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T4 Tour des Grandes Alpes von Barcelonette nach Saint Dalmas
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert David Ruprecht
Last edit: 29-01-2025
Route Summary
On the fourth day of the Tour des Grandes Alpes, we slowly head towards the sea: the mountain passes are less high, the fauna slowly becomes Mediterranean and the climate noticeably warmer. Another mountain pass over 2300m, then we head into lower regions with deep, impressive gorges, a visit to a small medieval town and then a little up into the Alpes Maritimes. The extremely varied route offers everything a biker's heart desires.

This diverse and exciting tour deserves a full 5 stars.

The route is easy to drive for everyone, but the narrow gorge roads require a high level of attention and caution.
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Verdict
Duration
7h 37m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
166.64 km
Countries
Gorges de Daluis
RouteXpert Review
On the fourth day of the Tour des Grandes Alpes, we slowly head towards the sea: the mountain passes are less high, the fauna slowly becomes Mediterranean and the climate noticeably warmer. Another mountain pass over 2300m, then we head into lower regions with deep, impressive gorges, a visit to a small medieval town and then a little up into the Alpes Maritimes. The enormously varied route offers everything a biker's heart desires.

This diverse and exciting tour deserves a full 5 stars.

The route is easy to drive for everyone, but the narrow gorge roads require a high level of attention and caution.

Shortly after Barcelonnette we begin the ascent to the last high mountain pass, the somewhat inconspicuous but beautiful Col de la Cayolle. On the way we stop just before the mountain saddle and take a photo of the old stone bridge with the waterfall flowing beneath it. A unique, dreamy sight. It is also worth stopping to take photos on the pass itself; the untouched mountains and narrow pass road are a great photo opportunity.

From now on it's downhill. Before we follow the Var down to Entrevaux, we fortify ourselves with a coffee at the Refuge la Cantonnière alpine farm and enjoy the view. Then we go along the Var, which sometimes flows like a gorge like a narrow mountain stream, then again with a wide riverbed down a wide valley towards the sea. In a few days we will cross it again as a wide river just before it flows into the sea. Today we follow it for over 50km.

On today's tour we encounter impressive geological phenomena. In the upper part of the Val de Vars we are accompanied by grey mountain walls, which suddenly change to dark red after Les Roberts. After just a few bends in the Gorges de Daluis, as the next gorge is called, we stop to take a photo: the old road on the opposite side of the gorge joins the new D2202 here with an impressive bridge, but has not been allowed to be used for many years. The junction offers space for a few bikes and so it is only a few steps to the bridge with an impressive view down into the gorge and along both sides of the Var.

From now on, the road winds through tight bends and short, sometimes winding tunnels through the Gorges de Daluis. Unfortunately, a few of the bends on the way down the valley have been shortened by tunnels, and going up it would be even more of a curve paradise. At the end of the gorge, the Var widens out into a wide, gravelly plain before taking a sharp left turn in Pont de Gueydan. We cross it again here and follow it further, also through the two narrow rocky edges, where we cross it again before arriving in Entrevaux a few kilometers further down.
The Citadelle d'Entrevaux greets us from afar from its perch, an impressive fortress on a rocky outcrop. The path up, as we see from the car park, is lined with passages in the walls every 50 metres or so. An impressive battlement walkway up.

We park our bikes in the new village on the right bank and walk over the medieval bridge and the Porte Royale, the royal gate, into the ancient town. In summer, the narrow alleys, some of which are barely more than two metres wide, are wonderfully cool. In addition to the dreamy alleys, the ancient rows of houses in a very small space and an impressive church, we also find a Musée de Moto, a small but fine motorcycle museum with around 110 two-wheelers, as well as inviting restaurants for a long lunch break. If you want and have enough time, you can also visit the Citadelle, which requires a short, steep hike up to the rocky outcrop. We skip this and instead enjoy a delicious crêpe for dessert.

Filled with many impressions and great holiday photos, we get back on our motorbikes and take the second half of the route. We follow the Var for another 15km before turning left and following the Cians first through the lower gorge, with mighty grey rock walls on the left and right. The valley opens up briefly, then we head into the upper gorge of the Cians, where red rocks await us all around us again. This change of colour is one of the most impressive things on this day trip. We also stop for photos in the upper gorge, where we are amazed at the depth of the gorge that the actually quite small stream of Cians has dug into the landscape.

