BA - The Club - Six epic French drives

Montpellier to the Spanish border/Barcelona

While the Côte d’Azur gets all the press, the ‘other’ south of France basks quietly in sunshine, offering everything from glorious golden beaches to charming fishing villages. Explore the vibrant city of Montpellier, before heading down the autoroute to Beziers and Narbonne. Stop at the harbour town of Collioure, which inspired artists such as Henri Matisse and André Derain, then follow the sinuous coastal road that weaves between vineyards and rust-red cliffs on to the Spanish border.

Bed down at… Domaine de Verchant, on a restored vineyard estate close to Montpellier (doubles from €220).

Photo: Getty Images

Nice to Grenoble

In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte fled the island of Elba and landed on the Côte d’Azur at Golf Juan d’Antibes, 30 minutes west of Nice, before marching his army up through the foothills of the Alps to Grenoble and then on to the Battle of Waterloo. The official Route Napoleon follows his troops’ footsteps from Grasse through some of France’s most amazing scenery to Grenoble. The 300km route is marked with golden statues of the French Imperial Eagle and is one of the most famous driving routes in France.

Bed down at… La Bonne Étape between Manosque and Sisteron, about halfway along the route (doubles from €135).

Photo: Alamy

Lyon to the Vercors

From Lyon head for the Chartreuse and Vercors mountains to the south. The A48 motorway links with the A49, but be careful not to miss the junction – the steep, beautiful silver-grey mountains easily distract. The area is cloaked in mystery, too: it’s here that white-hooded monks created the herbal elixir Chartreuse. Speed on to the Vercors, where World War II Resistance fighters hid out in the ravines, and stop off at Pont-en-Royans with its medieval timber-and-stone houses hanging precariously over the gorge. Elsewhere, the Combe Laval road was chiselled out of the sheer rock face and weaves its way along a ledge that offers stunning panoramic views.

Bed down at… Maison Pic, the home of three-star Michelin chef Anne-Sophie Pic, in Valence (doubles from €280).

Photo: Adobe Stock

Bergerac to Limoges

The River Dordogne acts as the ideal navigator for this gentle drive through a region with golden-stone villages, impressive châteaux and rolling hills. From Bergerac, head to the village of La Roque-Gageac, where terracotta-roofed houses are tucked into the cliffs. Then it’s on to Beynac-et-Cazenac with its chateau perched high above. In the neighbouring department of Lot, take a detour to the ancient pilgrimage site of Rocamadour before heading north through bold and beautiful scenery to Limoges.

Bed down at… your own fairytale castle at Chateau de la Treyne near Rocamadour (doubles from €300).

Photo: Getty Images

Burgundy to Lyon

Burgundy is France’s gastronomic heart, boasting hearty cuisine and world-class wines. Landing in Paris, it’s a quick dash down the autoroute before cutting through the beautiful Morvan Regional Natural Park to arrive at the two-star Michelin restaurant Relais Bernard Loiseau at Saulieu for lunch. Then it’s on to Dijon to join the road to Chalon-sur-Saône, which is lined with some of the world’s most prestigious vineyards. Detour to wine villages such as Gevrey-Chambertin, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault, then continue on to Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, with some 4,000 restaurants.

Bed down at… Abbaye de la Bussière, a heavenly hotel-restaurant set in a former monastery between Dijon and Beaune (doubles from €225).

Photo: Alamy

Montpellier to Clermont-Ferrand/Lyon

Known as La Méridienne, the A75 motorway cuts through the very centre of France. Land at Lyon or Limoges and then beetle across to Clermont-Ferrand to start a sensational drive through the Massif Central, passing the extinct volcanoes of Auvergne and then on to the incredible Millau Viaduct. Designed by British architect Sir Norman Foster, it’s the tallest bridge in the world and spans the Tarn Valley, reaching 343 metres at its highest point. Finish up in Montpellier for a rewarding dose of Mediterranean sunshine.

Bed down at… the art deco-style Hotel Radio on the edge of Clermont-Ferrand (doubles from €98).

Photo: Getty Images