French Alps: From Mont Blanc to the Côte d'Azur

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is located at an altitude of 1035 meters at the foot of Mont Blanc, at 4808 meters the highest mountain in the Alps. You reach the summit of the Aiguille du Midi at 3842 meters by cable car for views over the massif, or take the Chemin de fer du Montenvers to the Mer de Glace. This seven-kilometer-long glacier field is the largest in France. Around the village, you will find a network of hiking trails along mountain lakes and alpine meadows.

Annecy is located on the northern shore of Lac d'Annecy in the French Alps and is known for its medieval centre with the canals of the Canal du Thiou. In the middle of the water stands the Palais de l'Isle, a fortified house from the twelfth century that served as a prison. You can walk through the Vieille Ville to parks such as Le Paquier or cycle along the path on the shores of the lake at an altitude of 447 meters.

With an area of 44 square kilometers, Lac du Bourget is France's largest natural glacial lake. On the eastern side, you can visit the spa town of Aix-les-Bains or sail from the Grand Port to the Abbaye d'Hautecombe, the burial place of the House of Savoy. From the 1538-meter-high Mont Revard, you can look out over the water and the French Alps. The shores offer access to small beaches for water sports and swimming.

Vanoise National Park showcases the rugged beauty of the French Alps, as France's oldest national park. Here you can hike through the high mountains to the picturesque Lac des Vaches. The Grande Casse, with 3855 meters the highest peak, dominates the landscape. Another option is to cross the Col de l'Iseran, a mountain pass. A large population of ibex lives between the glaciers and alpine meadows. The serene tranquility of this area offers expansive views of the surrounding peaks.

The Col du Galibier is a mountain pass in the French Alps at an altitude of 2,642 meters, connecting the Maurienne Valley with the Briançonnais via the D902. At the pass summit, you will find an orientation table with views of La Meije and Mont Blanc. At the monument to Henri Desgrange, you stand at a place that commemorates the history of the Tour de France, while snowfields often remain here deep into summer.

Écrins National Park is a rugged high mountain range, where the 4102-meter-high Barre des Écrins rises as the southernmost four-thousander of the Alps. Glaciers sparkle near the majestic La Meije. Deep valleys such as the Valgaudemar cut through the landscape of rock formations and alpine meadows. Here you can hike to clear mountain lakes or visit charming, secluded mountain villages. Everywhere you enjoy views of pointed peaks, which give the vast surroundings a calm atmosphere.

Grenoble is a city where mountain landscapes and urban charm meet. You reach the nineteenth-century Fort de la Bastille with the Téléphérique de Grenoble Bastille, a cable car with spherical gondolas from 1934. In the lively center, you walk across the Place de Verdun and along the Isère river. Here, you can stock up on supplies at local markets. The city, surrounded by the Vercors and Chartreuse mountain ranges, always offers a picturesque view of the surrounding nature.

This route follows the path that Napoléon Bonaparte took in 1815 after his escape from Elba. You drive through the French Alps past the 184-meter-high rock formation of Castellane and the Col de Valferrière at an altitude of 1169 meters. Near Sisteron, you'll see the Citadelle de Sisteron situated above the Durance river. The landscape is characterized by limestone walls, pine forests, and memorials featuring the imperial eagle.

Sophisticated grandeur and a lively historic center come together in Nice. Stroll along the 19th-century Promenade des Anglais by the azure sea. In Vieux Nice, narrow alleys lead you to the lively Cours Saleya, known for its daily market and the specialty socca. From the 92-meter high Colline du Château, enjoy panoramic views of the city and the harbor. The Mediterranean atmosphere embraces you in the bustling squares and along the azure coastline.