Towards the end of the gorge we can already feel ourselves gaining altitude again. The climate of the Alpes Maritimes awaits us. Before we enter the Alps, it is very important that we fill up again in Beuil. It is the last and only petrol station for about 70 km. With a full tank we climb the pass road to the Col de la Couillole, where we treat ourselves to a coffee break at another 1678 m above sea level. Then it is quite steep again, not quite as deep as in the Val de Vars, before we reach the last climb via Valdeblore to Saint Dalmas after Le Saint Sauveur. Our day trip ends high above the village in Le Grand Chalet.

I have to say about this accommodation that it is a very unusual guesthouse and should definitely be visited. We stumbled upon it by chance years ago and since then it has been an absolute must. This is mainly due to the two hosts, Christine and Luc, with their unique hospitality. The introduction to the aperitif before dinner by Luc alone is worth the trip. Or the fine dinner "en famille". Likewise, we have hardly enjoyed a more delicious breakfast than in the Grand Chalet. And, last but not least, the presentation of the cheese platter after dinner will remain unforgettable for all guests. Luc is guaranteed to find the right cheese for you too. I recommend booking two or more nights and exploring the area from there. A short drive followed by a short hike to Lac nègre, for example, is brilliant. It is important to book early as all accommodation options in the Alpes Maritimes are very popular, especially the Grand Chalet.
Entrevaux
Lac de nègre - a daytrip from the Grand Chalet
Links
Refuge La Canbtonnière
Gorges de Daluis
Entrevaux
Moto Museum Entrevaux
Le Grand Chalet
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Provence Alpes Cote d Azur
About this region
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (French pronunciation: ​[pʁɔvɑ̃s‿alp kot d‿azyʁ]; Occitan: Provença-Aups-Còsta d'Azur, [pɾuˈvɛnso̞ ˈawps ˈkɔsto̞ daˈzyɾ], or Provença-Alps-Còsta d'Azur, [pɾuˈvɛnso̞ ˈalps ˈkɔsto̞ daˈzyɾ]; commonly shortened to PACA; English: Provence-Alps-French Riviera; also known as Région Sud) is one of the eighteen administrative regions of France, the far southeastern on the mainland. Its prefecture and largest city is Marseille. The region is roughly coterminous with the former French province of Provence, with the addition of the following adjacent areas: the former papal territory of Avignon, known as Comtat Venaissin; the former Sardinian-Piedmontese County of Nice, whose coastline is known in English as the French Riviera and in French as the Côte d'Azur; and the southeastern part of the former French province of Dauphiné, in the French Alps. Previously known by the acronym PACA, the region adopted the name Région Sud as a commercial name or nickname in December 2017. 5,007,977 people live in the region according to the 2015 census.
It encompasses six departments in Southeastern France: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Hautes-Alpes, Var and Vaucluse. It is bounded to the east by the France–Italy border, to the south by the Mediterranean Sea and by the Principality of Monaco, to the north by Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and to the west by Occitanie, with the Rhône marking its westernmost border. The region logotype displays the coat of arms created in the 1990s and which combines the coats of arms of the old provinces making up Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. The region's economy is the third largest in France, just behind Île-de-France and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Its GDP in 2012 was €142.4 billion (US$183.1 billion) while its per capita GDP was €28,861 ($US 37,121).
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Route Collections in this region
The 24 Most Beautiful Alpine Routes
The Alps, The Alps are a mountain range in Europe, stretching from the French Mediterranean coast in the southwest to the Pannonian Plain in the east. The area of the mountain range is more than 200,000 km².

In other words Passes and Mountain Roads!

Driving through the mountains is great! Especially over the mountain passes with hairpin bends and narrow winding roads. Every bend a different view where you can enjoy. There are many beautiful mountain passes in the Alps.

A selection that has also been incorporated into these routes:
The Stlevio Pass:
The Stelvio Pass, also known as Passo dello Stelvio, is mainly known for the stage in the Giro d'Italia. Due to the length and the difference in height, this pass is seen as one of the toughest tests in cycling. The Stelvio Pass reaches a maximum height of 2758 meters and is therefore one of the highest in the Alps. The pass connects the towns of Bormio and Prato Allo Stelvio. In winter the pass is closed due to heavy snowfall.

