I thought I'd post a few annotated routes from my bit of France. The area of France in the east against the Swiss border is wonderful moto territory. many Brits pass this way on their way south to the Alps and the Med. Not many stop, which is a pity because there are great roads and fantastic scenery here, but you need to know your way around to find some of them.
Some routes in NE France
- Thread starter stolzy
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A full day tour of the higher Vosges including many of the best passes and sections of the Routes de Cretes. Mountains, valleys, vinyards, WWI sites, military cemeteries, plenty of hairpin twisties and wide open sweepers.
There are any number of eating possibilities, most of the passes have a cafe or restaurant at the top. Col de la Schluct is the classic biker hangout, but the wine villages down on the plain (Kientzheim, Turkheim, Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Ribeaville) are busy at weekends, but full of restaurants of all type.
What to eat: choucroute (pickled cabbage with sausages, hams etc), Poulet au riesling (chicken in wine sauce), tourte vigneron (meat pie).
The route is essentially two loops which meet at Markstein, I've suggested starting in Colmar, but you can start anywhere and do the two loops in different orders or directions.
There are any number of eating possibilities, most of the passes have a cafe or restaurant at the top. Col de la Schluct is the classic biker hangout, but the wine villages down on the plain (Kientzheim, Turkheim, Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Ribeaville) are busy at weekends, but full of restaurants of all type.
What to eat: choucroute (pickled cabbage with sausages, hams etc), Poulet au riesling (chicken in wine sauce), tourte vigneron (meat pie).
The route is essentially two loops which meet at Markstein, I've suggested starting in Colmar, but you can start anywhere and do the two loops in different orders or directions.
bladerunner
Registered user
+1 for Les Vosgues.
Nearer and certainly quieter than the Alps. Some cracking routes (I've visted 3 times) and interesting history. There are enough roads to keep a GSER happy for days!
Cheers Stolzy Very useful.
Very useful.
Excellent.
Many thanks
Many thanks
I have more routes than you can throw a stick at
Just need to find a hotel for the last night now.
Just need to find a hotel for the last night now.
Top stuff. Will make use of this. Thanks for posting
A circuit of Doubs
You all know Alsace, but I bet few of you ever detoured here. Doubs (pronounced Dooob) is a region of rivers, gorges, mointains and forests. Bordered by Switzerland, Alsace and Burgundy its exactly the sort of place the French go on holiday. And its right in your route between Calais and the Western Alps or the Med.
Besancon is a comfortable days ride from Calais and this route migh be a good place to start your holiday.
Since the French love to holiday here there are loads of hotels, campsites and restaurants. St Hippolyte is the obvious biker hang out - you can't miss the dozens Swiss harley's parked up on sunny weekend afternoons.
What to eat: local specialities include freswater fish (fried carp is excellent), the best frogs legs in France (only a short season in the spring though, otherwise they're frozen). Many of the most famous cheeses in France (Comte, Morbier). Wierd forest mushrooms in the autumn.
The route: Starts in Besancon and follows the river Doubs along a spectacular gorge until Baumes-les-Dames. From there it clims into the Monts de Lomont (think 'The Land That Time Forgot') thence to St Hippolyte.
After a great series of wide, open hairpins there is then a steep and twisty descent to the river Doubs which here forms the border with Switzerland and runs in a spectacular gorge. Then a steep and twisty climb out of the gorge and onto the chalk plateau of the Swiss Jura.
A rather dull, but short run to La Chauz de Fonds (which can be cheerfully ignored) and then a very nice twisty, hairpin strewn descent to the gorge of the Doubs again. Very nice at the bottom here by the lake - if you can time a picnic here, you'll have done well.
Another twisty ascent back to the chalk uplands of the Jura. The route now explores some spectacular countryside with nice open roads where (apart from villages) you're unlikely to be bothered by speedtraps. Waterfalls, spectacular views, chalk cliffs and forests are provided for your entertainment. The route then rejoins the river Doubs again for a very pleasant run alongside the river to Pontarlier.
Then back to Besancon, on the way, stop by the river at Cleron and see the castle at the side of the river.
You all know Alsace, but I bet few of you ever detoured here. Doubs (pronounced Dooob) is a region of rivers, gorges, mointains and forests. Bordered by Switzerland, Alsace and Burgundy its exactly the sort of place the French go on holiday. And its right in your route between Calais and the Western Alps or the Med.
Besancon is a comfortable days ride from Calais and this route migh be a good place to start your holiday.
Since the French love to holiday here there are loads of hotels, campsites and restaurants. St Hippolyte is the obvious biker hang out - you can't miss the dozens Swiss harley's parked up on sunny weekend afternoons.
