The best mountain roads in France for motorcycling are in the Alps, with the Route des Grandes Alpes and the Bonette, and in the Pyrenees, the Massif Central, the Vosges, the Jura and Corsica. Here are ten of them, with their length where one is published, their high point and the most practical city to start from.
What are the best mountain motorcycle roads in France?
Our selection of ten mountain roads to ride in France brings together the Route des Grandes Alpes, the Bonette road, the Route Napoléon in the southern Prealps, the Verdon ridge road, the Pyrenean passes, Mont Aigoual, the Auvergne volcanoes, the Vosges ridge road, the Jura and Corsica.
Routes marked "your own loop" are networks of passes rather than a single fixed road, so you can build the ride that suits you.
| Route (detailed guide linked) | Range | Length | Reference high point | Good Motors start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route des Grandes Alpes | Alps | about 720 km | Col de l'Iseran, 2,764 m | Lyon, finish in Nice |
| Bonette road | Southern Alps | not published | Cime de la Bonette, 2,802 m | Nice |
| Route Napoléon | Southern Prealps | 314 km | not published | Nice, Marseille |
| Verdon ridge road | Southern Prealps | 24 km loop | 1,328 m | Marseille, Aix-en-Provence |
| Pyrenean passes | Pyrenees | your own loop | Col du Tourmalet, 2,115 m | Toulouse, Biarritz |
| Mont Aigoual and the Cévennes | Massif Central | your own loop | Mont Aigoual, 1,567 m | Montpellier |
| Auvergne volcanoes | Massif Central | your own loop | Col de Guéry, 1,268 m | Lyon |
| Vosges ridge road | Vosges | 77 km | Col de la Schlucht, 1,139 m | Lyon (a long way) |
| Jura and the Col de la Faucille | Jura | your own loop | Col de la Faucille, 1,323 m | Lyon |
| Corsica | Island | your own loop | Col de Bavella, 1,218 m | Marseille or Nice, then ferry |
Which mountain roads should you ride in the French Alps?
In the Alps, the benchmark is the Route des Grandes Alpes, about 720 km from Thonon-les-Bains to Nice over the highest passes in France, including the Iseran at 2,764 m. The Bonette road, which climbs to 2,802 m, the Route Napoléon and the Verdon ridge road complete the picture further south.
The Route des Grandes Alpes crosses the Alps from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean. Haute-Savoie Mont-Blanc Tourisme describes it as 720 kilometres of mountain roads and 18 passes, fully open from June to October. According to the route's association, the full crossing opened in 1913 and the road over the Iseran, the highest road pass in the French Alps, in 1937. Lyon is the closest Good Motors start to Lake Geneva, and Nice sits at the finish.
The Bonette road links Jausiers, in the Ubaye valley, with Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée. Its summit loop reaches 2,802 m, making it the highest paved road in France according to the Route des Grandes Alpes association. It usually closes between October or November and May or June.
Lower down, between Sisteron and Castellane, the Route Napoléon follows the former RN 85, 314 km long from Golfe-Juan to Grenoble according to the route's press kit. The Verdon ridge road is a 24 km loop from La Palud-sur-Verdon, with more than 700 metres of drop below the viewpoints, according to the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence tourist board. It closes in winter, from late November to late March.
Where can you ride mountain roads in the Pyrenees and the Massif Central?
In the Pyrenees, the Col du Tourmalet at 2,115 m and the Col d'Aubisque at 1,709 m are the heart of the mountain riding. In the Massif Central, Mont Aigoual rises to 1,567 m above the Cévennes, and the roads through the Auvergne volcanoes cross the Col de Guéry at 1,268 m.
Hautes-Pyrénées Tourisme puts the Col du Tourmalet at 2,115 m. The Aubisque, on the Béarn side, is open from late May or early June to mid-November according to the Pyrénées-Atlantiques tourist board. Our guide to the Transpyrénéenne links these passes from one coast to the other.
Mont Aigoual, the "roof of the Gard" at 1,567 m according to Gard Tourisme, has a weather observatory at the summit that you can reach by road. Montpellier is the closest start.
In Auvergne, the Col de Guéry reaches 1,268 m above the lake of the same name, according to the Auvergne Volcan Sancy tourist office. The summit of the Puy de Dôme, on the other hand, has been reached by the Panoramique des Dômes train since 2012.
Vosges, Jura, Corsica: where can you go beyond the classics?
Beyond the Alps and the Pyrenees, three ranges are worth the trip by motorcycle: the 77 km Vosges ridge road, the Jura with the Col de la Faucille at 1,323 m, and Corsica, reached by ferry from Marseille or Nice, where the Col de Bavella rises to 1,218 m.
The Route des Crêtes in the Vosges is 77 km long according to the La Bresse tourist office and closes every winter from mid-November. Along the way are the Grand Ballon, the highest summit in the range at 1,424 m, and the Col de la Schlucht at 1,139 m. It is a long way from our starting points, so it is best kept for a trip of several days.
In the Jura, the Col de la Faucille, at 1,323 m according to the Pays de Gex tourist office, is open all year round, though often snowbound in winter. Lyon is the natural start.
Corsica is reached by ferry: Corsica Linea sails from Marseille and Corsica Ferries from Nice. On the island, the Col de Bavella, at 1,218 m according to the official Corsica tourism site, opens up at the foot of the Bavella needles.
When is the best time to ride French mountain roads?
The best time to ride high mountain roads in France is from June to September. The big passes in the Alps and the Pyrenees usually open between late May and June and close between October and mid-November, depending on snow. Opening dates change each year, so check them with the local authorities before you set off.
Even in summer, pack a warm layer under your jacket, and set off early while the roads are empty. With Good Motors, a helmet and gloves are an option at €5 per day on 125 cc and A2 bikes, and included free with bikes that require a full A licence.
Which motorcycle should you rent for a mountain trip?
For mountain riding, an adventure bike is the most comfortable choice: the Honda Africa Twin or Honda Transalp on a full A licence, the Honda NX500 or Royal Enfield Himalayan on an A2 licence. Good Motors offers them on a self-service basis from 10 French cities, in car parks open 7 days a week, 8 am to 10 pm.
For a one-way crossing, you can return the bike in a different city on request: one-way rentals are quoted individually, with the bike returned to one of the Good Motors locations in France. If the bike has to be repositioned at your request, any cancellation is converted into a credit valid for 12 months, with no refund. To compare models, licence requirements and deposits, from €500 to €2,750 depending on the bike, browse the catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest road in France you can ride?
The highest paved road in France is the loop around the Cime de la Bonette, at 2,802 m, between Jausiers and Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée in the Southern Alps. The highest road pass in the French Alps is the Col de l'Iseran, at 2,764 m, on the Route des Grandes Alpes.
When are the high Alpine passes open?
The high passes in the French Alps are generally open from June to October. The Route des Grandes Alpes is fully open from June to October, the Iseran is usually passable from early June to late October, and the Bonette closes in October or November. Check road conditions locally before you leave.
Can I return the motorcycle in a different city?
Yes, with a quote. Ask for a one-way rental when you first get in touch, and the bike must be returned to one of the Good Motors locations in France. On the Route des Grandes Alpes, for example, this lets you start in Lyon and finish on the Mediterranean without riding back.
For the Bonette, the Route Napoléon or the end of the Route des Grandes Alpes, the easiest start is our location in Nice: rent a motorcycle in Nice.
