Driving Inspiration: France
From day trips to long weekends, summer holidays to road trips of a lifetime, France has everything for the perfect getaway.
Spring in Aquitaine
With stunning vineyards, bustling cities, long winding rivers, surfing beaches, picturesque villages and beautifully-dense woodlands, it’s no wonder that the region of Aquitaine is a major pull for visitors from the UK. Spring is an ideal time to visit, before the busier peak season in the summer.
The highlights include Bordeaux, the hub of the wine-growing region with wine trails to suit every kind of grape lover; Biarritz, the jewel of the French Basque coast, beloved by surfers and the fashionable set; the half-timbered houses of Bergerac, famous for its lovelorn literary hero Cyrano de Bergerac; and Pau, a peaceful spot to catch wondrous views of the Pyrenees.
From beautiful beaches to vineyards and the river valleys of the Dordogne, historic Aquitaine has it all.
Bask in Biarritz
This elegant resort on the French Basque coast has been a playground of the rich and famous since the 1850s, leaving a legacy of luxury hotels, fine architecture and a sense of undimmed glamour.
But Biarritz is as fun as it is cosmopolitan, especially when the surfers arrive! The huge variety of beaches, shops, attractions, cafés and restaurants make it a thriving holiday spot from spring to autumn.
Among the attractions of Biarritz is La Côte des Basques, the first surfers beach in Europe, thronged with boards from sunrise to sunset (when the tide comes right up to the roadside). There are other beaches to discover, like the more peaceful Port Vieux, and the beautiful sweeping bay of Grand Plage, overlooked by some of the town's grandest Art Deco buildings.
Things to see and do in Dijon
Burgundy’s largest city really does cut the mustard. From the finest of French food and wine to history, art and culture, Dijon serves up riches galore.
Dijon’s restaurants showcase the best in Burgundian cuisine, from beef bourguignon to escargots, while Dijon is also gateway to the Burgundy vineyards, which produce some of the best wine in France. Dijon is also renowned for its historic charm and architectural beauty. Take the Owl's Trail to see all its finest sights, such as the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, the Place François Rude and the fresh food market Les Halles.
Of course, you can't visit Dijon without tasting its famous mustard, invented in the city in 1856 and a staple of French tables ever since.
Driving the Route Napoléon
From the Côte d’Azur to the Alps, the Mediterranean to the mountains, take the road less travelled into the heart of south-eastern France, inspired by one of history’s great journeys.
The Route Napoléon is a 200-mile route that broadly follows the same path as that taken by Napoleon Bonaparte in March 1815, when he returned from exile in Elba and sought to reclaim power in France. Starting in the small resort of Golfe-Juan on the Côte d’Azur, the Route Napoléon winds through idyllic Provençal villages, rocky mountain passes and lush valleys, culminating in the magnificent Alpine city of Grenoble.
Among the highlights of this fascinating road trip are the perfume houses of Grasse, the spectacular Gorges du Verdon and the stunning medieval towns of Castellane and Sisteron.
