Corsica is filled with unspoiled natural beauty and a slightly nostalgic air that pervades the entire island. It is also home to arguably the most stunning coastal roads in Europe, running along precarious cliff tops and winding around the hills and mountains that fall into the sea below. These roads are not for the faint hearted, especially when you find yourself face-to-face with a white van that has strayed into your lane on a tight bend, but for those with the testicular fortitude to tough it out, the views alone are ample reward. Add in the island’s famous blend of Mediterranean sun and delicious food, and you have the makings of the perfect road trip. The only problem with this trip is getting your car to the island. While hiring a car is always an option, this usually requires the driver to come full circle back to the car depot – not necessarily a bad thing as it provides the perfect excuse to complete the entire coastal circuit and see everything the island has to offer.

If you prefer gentle charm to dramatic drops, you could do much worse than the Avignon to Marseilles trip, with a little detour through Parc naturel régional du Verdon. Leaving the medieval city of Avignon head southeast to the small town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, famous for its working water wheels, antique shops and busy Sunday market where traders sell fresh food from small boats. After picking up a few souvenirs and something for lunch (or simply settling down into one of the many cafés for it) it is time to head east to Roussillon and then Moustiers-Ste-Marie, two clifftop villages with completely different vibes. From Moustiers-Ste-Marie head south, meandering towards Marseilles; stopping at the beautiful commune of Tourtour, Ansouis and finally-Aix en-Provence before reaching your final destination at France’s second largest city. The entire 360km route can be completed in just under seven hours, but to appreciate the route to its fullest you should stick to small, winding roads, saving plenty of time to explore the villages you reach and of course factoring in time to get lost, and two or three days is a much more reasonable timeframe.

Back Roads of ProvenceCorsica’s North Coast La

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