Motorbike Touring in France: The Routes You Have to Try

France is full of fantastic roads for motorbike touring, from the stunning coastline of the Riviera to the green slopes of the Loire valley. We’ve picked some of our favourite routes to help your plan your next motorbike holiday, all easily accessible from the DFDS ferry ports in northern France.

Le Havre to Rouen

Long, smooth roads and open countryside define this route between these two historic cities. From the port city of Le Havre the A131 takes you into the Parc naturel regional des Boucles de la Seine, which, as the name suggests, is a regional park covering the curves of the lower reaches of the Seine before it empties into the ocean.

Caen to Cherbourg-Octeville

This Normandy route takes you up the Cotentin peninsula on the N13 through another beautiful regional park. There’s also an opportunity to stop off at the historic town of Bayeux with its famous tapestry and a stunning cathedral.

Loire Valley  

You can pick almost any route through this lovely area of France, but the D952 is a good choice. It closely follows the Loire River between Angers and Tours, offering sweeping views and gently meandering roads.

Col de Turini

If you’re making the trip to the southern reaches of the country, the Col de Turini road is a stunning mountain road in the Alpes-Maritimes region. Definitely one for dry weather, the road tightly twists and turns through the long mountain pass.

Route Napoleon

Another breathtaking route in the south of France, the Route Napoleon covers 325km of smooth road draped through the mountains of Provence. It begins at Golfe-Juan near Cannes where Napoleon landed in 1815 (he was finally defeated at Waterloo not long after), and can take you all the way to Grenoble.

Gorges du Cians

Just north of Nice is this incredible gorge cut from burgundy-coloured rock, winding its way up into the Mercantour national park. The sides slope steeply up, with tunnels and arches providing a fascinating ride through this unique landscape.