You will stay 2,000 meters above sea level in a stylish hotel in the National Park du Queyras. We will start in the blooming lavender fields of Provence, drive three of the most breathtaking passes in the high mountains of the Maritime Alps, and then follow the “Route des Grandes Alpes” to the Côte d’Azur in Nice.
We will wait for you at Marseille airport and escort you to the hotel “Moulin de Vernegues”. After the explanation of the road book and the introduction to the Mercedes-Benz classics, you start a short first drive in the direction of Salon-de-Provence: You enjoy the animated shadows in the venerable plane tree avenues, the scent of rosemary, lavender and wild caraway and watch as cork oak forests and sandstone formations slide past you. Back at the hotel, you will have time to relax by the pool and sample the hotel’s fine cuisine in the elegant courtyard.
Today’s stage takes you through the Luberon, always following the course of the infamous Durance river, to Lac de Serre-Ponçon. The second largest reservoir in Europe with 3,000 hectares is reminiscent of Lake Mead in the USA. Azure blue water, surrounded by the mountains of the French Western Alps and kilometers of banks that are only accessible by water make the lake an Eldorado for water sports enthusiasts. East of Guillestre, the road book takes you uphill through the Combe du Queyras canyon to the Queyras National Park. The mighty Queyras Castle towers over the valley like an eagle’s nest. In the rugged high mountains of the Alps, a luxurious domicile awaits you for the next few days.
This morning you will master the first pass of the Route des Grandes Alpes. Every year the “Tour de France” has to conquer these 2,360 meters in altitude while competing with each other. Fortunately, you will just let the Mercedes-Benz six-cylinder engines take care of this and experience a spectacularly rugged, partly moon-like high mountain landscape. The picturesque Briançon is the highest city in France, the starting point of five valleys and a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the first choice for an extended lunch break.
Today we start early on a grandiose tour peppered with many meters of altitude and switchbacks. The finest landscape and panoramic views, from the first to the last kilometer, with two of the most beautiful passes on the Route des Grandes Alpes: You can now add the Col du Var (2,111 m) and the Col de la Bonette (2,715 m) to your collection. In the late afternoon, you will arrive at Nice Airport or return to the hotel for a personal extension.
The Maritime Alps are mainly known to racing bike fans and motorcyclists. Some of the most beautiful mountain passes in the Alps are in the Maritime Alps. Many of the mountain passes are known from the Tour de France, the most important cycling race in the world. the “Grand Routes des Alpes” connects some of the most beautiful and highest mountain passes in the Maritime Alps.
The highest pass is the Col de la Bonette, at 2,715 meters often referred to as the highest alpine pass – although strictly speaking it is not a pass and this title would be due to the Col de l’Iséran. As for the Col du Var and the Col d´Izoard, they are also among the top 5 most legendary passes. The Col de la Cayolle, the Col d’Allos and the Col de la Lombarde run parallel to Bonette Street as a border pass to Italy.
Large areas in the French Maritime Alps belong to the one created in 1979 „Parc National du Mercantour“, the youngest of the six French national parks. Most of the Maritime Alps is on French territory, while the Italian region of Piedmont has a smaller share of it, and even the Principality of Monaco claims a tiny part for itself. the Départements Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence are the administrative districts of the Maritime Alps. In the north the Cottian Alps and in the west the Provencal Pre-Alps join the Maritime Alps. The legendary Col de Tende / Colle di Tenda separates the Maritime Alps from the Ligurian Alps. In the south, the foothills extend to the Mediterranean. The highest peak is that 3,297 meter high Monte Argentera.
Discover what our guests say about this tour. Real experiences from drivers and travelers who have explored Europe’s most beautiful roads with us.
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