dina4

We're driving from Lyon to Piedmont and looking for the most scenic route.

It looks like there are lots of options -- the two below are offered by google maps, and i was wondering if any of you had any advice or other suggestions...

(1) north east to geneva and then down through chamonix on the A5 to turin, maybe with a short detour to see Annecy.
(2) faster route east through chamberry on the E70

Any tips would be appreciated!
Thanks!

sandralist

Just noting in case you are traveling later in the year that some of those roads close quite early after the end of the summer, and even if you are traveling in summer, some sections are probably unenjoyable if there are rainstorms en route.

If you are not spending the night en route, you can make up your mind on your departure day, based on weather and mood.

If you've never driven in the Alps, don't underestimate how tiring it can be. Some roads can be very crowded with traffic on weekends, especially motorcycle traffic. So try not to overcommit yourself.

flanneruk

There really aren't lots of options. You either go through the Alps at the Mont Blanc tunnel or the Frejus tunnel: any other fastish route from Lyons to Turin involves huge detours. The Petit St Bernard pass from Bourg St Maurice to Pre St Didier normally opens about now, and closes about October, but it does involve a lot of mountain driving. You should be able to do Lyons-Turin in a day that way in summer: personally I find most of these smaller passes more trouble than they're worth, but others may be more comfortable with the demands they make.

I've never found the route through the Mont Blanc tunnel (the one round Chamonix) particularly scenic. It's mostly lorry-choked, and the tunnel and its approaches afford very few opportunities to see very much.

Even the route through the Frejus tunnel affords limited opportunities for the driver to see much. You might turn off the fast road at Modane, take the old road via the Mont Cenis pass to Susa, then rejoin the motorway. Still demanding driving across the pass - but it goes on less remorselessly and endlessly than the Petit St Bernard.

One set of alternatives that I prefer is to take the northern road round Lake Geneva, cross the Alps on the Grand St Bernard pass (not tunnel) between Martigny and Aosta, then follow more or less the route of the medieval Via Francigena (google it) from Valdaosta into Piedmont.

From Lyons to, say, Pavia you really need to allow at least two days. Though the scenery's often great, the real interest lies in getting out of the car to walk and to investigate the area's history.

traveller1959

The direct route on the E70 takes about 4 hours. It is all motorway and you will not drive passes but through a long tunnel, so it is not overly scenic.

But you can easily do scenic detours.

A rather short detour would be leaving the E70 at Modane (exit 31), then taking the D1006 over the Col du Mont Cenis (altitude 2084 metres) to Susa and there back onto the E70. Allow a little bit more than an hour additional time for this scenic drive plus time for stopping and walking around.

Another option would be leaving the E70 at exit 29 and taking the D902 to Col du Galibier (altitude 2646 metres), from there to Briancon and further on N94 over the Col du Montgenevre (1854 metres) into Italy and in Oulx back onto the E70. The Galibier is one of the most spectucalar Alpine passes and a famous part of the Tour de France. You will meet many bicyclists on the road. You wil drive a short section on the famous "Route des Grandes Alpes". For this detour, you should count additional three hours.

Both detours are very scenic and this it what I suggest. I would not take the A5 which is longer and not as scenic.

flanneruk

For the avoidance of doubt: none of the passes I suggest open year-round, and their closures are dictated by weather rather than precise dates.

The Grand St Bernard has an almost year-round tunnel alternative, so it doesn't matter hugely if you're re-routed. The Mont Cenis and Petit St Bernard closures are usually announced dozens of miles in advance: but - especially in spring and autumn - you must check openings before starting the journey to avoid the risk of really lengthy backtracking.

traveller1959

Another tip: Instead of Google maps use viamichelin.com and zoom into the map until you get a resolution with green stripes along some roads. These green stripes indicate scenic roads (you will see that all mountain roads are scenic exept the motorways which go through the bottoms of the valleys).

kerouac

I have always enjoyed driving over the Petit Saint Bernard.

Michael

Use viamichelin.com to figure out an itinerary, specifying the "discovery route" (a Michelin recommendation option) if you want the scenic route plus any other limitations or choice you might want to impose, such as avoiding avoiding tolls.

dina4

Thanks so much for all the great advice! I've been looking now at via Michelin to try to figure this out.

I forgot to mention that we are not staying overnight, and we are driving in early July.

It sounds like the longer E5 route isn't tremendously scenic, but includes the grand Bernard and the petit grand Bernard, which are? (Sorry a bit confused by that)

I'm leaning towards the faster e70 with the detour up from modane to col du mt cenis and Susa.

No one mentioned my idea of detouring through annecy. I've heard it's very charming, but not sure if it's worth it...

Thanks again! Really appreciate the help.

dina4

darn, michael, the "discovery route is over 8 hours..." (not including stops...)

traveller1959

If you are staying overnight you will have enough time to explore the Alps. Think about the detour over the Galibier - it is certainly the better route than over the Mont Cenis.

Annecy is a beautiful town with a scenic lake. Certainly a good choice for an overnight stop.

kerouac

The Grand Saint Bernard pass is a much more arduous drive, although there are fewer cars on the road since just about everybody goes through the tunnel instead. It is not part of a "French Alps" drive, though, because it links Switzerland and Italy. And yes, there is a big St. Bernard kennel at the top of the pass, usually shrouded in snow and fog.

RonZ

If you're near Chamonix on a clear day, a ride on the cable car is a once in a lifetime experience.