Touring Down to the South of France & on to Monaco?

Millau viaduct last year



From the rest area north of the viaduct

 

Great pics Tom !!!!

 

Beware the altitude thing!! We were in the Auvergne a few years ago, and pottered off into the countryside for the day, from our rented gite. It was lovely and warm when we set off , but after a while we were both feeling quite chilly. I then started noticing the 'mile' posts (not miles, obviously!!) which show both distance AND altitude. We were up to around 5,000ft (1,500+mtrs), so it was no surprise that it was getting cold - but we hadn't really noticed that we were gaining altitude! Big country, big vistas, confused perspective!!

 

On the Col de L'iséran - Val d'Isère - the ROAD is at 2750 mtrs ( 9,075 feet)!!! With mountains all around - just magic.

 

We did Mont Ventoux one year in June. 25C in the town at the bottom, 11C at the top......

 

We enjoyed Millau as well though we did end up with a 297 euro bar bill

Sorry about the size of the photo

 

WHAT !!!!!!! How many people?

 

Well! there was 8 of us and we all had food as well.
Started as a quick lunchtime beer and you know how it goes,warm afternoon,sat by the main square people watching and the next thing you know it's 8 o'clock in the evening

 

That sounds bordering on the reasonable depending on how much hootch you had?

 

And what you ate....

I think if I'd been drinking all afternoon I'd have probably been asleep by 8 (I trust it wasn't a long walk back to the hotel?)

 

Hi Tom, good to hear you are planning a France tour. "Moto Breaks"? Don't know where that is, but if you look us up on Google Maps - 23350 La Cellette you'll know where we are.

Re going further south, the Millau bridge is a real "Must See" whichever route you take. I don't do autoroutes ever on my bike, it's just too boring. I always search out the N or D roads.



There are "route nationale" that follow the same general direction as the A75 and parts of that are just biker heaven. Drop down from Clermont Ferrand via Issoire, Saint Flour, Marvejols and Sévérac le Chateau.

South of Millau you find find the Gorges du Tarn which is MAGNIFICENT riding territory.

That last section of the A75 - Lodève and Perpignan - is actually pretty good even for an autoroute.

 

As has already been said the Millau viaduct is definitely worth a trip. The A75 isn't that bad as a motorway and afaik it's still free south of Clermont. The western route is not as direct as the route south via Clermont and given you've a limited amount of time perhaps the most direct route is better.

Collioure is a pleasant little town, easy on the eye but a day is all you need to see most of the "sights". A lovely area around there though and Spain is short trip (not that there's a lot just over the border but the Dali museum at Figueres is worth a visit if you like that sort of thing).

 

Sounds good! I can't help with Arles or Nimes I'm afraid Maybe Dave can help out on that.

 

Not me mate, I know nowt about Arles or Nimes.

 

Yes mate, I've just found it, it's about 115kms from me, give me a date when you'll be there and I'll see what I can do.