Motorcycle ride in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

Route Napoléon, from Digne-les-Bains to Grasse

118 km (73 miles), 2 hr 30 min, intermediate

The N85 follows the path Napoleon took on his return from Elba in 1815. Long, well-surfaced curves, mid-altitude passes and a ride through Castellane, the gateway to the Verdon Gorge, before dropping down to Grasse. A Provence classic for motorcyclists.

Séranon. Photo: Jpchevreau, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized

Open in OpenStreetMap © OpenStreetMap

Stops along the way

SStart: Digne-les-Bains
1Barrême, after 30 km (18 miles)
2Castellane, after 54 km (34 miles)
3Séranon, after 78 km (48 miles)
4Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey, after 104 km (65 miles)
FFinish: Grasse, after 118 km (73 miles)

Download the GPXTrack and stops as a GPX file, for a sat nav or another app.

Photos along the route

Barrême. Photo: Alpes de Haute Provence, CC BY 2.0, resized

Castellane. Photo: Épiméthée, CC BY-SA 2.5, resized

This ride in the MotoLert app

In MotoLert, this ride is one of the roadbooks: its route, stops and photos are in the app. Premium guides you along it; camera zones and reported hazards stay free. The app is coming soon to iPhone.

Other rides nearby

Verdon Gorge loop

92 km (57 miles), 2 hr 15 min, intermediate

Photo: MOSSOT, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized

Col de la Bonette, from the Ubaye to the Tinée

47 km (29 miles), 1 hr 10 min, advanced

Photo: Calips, CC BY-SA 1.0, resized

Climbing Mont Ventoux

55 km (34 miles), 1 hr 20 min, intermediate

Photo: LeZibou, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized

Roads change: passes close in winter, roadworks, rockfalls, local restrictions. Check the road before you set off. MotoLert does not replace road signs or the Highway Code.

Route planned by MotoLert with Valhalla on © OpenStreetMap contributors data (ODbL). Photos from Wikimedia Commons, with the author and licence under each image.

Credits and licences