The Reschenpass:
The Reschenpass, also known as Passo di Resia, connects the Austrian state of Tyrol with the Italian province of South Tyrol. The pass reaches a maximum height of 1,504 meters and has been one of the most important north-south connections in the Alps in recent centuries. The pass was used long before Roman times. Along the way you will pass several highlights and historical relics. One of the highlights is the Reschensee. This lake was created after the construction of the dam and has completely submerged the village of Graun. The only thing that reminds of that is the clock tower in the middle of the lake.

Col du Galibier:
The French mountain pass Col du Galibier connects the towns of Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Briançon via the Col du Lautaret in the south and the Col du Télégraphe in the north. The mountain pass is part of the Tour de France and very much feared, due to the fact that it can only be reached via the other two mountain passes. The pass reaches a maximum height of 2646 meters. From there you can take a walk to the viewpoint at 2704 meters. You can admire the peaks of the Grand Galibier, Mont Blanc and La Meije here.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road:
With a height of 3798 meters the Grossglockner is the highest mountain in Austria. To fully enjoy this impressive mountain, you can drive over the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and the accompanying pass. The route starts from Bruck am Grossglockner and ends in Heiligenblut. Of course you can drive in two directions. The pass reaches a maximum height of 2504 meters and is closed in winter due to heavy snowfall. Along the way you pass several stops with fun activities, information points, mountain huts and viewpoints. A visit to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe and Pasterzen Glacier is highly recommended.

The Col d'Izoard:
Just like the Col du Galibier, the Col d'Izoard is also part of a stage of the Tour de France. The mountain pass connects Briançon with the valley of the river Guil. The pass is partly located in the Regional Natural Park du Queyras and reaches a maximum height of 2360 meters. What is special about the Col d'Izoard is the barren and rocky landscape. Sometimes it feels like driving a car over the moon! Along the way you can stop at several points to enjoy the beautiful view.

The Bernina Pass:
The Bernina Express is one of the most famous rail trains in Switzerland and the Alps. The route is beautiful and partly included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Parallel to the railway lies the Bernina pass, which connects the Veltlin valley with the Egandin valley. This beautiful Alpine road has a total length of 56 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 2328 meters. Along the way you can enjoy views of the Morteratsch Glacier.

The Sella Pass:
The Sella Pass, also known as Passo di Sella, takes you over one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the Dolomites: the Sella massif. The pass connects Valle di Fassa with Val Gardena and reaches a maximum height of 2236 meters. At this height is also the border of the Italian provinces of Trentino and Bolzano. Along the way you can enjoy the view of this spectacular mountain world. Admire, for example, the three peaks of the Sasso Lungo massif, the Sella massif or the peaks of the Marmolada. You can also drive the Sella pass in combination with the Gardena pass, Pordoi pass and Campolongo pass.

The Grimsel Pass:
The Grimsel Pass connects Goms in Wallis with the Halis Valley in the Bernese Oberland. The pass reaches a maximum elevation of 2165 meters and is closed in winter due to snowfall. Over the centuries, the mountain pass has played an important role in trade between Switzerland and Italy. Now it is mainly the reservoirs that have an important function. These are used to generate electricity. The landscape you drive through is rugged, rocky and impressive. On top of the pass is a hotel and a restaurant with a special marmot park. The Dodensee (Totensee) is also located here. This lake owes its name to the many soldiers who died in the time of Napoleon.

The Gotthard Pass:
The Gotthard Pass, also known as Passo del San Gottardo and Saint Gotthard, connects the Swiss towns of Airolo and Andermatt. The mountain pass and associated tunnel are especially known among holidaymakers driving from Switzerland to Italy. But where the majority opt for the tunnel, it is precisely the pass that really completes the holiday. The Gotthard Pass has a length of about 26 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 2106 meters. The route is beautiful and takes you along old villages and beautiful views.

The Silvretta High Alpine Road and Silvretta Pass:
The Paznaun Valley in Tyrol and the Montafon in Vorarlberg are connected by the Silvretta High Alpine Road. The route has a length of 22.3 kilometers and leads from Galtür to Partenen in 34 hairpin bends, via the 2032 meter high Bielerhöhe. The Silvrettasee is also located at this point, where you can enjoy a lovely walk. The pass is closed in winter due to snowfall.

