South of France: made for a road trip with the Vespa
Driving through the South of France with a Vespa means experiencing fragrant lavender fields, shady plane trees, fascinating rock formations, beautiful lakes and historic towns. The South of France is Provence, Languedoc, the Cote d’Azur, the Maritime Alps and the Dauphiné. Each tour is packed with scenic sights, varied routes and magnificent views of lakes, mountains and forests. At the same time, cultural and culinary highlights are not neglected, because the south of France is an ancient country with a great wealth of history and culture.
Should it go from Switzerland over the Col de la Forclaz (pass 1,527 m) to Chamonix? And continue on the Routes des Grand Alpes and through the Verdon Gorge to Grasse and all the way to Nice? Stops include Barcelonnette, Briancon, Lac de St. Croix and the perfume town of Grasse. On the Mediterranean Sea, sophisticated life and bathing pleasures await the riders. A tip is the route from Pierlas to Rigaud. But the Cirque de Comb Laval is also a recommendation. On the way, campsites invite you to spend the night and the physical well-being on the routes is also provided. Experienced Vespa scooters rave about the delicious croissants, the pains-au-chocolat, the not so expensive pizza and the pastis in the south of France. How much time you want to spend on the road trip in the South of France depends entirely on you. Whether it’s a week or 3 weeks, every tour is beautiful and has interesting attractions!
Before such a long trip, it does not hurt to check the Vespa with all the individual parts again, for add-on parts and accessories there is in the SIP Scootershop everything the Vespa needs. And for the ideal equipment for all weather conditions, there is also a wide selection.
The wild and romantic Vercors and the French Maritime Alps
For those who love the mountains, the Route de Combe Laval is recommended, it passes through rocks carved into the mountains. The start into the Vercors is the city of Grenoble. Extremely spectacular is the section between the Col de la Machine (1,011m high) and the Col Gaudissart (840 m), it leads through rock gates and mountain overhangs, from which it goes down 600 m deep vertically. The Vercors is a promontory of the French Alps with deep valleys.
The Route de la Tinée M2205 leads to Ilonse in the Alpes-Maritimes. If you follow a steep mountain slope there on the M59, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view. An insider tip is the route to the village of Pierlas lying on a rocky promontory. From Pierlas to Rigaud, the D428 is a narrow, winding serpentine route. From Rigaud it is not far to Nice. The Gorges du Cians is definitely worth a detour. It is one of the most beautiful gorges in France and is part of the Parc national du Mercantour in the Verdon. Another sight that can be reached by Vespa is the Gorges de Daluis between Guillaumes and Daluis. The route runs hairpin along the deeply cut canyon and fascinates with the contrast between the brown-red rock and the lush green vegetation. The northern end is bordered by the Pont de la Mariée arch bridge.
Which cities are worth visiting?
Carcassonne in Languedoc is famous for its medieval fortress, La Cité, with its ramparts and 12th-century castle. Here it is worth spending the day visiting and strolling around the city. The very touristy town offers many cozy pubs and a picturesque old town.
Grasse is a stop on the road trip through southern France. The city in the Maritime Alps, north of Cannes on the French Riviera is not stunningly beautiful, but a visit to the Musée International de la Parfumerie in the city center and the cathedral should be on the program when you pass this city.
Stop of the trip with the Vespa through the south of France should also always be Nice, if you love the Mediterranean Sea and the Cote Azur. The cities and streets on the Mediterranean are busier and more densely built, but reward you with beautiful views and lots of variety. Nice is the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department. Almost everyone flocks here first to the Promenade des Anglais, but it is the magnificent villas and art museums that make Nice so attractive. However, the Cote Azur is somewhat more expensive than the southern French province.
Avignon is located in the southeast of France. The city is one of the fifth largest cities in France and is most famous for the Gothic Papal Palace from the 14th century, the medieval city walls and the imposing bridge. Sur le pont d’avignon… In summer, festivals are held here. For Vespa riders, the picturesque old town is a wonderful change of pace on the tour through the Rhone delta and the blooming lavender fields of Provence.
A must-see on any trip through the Maritime Alps is the small town of Briançon in the Hautes-Alpes region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. It is the highest city in France and simply enchanting with its picturesque old town and Vauban Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vespa riders are delighted to reach this gem in the French High Alps after the long stretch through the mountains. The Place d’Armes is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy life. Also worth seeing are the fountains and the sundial as well as the colorful house facades around the Place d’Armes.