What to eat: local specialities include freswater fish (fried carp is excellent), the best frogs legs in France (only a short season in the spring though, otherwise they're frozen). Many of the most famous cheeses in France (Comte, Morbier). Wierd forest mushrooms in the autumn.
The route: Starts in Besancon and follows the river Doubs along a spectacular gorge until Baumes-les-Dames. From there it clims into the Monts de Lomont (think 'The Land That Time Forgot') thence to St Hippolyte.
After a great series of wide, open hairpins there is then a steep and twisty descent to the river Doubs which here forms the border with Switzerland and runs in a spectacular gorge. Then a steep and twisty climb out of the gorge and onto the chalk plateau of the Swiss Jura.
A rather dull, but short run to La Chauz de Fonds (which can be cheerfully ignored) and then a very nice twisty, hairpin strewn descent to the gorge of the Doubs again. Very nice at the bottom here by the lake - if you can time a picnic here, you'll have done well.
Another twisty ascent back to the chalk uplands of the Jura. The route now explores some spectacular countryside with nice open roads where (apart from villages) you're unlikely to be bothered by speedtraps. Waterfalls, spectacular views, chalk cliffs and forests are provided for your entertainment. The route then rejoins the river Doubs again for a very pleasant run alongside the river to Pontarlier.
Then back to Besancon, on the way, stop by the river at Cleron and see the castle at the side of the river.
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I agree, although can't claim intimate knowledge. Franche-Comte never gets mentioned here which I think is a canny trick by the French to keep it secret.
The Doubs is one of my top three big French rivers.
Besancon has an interesting Resistance museum and zoo in the citadel bit on top of the hill.
Dole just down the river is a nice place too, with an imposing church overlooking the river.
Ornans, on the Loue just to the south-East of Besancon is a very picturesque town.
And wines from Champlitte is hugely under-rated. The Coteaux de Champlitte Auxerrois, a blanc de rouge, can be spectacular.
The Doubs is one of my top three big French rivers.
Besancon has an interesting Resistance museum and zoo in the citadel bit on top of the hill.
Dole just down the river is a nice place too, with an imposing church overlooking the river.
Ornans, on the Loue just to the south-East of Besancon is a very picturesque town.
And wines from Champlitte is hugely under-rated. The Coteaux de Champlitte Auxerrois, a blanc de rouge, can be spectacular.
+1 on this being an excellent region of France.
Took the 'blade down to Vesoul in 2008 and did a few runs roound the Grand Ballon d'Alsasce & down to Neuchatel in Switzerland, via Bescanon - fantastic roads, great food and I'vve been told they produce some rather acceptable wine...
Only problem was..... the ride home was just over 500 miles. On a blade. In one day...
Took the 'blade down to Vesoul in 2008 and did a few runs roound the Grand Ballon d'Alsasce & down to Neuchatel in Switzerland, via Bescanon - fantastic roads, great food and I'vve been told they produce some rather acceptable wine...
Only problem was..... the ride home was just over 500 miles. On a blade. In one day...
Right then stolzy, here's some homework for you. I'm visiting a friend who lives near Steinsoultz in Alsace (SW of Mulhouse).
I know the area north of there quite well so will have a play in the Vosges on the way down. From the mate's house I'm heading for Annecy, riding through the Jura for the first time. Any particular roads I should be looking at? I want to cover it in a day.
The route I've plotted so far heads SW to Champignole then down a twisty road to Nyon then on to Annecy, skirting Geneva.
I know the area north of there quite well so will have a play in the Vosges on the way down. From the mate's house I'm heading for Annecy, riding through the Jura for the first time. Any particular roads I should be looking at? I want to cover it in a day.
The route I've plotted so far heads SW to Champignole then down a twisty road to Nyon then on to Annecy, skirting Geneva.
As luck would have it its an area I know well. I ride from besancon to annecy often to visit a friend.
Let me get back on my desktop and I'll post you an excellent route.
Your route involves a traverse of Geneva - two things can happen here, you'll get lost following the very poor signage, or you end up directed onto the autoroute blanche to Annecy and paying a 12 month Swiss motorway vignette for half an hours ride. In any event the traffic will add half an hour to the plotted journey time and worst of all, you'll be in Geneva! I would definatly stay on the French side. The run down Lac leman (Geneva) looks nice on a map, but is very dull in practice. this part of the world is very densly populated, in the summer, you'll be in traffic the whole time.
So here is a nice route, most of which I know well.
Steinsoultz is in the Sundgau, a part of Alsace known as the Mille Etangs for its profusion of lakes (and excellent freshwater fish cuisine). The route crosses a 'sticky out' bit of Swizterland and heads to St Hippolyte on a great open twisty bit of road with plenty of 3-lane overtaking sections. Watch out for les flics, the road has a bad reputation for moto hooligans. St Hippolyte should take around an hour so a cafe creme and a croissant (from the boulengerie across the road) might be appropriate at the biker cafe - you'll know which one it is.
