a driving tour of France that you just can’t miss.
1. La Coupole in Calais
Once you have driven off the ferry and refreshed with a bowl of moules or a delicious sandwich, La Coupole is a must see for anyone with interest in the history of this area. Set in a former Nazi bunker that was designed for launching V2 missiles, this museum is hugely atmospheric and provides information on WWII that even most enthusiasts won’t already know.
2. The seaside towns of Normandy
As you make your drive south, head to the coast and take in some of the beautiful seaside spots that have made this part of France such a holiday hit with locals and tourists alike for hundreds of years. Deauville-Trouville and Villers Sur Mer are particularly picturesque, with plenty of restaurants lining the front, old school casinos and miles of sandy beaches for running, playing and swimming in the sea.
3. The Landing Beaches (Normandy)
You can’t really visit this part of France without visiting the landing beaches, where the largest military landing in history was staged by allied troops in June 1944. It’s not as depressing as it sounds visiting this area and – particularly in winter – the atmospheric beaches provide a real insight into this fascinating part of European history.
4. Mont St Michel (Brittany)
Heading west from Normandy you come to the next county of Brittany, home to the pink granite coast and Carnac, which has some of the most famous megalithic remains from the Neolithic period in the world. Also in this westerly part of France is Mont St Michel, a UNESCO list of World Heritage Site island around 1km off the coast that you can walk to when the tide is out. The former monastery has played a key role in French history in everything from being ransacked by the Franks to appearing in the Bayeux tapestry and has provided a backdrop for many a film, as well as video games like Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood.
5. Chateaux in the Loire
A driving trip to France would not be complete a visit to at least one Chateau and the Loire Valley, which is filled with them, is exactly the right place to do it. Chateau de Villandry has some particularly fine gardens that are ripe for exploring in the summer months; Chateau d’Usse inspired the story Sleeping Beauty; and if you want to see a chateau with a genuine drawbridge then Chateau de Saumur is the one.
6. The vineyards of Bourgogne and Champagne
If you’ve got time to drive across France to the east of the country, you can take in the fabulous vineyards of Bourgogne and Champagne. Obviously you’ll need to arrange an overnight stay if you’re really going to make the most of the tipples on offer, but there are so many opportunities for tasting the regions’ rich, deep Burgundy wine and celebratory light and sparkling champagne that you just won’t be able to help yourself.
7. The dramatic landscapes of the Auvergne
As you drive through France you will notice that the landscape changes enormously throughout the country and the Auvergne is one area that is noticeably different from the others. Hardened lava, volcanic peaks and deep gorges offer some great scenic sights and there are lots of opportunities here for sports like hiking, biking, rafting, skiing and hangliding.
8. Skiing in Chamonix (Rhone-Alpes)
Whilst you may not make it this far in winter if you’re driving something like a 30-year-old Lada, the Rhone-Alpes area of France is worth a visit, both for winter sports enthusiasts (in suitable cars) and those who fancy hiking in the French Alps in the summer months. Chamonix is within easy reach of most towns in this area if you want to leave the car and take more snow-appropriate transport and if you’re driving through in summer then look out for the miles and miles of lavender fields and all the fabulous vineyards.
9. The French Riviera (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)
For drivers looking for some glamour the towns of the French Riviera in the far south of France are overflowing with it. From gazing at the super yachts of St Tropez, to walking La Croisette at Cannes, there are sights to see, shops in which to spend and so many fabulous restaurants and bars that you will definitely need to book into a hotel and find somewhere to park the car to really enjoy the nightlife here.
10. Corsica
For drivers looking to end their trip in style, Corsica is the perfect option. You can take your car on a ferry from Marseille and see an island, which has some of the most fabulous scenic routes and natural beauty in Europe. Visit the quaint little villages for lunch, take lazy swims on the beautiful beaches and leave the car for a few hours to hike into the hills.
There is so much to include on a holiday to France that you will probably need to go back again and again if you want to really claim to have seen it all. However these 10 highlights of a driving tour of France will give you a taste of what this great country has to offer and provide an excellent starting point.
John from Alamo car hire France submitted this list
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