Road trip through the mountains of southern France to Provence

Roadtrip durch die Berge Südfrankreichs zur Provence

From Annecy through the French mountains
We stop at numerous scenic routes.
Dip your toe in the Mediterranean before we experience the magic of Provence
expired.

Through the French Alps
Haute-Savoie to Provence

A perfect destination for the Easter holidays

For our first Easter holiday trip, we chose a road trip through southeastern France, and we couldn't have made a better choice. This corner of France, starting at the Swiss border near Geneva, was still a blank spot on our map. But we can already tell you: one natural spectacle follows another: grottos and caves, gorges and mountain ranges, and the highest number of scenic routes we've ever driven.

Camping country par excellence

Furthermore, France once again proves itself to be a camping paradise. Every few kilometers you'll find public bins for recycling, and occasionally there's even a composting facility. You might have also noticed the washing machines at supermarkets or gas stations – brilliant, especially if you've spent the previous summer traveling through Scandinavia :-) At the most scenic spots, you'll find picnic tables and even toilet blocks, perfect for a midday break in the camper without having to rearrange everything. And I don't even need to tell you about the delicious bakeries, but sweet or savory snacks are absolutely essential when traveling with children.

Beautiful campsites close to nature

What we loved most, besides the natural beauty, was the sheer number of lovely campsites. It's incredibly easy to find a nice spot for the night with your campervan, even spontaneously, as there are so many campervan pitches available. If you're looking for campsites close to nature that are also visually stunning and offer easy access to fantastic activities, you can hop from one Huttopia campsite to the next. The French founders were so impressed by the nature-oriented campsites in Canada that they wanted to offer exactly that kind of camping experience in France. And since we ourselves are so fond of Canada, we can say that they succeeded, and there are currently over 50 Huttopia campsites in France, Spain, and the Netherlands.
We rented accommodation at Lac d`Aigubellette, an hour south of Annecy, and at Forêt de Janas, below Toulon by the sea.

Our tips for your road trip
through eastern southern France:

01. Annecy

City

The mecca of French outdoor sports brands is somewhat reminiscent of Innsbruck; admittedly, the city isn't quite as visually appealing, but the vibe is super pleasant, and anyone who loves mountain sports will feel right at home here, able to stroll through the many beautiful shops or pick up some equipment.

Tips for Annecy:

Galeries Lafayette is highly recommended; it also houses a climbing gym, numerous sports shops, vintage stores, an organic supermarket, and cafés. The charming children's shop Les Petits Baroudeurs also carries Roadtyping products. Girls Up offers sportswear for girls.
Annecy's old town consists of only a few narrow streets, yet it feels truly French. A farmers' market takes place here every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
At Lake Annecy you can chill on the meadow or cycle along its shores.
In Rue Sommeiller there are a few nice cafes and restaurants such as Slake Coffee , Milk Tee Cafe or Sø Kaffe .

02. Le Semnoz

Hiking area • Scenic route

Annecy's local mountain is a gem, and what's special is that it's entirely accessible by car. Once you reach the top, you'll find a large plateau where, in winter, an endless network of cross-country ski trails is groomed. There's also a small ski area where a day pass costs just €17. In summer, you can explore the trails by mountain bike.

03. Lac d'Aigubellette

campsite

Lac d'Aigubellette is a little gem with beautiful mountain views, its milky turquoise color inviting you to dream. The best way to explore the lake is from the lovely Huttopia family campsite, located above the lido.

04. Chartreuse Regional Nature Park

Hiking area • Nature

France is dotted with national parks and protected landscapes; we have crossed several of them and spontaneously discovered such great activities and spots, like the " Grottes de Saint Christophe " or the hike to the " Gorges du Guiers Mort " here in the Chartreuse.

05. Route touristique de Combe Laval

Scenic Route

Scenic routes through downward and overhanging rocks (with a height restriction of 3.50 m at the beginning).

05. Grotte de Choranche

Natural landmark

The most impressive cave we've ever been to: an endless complex of underground passages, discovered here during a search for drinking water. Stalactites, thin, tube-like formations, hang throughout the cave. The cave can only be visited as part of a guided tour.

06. Regional Nature Park of Vercors

Hiking area • Nature

Passing through mountains and a high plateau at 1,000 m above sea level, after the Col du Rousset the Provence region and the first lavender fields become visible.

07. Belvedere Col du Rousset

Mountain pass • Hiking area

One curve after another winds its way downhill in this endless maze, always offering a panoramic view. Incidentally, there are a few spots beside the road that are well-suited for overnight camping.

08. Des Rochers Pénitents near Les Mées

Sightseeing • Hiking area

The bizarre rock formation is unmistakable even from afar, standing there like a wall of individual obelisks. Those who wish can hike the high trail across the massif or simply admire it.

9. Lavender Field Paths

Hiking area

Do you like lavender? We have to admit, we absolutely love the scent of the purple blossoms. There are quite a few lavender fields in Provence, for example, east of Manosque. Lavender usually blooms from mid-June until mid-August.

10. Verdon Gorge

Nature • Hiking area

Gorges are indeed numerous in this region; probably one of the most famous is the 21 km long Verdon Gorge with its turquoise waters, also known as the Grand Canyon of France. The gorge begins just beyond Castellane and ends at Lake Sainte-Croix near Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.

11. Luberon Regional Park

Nature • Scenic Route

This nature park is characterized by magnificent cedar trees, rock faces, and picturesque roads that wind through it.

12. Roussillon

small town

The village is officially one of the "Plus Beaux Villages de France," the most beautiful villages in France. The colorful houses stand majestically above lavender and vineyards, their hues gleaming in the ochre tones of the region's famous rock formations.

13. Le Colorado de Rustrel

Sightseeing • Hiking area

The former ochre quarry glows red, orange, and brown, immediately reminding us of many national parks in the USA that we've hiked through. Even the marked trails bear a resemblance to those in Bryce Canyon. The ochre cliffs can be explored on an easy trail of approximately … km, but we recommend the longer loop with its fantastic views. This hike is about … km long and takes approximately 1-1.5 hours.

14. Isle sur la Sorgue

small town

The pretty little town is just the right size for strolling, browsing through Provençal shops, and visiting the regional market.

15. Les Gorges de la Nesque

Nature • Scenic Route

Small, winding roads meander past lavender fields and through pine forests, offering fantastic views time and again, for example of Mont Ventoux.

16. Mont Ventoux

Mountain • Hiking area

This mountain is synonymous with the Tour de France; motor races have also taken place here in the past, as commemorated by a monument on the way up. Incidentally, Mont Ventoux is accessible by car all the way to its plateau.

17. Ardèche

Gorges d`Ardèche

Scenic Route • Hiking Area

The Ardèche region is very popular in summer, but when we were there during the Easter holidays, we had the magnificent scenery almost entirely to ourselves. The gorge is breathtakingly beautiful, and along the Scenic Route, there are numerous viewing platforms offering panoramic views of the vastness and depths below. The famous Pont d'Arc, a natural stone bridge, is located at the northern end in Vallon, which is the livelier of the two towns. On the southern side is the small village of Saint-Martin. But there are also a multitude of amazing and fantastic activities to enjoy on both sides of the gorge.

Tips and sights in the Ardèche

Hike to the Moulin de Tiourre
The short but challenging hike leads down through the forest to a stream with an old mill, where a small lake has been dammed up, the water of which has an incredibly turquoise color.