Route Napoléon

The basics

Driving is the most popular way to travel the Route Napoléon, though you can hike, bike, and ride horses. The drive takes about eight hours without stopping, but half the fun is in visiting Provence’s lavender fields and perfumeries, the Alps’ quaint villages and pine forests, and top-tier restaurants en route to Grenoble. For ease, pick the section that most interests you, or break up the journey over a few days—it took Bonaparte a week.

To turn your full attention to the scenery, let a guide take the wheel. Tours by car and motorcycle show you the best of the region, from Route Napoléon mainstays, such as the cliffs of Castellane, to popular detours like the Verdon Gorge, known as Europe’s Grand Canyon.

Things to know before you go

• The Route Napoléon is winding but very smooth—great news for those new to driving in France.
• Though Bonaparte traveled from south to north, today's drivers often prefer doing his route in reverse for the best views of the Mediterranean.
• Monuments commemorating Bonaparte’s journey dot the entire route, but if you want to follow in his footsteps, online maps show you everything from where he ate to the places he slept.
• Hikers and horseback riders can’t follow the Route Napoléon road strictly, but they stop in many of the same towns.

How to get there

The Route Napoléon starts along the French Riviera in Golfe-Juan, a 15-minute drive from Cannes and about an hour from Nice by car or train. From Golfe-Juan, follow the Route Napoléon through the Provincial villages of Mougins and Grasse, then the more mountainous stretch beginning in Sisteron. The route ends in Grenoble, less than an hour south of Lyon.

When to get there

Summer is a great time to drive Route Napoléon, as Provence’s lavender fields bloom from June to August, and you can start or end your journey with a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean. Plus, every other year in July, the town of Malijai puts on a parade commemorating Bonaparte’s journey, complete with Napoleonic costumes. Avoid going from November to March, when several parts of the route may be closed or inhospitable due to winter weather.

Highlights along the route

Though the drive has plenty of beauty, travelers love to stop in a few key towns along the route. First up is Grasse, known for its perfume museum and opportunities to craft a personal fragrance using local flowers. Castellane lures visitors with its cobbled streets and clifftop chapel, while nearby Digne-les-Bains is a wellness capital with thermal baths, outdoor adventures, and a thriving arts and history scene.