The Simplon Pass:
Just like the Gotthard Pass, many holidaymakers also travel over the Simplon Pass every year. This mountain pass connects the Rhone Valley in the canton of Valais with the Valle d'Ossola in Piemonte. The pass is open all year round and reaches a maximum height of 2005 meters. Along the way you pass a number of buildings, including the well-known Simplon Hospiz from 1825. The hospiz is managed by the monks of St. Bernard. From the highest point on the pass, all kinds of hiking routes are possible and you will also come across a hotel where you can spend the night.

The Gerlos Pass:
The Gerlos Pass connects the Salzach Valley in the Salzburgerland with the Zillertal Valley in Tyrol. The pass is part of the Gerlos Alpenstraße and runs right through the Hohe Tauern National Park. Along the way you can enjoy beautiful views of the surroundings. The pass has a length of 12 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 1531 meters. A ride over the Gerlos Pass can be ideally combined with a visit to the Krimmler Wasserfälle.

The Great St. Bernard Pass:
The Great St. Bernard Pass, better known as Col du Grand Saint Bernard, connects the Italian province of Valle d'Aosta with the Swiss canton of Valais. The pass is one of the highest in Switzerland and reaches a maximum height of 2469 meters. Like a number of other mountain passes in this list, the Great St. Bernard Pass has also been used as a connecting road for centuries. The pass is named after the St. Bernard dogs that used to help stranded travelers along with the monks. The pass is closed in winter.

The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road:
The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road connects the towns of Sölden in the Ötztal and Meran in South Tyrol. Tolls must be paid on the Hochgurgl - Moos route. Via a mountain road with about 60 hairpin bends you drive through a beautiful mountain world. With the Timmelsjoch Experience you can learn more about the history, the road and the environment via various stations. You can also visit the Top Mountain Crosspoint museum.

Col de l'Iseran:
With a maximum pass height of 2770 meters, the Col l'Iséran is one of the highest mountain passes in the Alps. The pass connects Bourg-Saint-Maurice with Bonneval-sur-Arc. Via a road full of hairpin bends you pass, among other things, Val-d'Isère and a side valley of the Maurienne that lies entirely in the National Park de la Vanoise. You can spot animals such as marmots and chamois and there is also a restaurant with a chapel on top of the pass.

The Gavia Pass:
The Gavia Pass (Italian Passo di Gavia) is a mountain pass in the Italian Alps, in the Lombardy region.
It is one of the highest pass roads in Europe. The road leads through the unspoilt Stelvio National Park. The road was built in the First World War to supply Italian soldiers who fought in the Italian-Austrian border area. The pass height is one of the most beautiful in the Alps. Here is the large Lago Bianco with, to the north, the mountain San Matteo (3684 meters). Lago Nero is slightly lower on the south side of the pass. Here the mountain group of the Adamello determines the view. There are many well-marked walks in the area. During the winter the pass is closed due to the heavy snowfall. The pass is often closed until May and June due to the large amount of snow.


Promoter has made a selection of the 24 Most Beautiful Alpine routes that they have set out in recent years.

The routes go through:
France
Austria
Switzerland
Italy

The most beautiful roads, the most beautiful views, the most beautiful viewpoints. The highest mountains, the fastest descents, hairpin bend after hairpin bend, you name it you can't get enough of it.

If you go on holiday in this region, take advantage of it, ALL routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.

Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Alps and the Dolomites have to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.

I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).



View Route Collection
24 Routes
8059.29 km
171h 24m
25 Magnificent trails in France
This MRA route collection contains 25 beautiful motorcycle routes in different parts of France, such as the Ardennes, the Alsace, Vercors, the Drôme, the Ardèche, Cote d'Azure, Gorges du Verdon, the Ariège, the Dordogne and Brittany.

The routes have been carefully created by Bert Loorbach, who is an enthusiastic motorcyclist himself. He lived in France for a year and a half, during which time he devoted himself to mapping the unknown and beautiful back roads of France especially for motorcyclists.

The routes are bundled in the Motortourgids France part 1 of Kosmos publishing house and now also available in MyRouteApp.

I have taken over the routes in MRA and sometimes adjusted them slightly to make them even more interesting for the motorcyclist.

View Route Collection
25 Routes
4106.1 km
106h 0m
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