Top Gear Roadtrip: Conquering the Gorges du Verdon, the Route Napoléon & the Col de Turini

This article is also available in German language

With the final episode of "The Grand Tour," the three wise men Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond bid farewell in 2024 after 22 years of their life's work – the TV series "Top Gear" and its successor, "The Grand Tour." Our road trip, inspired by the 2007 episode "Driving in Heaven," takes us across France, of course, on the most beautiful roads in the world.

Of course, you can follow our route recommendation behind the wheel of your own car or even just on two wheels. However, if you're still searching for the perfect car to get the full "Top Gear" experience, our fleet features sensational sports and supercars such as the Audi R8, Ferrari Roma, or Porsche GT3 RS.

Table of Contents

Roadtrip through France: Hammond, Clarkson, and May would be proud

Our route is a tribute to the legendary TV series "Top Gear," which has made so many of us fall in love with automobiles. This passion for and connection to one's car can only be truly felt when you take the time – time for beautiful routes, for the art of driving, and for the feeling of finally becoming one with the car. Every gear shift and every acceleration out of a corner contribute to this, until the forces of nature blur and all that remains is the engine and your own breath.

We start our road trip in Nice – whether you're already there after our road trip across Europe, driving there via the highway through Liechtenstein, or flying comfortably to the city where we’ll deliver your dream car directly to your hotel. To ensure you experience the most beautiful roads in Europe safely, we’ve linked each day’s route in the text.

For this road trip through southern France to Italy, you should definitely take 3 days – returning is not included in our itinerary, but our route ends back in Nice, just in case you want to plan your flight for day 4.

Gorges du Verdon: From Nice to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

We start our tour early in the morning on the beautiful Côte d’Azur in Nice, enjoying a petit déjeuner and a coffee. Energized, we get into the car, eager to experience the natural wonders that await us on our journey. Click on the Google Maps link, and off we go.

Our first stage begins relatively unspectacularly: We head west on the A8 past Cannes and Fréjus. Only at Le Muy do we turn north into Provence via the D1555, followed by the D54. The D955 then takes us to the Pont de Soleils bridge, where you turn left and follow the Verdon River on the D952. A few hairpin turns later, we take a left onto the D23, which winds through the breathtaking Gorges du Verdon.

Why are the Gorges du Verdon worth the trip?

This gorge – aside from its natural beauty – became world-famous thanks to Jeremy Clarkson at the latest. He once raced to the top against Leo Holding, one of the best climbers in the world. If you’re up for extending your trip, we recommend additional scenic routes in the area: Route des Gorges, Route des Crêtes, and Route de la Corniche Sublime.

Follow Clarkson’s lead and feel the power of your engine as it pushes you through each curve of the canyon, pressing you into your seat. After such an adrenaline-fueled drive, you’ll likely enjoy stretching your legs in one of France’s most beautiful towns, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.

We recommend staying at La Ferme Rose – Hôtel de Charme. Its rustic-elegant pool offers a fantastic view of the surrounding mountain ranges, and of course, free parking is available.

The Route Napoléon to Grasse

After breakfast and check-out, your fingers will likely be itching to hit the road again. Fire up the engine and head toward your first stop of the day: Lac de Sainte-Croix. This reservoir surprises visitors with its crystal-clear, turquoise waters, making it a paradise for water sports enthusiasts and a refreshing escape on hot days. After drying off, return to the roundabout and take the first exit onto Route de Castellane. If you take a wrong turn, you can get back on track using this link.

The scenic D952 takes you back through the Gorges du Verdon – fewer hairpin turns this time, but the views remain spectacular. At Pont du Soleil, turn left and continue toward Castellane. From there, the D4085 leads you directly onto the historic Route Napoléon. Built nearly a century ago, this road follows the very same path that Napoleon took 200 years ago after his exile on Elba, as he marched toward Paris to reclaim his throne. With its long, sweeping curves and stunning scenery, this route simply had to be included in our road trip.

By the afternoon, you’ll arrive in Grasse via the D6085 and D4 – the world’s perfume capital. You may recognize the city from Patrick Süskind’s novel "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" or the film adaptation of the same name.

For the night, consider staying at Château Bastide Saint Antoine, where you’ll find private parking, a gourmet restaurant, and an outdoor pool to unwind after a thrilling day on the road.

The Scenic Route: Col de Turini to Nice

Technically, it’s just a short hop from Grasse back to Nice, but why cut your time with the car short? Instead, we take a detour northeast via the D2085, followed by the D2210. Along the way, you'll pass through some of the most picturesque small towns in southern France, such as Le Bar-sur-Loup, Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Vence, Saint-Jeannet and Gattières. Eventually, you’ll reach the M901 at the Var River and cross onto the M6202. If this description isn’t enough, you can always follow our mapped route.

At the roundabout near Le Plan-du-Var, take the first exit and head along massive rock walls onto Route de la Vésubie, which follows the river of the same name all the way to Lantosque, a truly charming mountain village. From there, leave the main road and turn onto the M70. The turns become tighter, the hairpins steeper, and with each meter of elevation gained, the driving pleasure increases exponentially.

Hairpin Heaven: Col de Turini

When searching for the world’s best driving roads, Clarkson, Hammond, and May simply couldn’t skip the Col de Turini – it would have been sacrilege. This pass is a dream of switchbacks and hairpin turns, where tight and fast curves come in rapid succession. On one side, you have towering rock faces; on the other, sheer drops.

Here, on the final stretch of our road trip, you’ll feel like a professional rally driver. And with the right car, even more so – after all, you’re following in the tire tracks of the Top Gear hosts.

Nice welcomes you back in the late afternoon – though depending on how swiftly you conquered the countless serpentines, maybe even earlier. The Côte d’Azur awaits with fresh seafood, fantastic wine, and beautiful beaches.

The Journey Home: What’s the Best Option?

The road trip is behind us, but the memories will last for weeks. Now the only question is: What’s the best way to get home from the south of France?

If you rented one of our cars for this journey, you have several options:

1. The Hardcore Drive: Head straight back to Germany in one go – around 10 hours via the A13.
2. A Relaxing Stopover: Break up the trip with a night in Liechtenstein. A great option is the Park Hotel Sonnenhof in Vaduz, where the spa facilities will help you recharge before the final stretch home.
3. The Convenient Option: Leave the car in Nice (just give us a heads-up), and we’ll handle the return while you fly home stress-free.

No matter how you return, we hope you loved the journey and had an unforgettable trip. If you’re already planning your next driving adventure, check out our fleet – aside from the Porsche 911 and Audi R8, we highly recommend the Alpine A110 for the ultimate French road trip experience.