The big wide twisties continue until Maiche (again watch out for police) and then, continuing to climb into the Jura, to a giddy descent to Biaufond on the Doubs. An old customs station, beautiful lake and tales of smugglers abound. The gorge of the Doubs is spectacular here. If you happen to be here at lunch there is a fine Franco-Japanese (no kidding - think carp sashimi) restaurant on the swiss side next to the lake.
Now an amusing twisty ascent up the Swiss side of the gorge to the very dull Chaux-de-Fonds followed by an equally dull (but thankfully short) passage through manicured swiss countryside until the descent to the Doubs and Villers-le-Lac, Morteau (speciality sauasage) and then a beautiful run along the Doubs to Pontarlier in the heart of the High Jura.
Passing by a couple of lakes on the way, then a classic High Jura run along open curvy roads, loads of overtaking possibilities (in the rare event you come across traffic) and kilometer plus visibility to St Claude. Then a really nice run up the side of a chalk cliff out of St Claud eventually to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine.
Between there and Annecy, my recollection is more hazy, but there be mountains and there be twisties.
This route is 331 km, 5hrs, the quickest possible route is 291km 4.5hrs for which you'll need a Swiss vignette or to get lost in Geneva, probably both. Its 30km and 15 min longer than your route through Nyon. My route will put a smile on your face, I promise.
So here is a nice route, most of which I know well.
Steinsoultz is in the Sundgau, a part of Alsace known as the Mille Etangs for its profusion of lakes (and excellent freshwater fish cuisine). The route crosses a 'sticky out' bit of Swizterland and heads to St Hippolyte on a great open twisty bit of road with plenty of 3-lane overtaking sections. Watch out for les flics, the road has a bad reputation for moto hooligans. St Hippolyte should take around an hour so a cafe creme and a croissant (from the boulengerie across the road) might be appropriate at the biker cafe - you'll know which one it is.
The big wide twisties continue until Maiche (again watch out for police) and then, continuing to climb into the Jura, to a giddy descent to Biaufond on the Doubs. An old customs station, beautiful lake and tales of smugglers abound. The gorge of the Doubs is spectacular here. If you happen to be here at lunch there is a fine Franco-Japanese (no kidding - think carp sashimi) restaurant on the swiss side next to the lake.
Now an amusing twisty ascent up the Swiss side of the gorge to the very dull Chaux-de-Fonds followed by an equally dull (but thankfully short) passage through manicured swiss countryside until the descent to the Doubs and Villers-le-Lac, Morteau (speciality sauasage) and then a beautiful run along the Doubs to Pontarlier in the heart of the High Jura.
Passing by a couple of lakes on the way, then a classic High Jura run along open curvy roads, loads of overtaking possibilities (in the rare event you come across traffic) and kilometer plus visibility to St Claude. Then a really nice run up the side of a chalk cliff out of St Claud eventually to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine.
Between there and Annecy, my recollection is more hazy, but there be mountains and there be twisties.
This route is 331 km, 5hrs, the quickest possible route is 291km 4.5hrs for which you'll need a Swiss vignette or to get lost in Geneva, probably both. Its 30km and 15 min longer than your route through Nyon. My route will put a smile on your face, I promise.
Looks brill Stolzy, appreciate the effort
(hope you don't mind if I pinch it
)I'll be in the area in June & was actually thinking that along the side of the lakes (Leman & Neuchatel) would be a lovely ride but I bow to your local knowledge.
So, a question :
I'm starting in Geneva (near the airport) so was thinking N5 & D436 to bring me onto your route just south of Saint-Claude or is there a better route ?
Pinch away, that's what its for.Looks brill Stolzy, appreciate the effort
(hope you don't mind if I pinch it
It's very built up along there and can be slow going. If you take the autoroute (and whats the fun in that?) you'll need a vignette.
From the airport, I'd head to Gex and take the Col de Faucille - very nice twisty ascent of the Jura escarpment - surface was a bit dubious near the bottom, but improves further up. Couple of cafes on the way and excellent viewpoints over the lake and Mont Blanc. You'll certainly get a better view of the lake than you will from the Nyon-Geneva autoroute. From Mijoux at the top head, as you say, on the D436 for St Claude.
Just be a bit careful of relying on road numbers in France - they change disturbingly quickly and the numbers can be duplicated in different areas for unrelated roads.
Thats great, thanks Stolzy 
Thats great, thanks Stolzy
Ditto.
The first part of your route to Pontarlier matches what I had planned. The bit down past St Pont Lac looks nice though.
