Route Napoléon

Route description

The Route Napoléon follows, in reverse, the road Napoleon took in 1815 after escaping from Elba. From Grenoble the N85 climbs past Vizille to the Laffrey plateau, where a statue marks the meadow where he met the troops sent to stop him. The long, steep ramp at Laffrey calls for low gears, especially in a heavy vehicle.

The road crosses the Col Bayard before dropping into Gap, then follows the Durance valley south to Sisteron, where a citadel crowns the rock above a narrow gap in the mountains. Further on, Digne-les-Bains is a spa town surrounded by lavender country and a geological reserve with fossil sites near the road.

South of Digne the N85 crosses wilder, emptier hills to Castellane, where a chapel sits on a sheer rock above the town; this is also the gateway to the Gorges du Verdon, a worthwhile detour. The road then winds down through the hills to Grasse, the perfume town, and reaches the sea at Cannes, close to Golfe-Juan, where Napoleon landed.

Late spring and early summer are the best time, with lavender in flower around Digne in July. The passes can see snow in winter, and the section between Castellane and Grasse is winding and slow. The N85 is toll-free, but expect heavy traffic near the coast in summer.