Going north to south, here we focus on the various mountain ranges and great valleys through which the cycle route takes you…
Chablais
In Savoie Mont-Blanc
The Chablais is the first, small pre-Alpine range between Lake Geneva and the Mont Blanc Range that cyclists cross, heading south along Route des Grandes Alpes®. You ride through the Chablais via the Aulps Valley. Passing through forests, pasturelands and ski resorts going from the banks of Lake Geneva to the villages of Les Gets and Morzine via the Pont du Diable Gorges, the early climbs on the route prove relatively gentle.
Aravis
In Savoie Mont-Blanc
Marked by what looks like a great natural wall of rock topped by toothy summits, the Aravis Range brings to mind pasturelands, typical villages… and Reblochon cows’ milk cheese! After tackling the Col de la Colombière pass, the Route des Grandes Alpes®
plunges cyclists into the heart of this area’s dreamy landscapes, leading you through famous old villages like Le Grand-Bornand and La Clusaz, as well as up the Col des Aravis pass, surrounded by picture-postcard scenery.
Beaufortain
En Savoie Mont-Blanc
The Beaufortain proves a favourite for many visitors to the French Alps, with the Mont Blanc Range serving as backdrop. Beaufort cheese has greatly helped spread the area’s reputation, while its unspoilt, wild landscapes make it an exceptional place to explore. The part known as the Cormet de Roselend boasts particularly unique, open landscapes, while a dam built up here has created a large lake, its blue waters contrasting with the white-tipped mountains and green summer moors around it.
Tarentaise Valley and Vanoise Range
In Savoie Mont-Blanc
This major valley, stretching between Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Val-d’Isère, is reputed for the famous array of ski resorts up on its heights. Bordering the Vanoise National Park, the cycle route here wends its way along the valley bottom, before taking you up to the highlight of Val-d’Isère, and then even higher, to the iconic Iseran Pass, the link to the mighty Maurienne Valley.
Maurienne Valley
In Savoie Mont-Blanc
Stretching 120km from the Italian border to the county of Hautes-Alpes, the Maurienne holds the record for being the longest valley in the French Alps. Above all, it’s known for its concentration of iconic passes, making its reputation for cyclists. In fact, it boasts of being ‘‘the largest mountain cycling area in the world’’! The Iseran and Galibier may be the most famous passes, but the Maurienne Valley can also lead you up to the Croix-de-Fer, Madeleine and Mont-Cenis Passes, all offering fine alternative sections off the main cycle route.
Oisans
In Isère
In the county (département) of Isère, but also crossing into the county of Hautes-Alpes, the Oisans area, with the parish of Le Bourg d’Oisans roughly at its centre, counts six valleys, those of the Romanche, Eau d’Olle, Lignarre, Sarenne, Ferrand and Vénéon. Major mountains soar up on its edges, notably La Meije, with its celebrated natural pinnacle known as the Doigt de Dieu (God’s Finger – 3983m), rising on northern edge of the Écrins National Park. The Oisans is an unspoilt, natural mountain area overall, but is also known as a paradise for those into outdoor mountain sports.
Briançonnais
In Hautes-Alpes
The Briançonnais area is located on the eastern edge of the Écrins National Park and very high mountains. It stands at a crossroads for several valleys, notably the Guisane, Clarée, Haute-Durance and Cerveyrette, each boasting its own distinctive landscape. Located at the heart of the area, do stop at the town of Briançon, awarded Ville d’Art et d’Histoire status for its cultural riches. Reaching the Briançonnais, you enter France’s Southern Alps, the climate changing noticeably!
Queyras
In Hautes-Alpes
Arriving from the north, you reach the Queyras area via the Col de l’Izoard, described by some as the most beautiful pass along the Route des Grandes Alpes®. Its Mediterranean landscapes seem lunar in parts. South of the Izoard Pass, you enter the Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras, an area that counts among the jewels of the Alps. Characterized by larch and Scots fir, this range, away from the beaten tracks, seems frozen in time and boasts incredible riches.
Ubaye
In Alpes de Haute-Provence
Set between the Queyras and Mercantour parks, the Ubaye Valley is marked both by its unspoilt nature and its wild waters. Reputed for its white-water activities, it also has many other attractive features, such as the town of Barcelonnette, with its surprising Mexican-style villas. Here, you need to choose between the main cycle route, leading to the splendid Col de la Cayolle pass, and the alternative section leading you into the heart of the Mercantour via the Col de la Bonette pass. It’s a tough choice!
Mercantour
In the Alpes Maritimes
On the French frontier with Italy’s Piedmont region, the Mercantour is a National Park that stretches across some 150km and encompasses the most southerly of France’s high Southern Alps before its last mountains plunge straight into the Med. In this area, the landscapes are clearly Mediterranean, and that cultural influence is clear in the architecture of the local villages and constructions, as well as in the local history. Accessible via the highest road in Europe, the Col de la Bonette pass offers unrivalled, breathtaking views.
Haut-pays niçois and the Côte d’Azur
In Alpes Maritimes
The Haut-Pays Niçois is the final, most southerly link between the French Alps and the Med, marked by steep roads and perched villages. You can feel the presence of the sea all around. The Col de Turini pass requires a final major effort to climb before you plunge down to the seaside resort of Menton at the eastern end of the Côte d’Azur. From there, you can ride alongside the Mediterranean, a wonderful companion, to Nice. The Col d’Èze pass, the final climb to scale along the cycle route, acts as something of a reminder of all the incredible heights you’ve conquered!