Heading to France this year? Maybe you’re looking to see the best of the country as it warms up in spring or headed to one of its beautiful coastlines for the summer. Year-round France is an amazing destination for a road trip... in autumn too, lake towns like Annecy and Grenoble offer stunning views framed with autumnal foliage and in winter there are plenty of winter sports to do in the Alps.

We’ve put together our pick of 3 beautiful road trips you can do, to see the best that France has to offer.

Quaint seaside towns and a UNESCO World Heritage abbey in the sea - Normandy

Our first pick may share the climate of the south of the UK, being just across the Channel, but Normandy has stunning sights to behold. Boasting breathtaking spots like the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mont St Michel, an abbey atop a tidal island (featured in the photo above) that will take your breath away, the chalk cliffs of Étretat and the peaceful village of Giverny, where Claude Monet found his inspiration, Normandy is not one to miss.

Start your road trip in the picturesque city of Rouen, spend the afternoon strolling around the Old Town, visit the Gothic Cathedral and museum-hop, before hitting the road and heading to the next stop of Étretat. On the Normandy coast, this lovely town is famed for its white chalk cliffs, and the magnificent cliffside Étretat Gardens. From here, it’s just an hour’s drive to the wonderful seaside town of Deauville.

Deauville is best associated with the film festival that happens annually in September. This charming seaside town has a lot to offer visitors, from lovely cafes to sandy beaches and a vibrant atmosphere. After exploring Deauville, there’s a beautiful stretch of coastline to drive along, before heading slightly inland to the next stop of Caen.

A picturesque city, boasting museums, castles and a charming Old Town to explore, Caen is not one to miss. Just an hour’s drive (or a little longer if you take the scenic coastal roads instead), from Deauville, Caen is a hidden gem of arts and culture, that often gets overlooked on Normandy itineraries. This city can be explored in 2 or 3 days, depending on what you’re hoping to see whilst there.

From Caen, the next stop on your Normandy road trip is a bit of a longer drive, at around an hour and a half, but no matter – this drive will take you through the beautiful green scenery of this region. The final stop of the road trip, is the gem in Normandy’s crown, the breathtaking tidal abbey-topped island of Mont St Michel. This magical location is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a spectacular place to end your road trip around this beautiful region.

Lavender fields, Roman ruins and beautiful villages - Provence

In the southeast of France, the Provence region runs from the Mediterranean Sea to the mountains of the Écrins National Park, making it one of the most varied regions in terms of landscape. A great place to start a road trip around Provence is in the beautiful city on the banks of the Rhône River, Avignon. There, you can find a Gothic palace; the Palais des Papes, the iconic Medieval bridge; Pont Saint-Bénézet and plenty of fascinating museums to explore. Great for a one or two night stay, hit the road when you’ve seen what you wanted to see and head to the next stop of Arles.

Arles flies under the radar on many Provence itineraries, but it’s not one to miss! When there, make sure to visit the Arènes d’Arles, the Roman Amphitheatre and do a self-guided tour of the spots Van Gogh was inspired by in his paintings, when he lived in the area. After a one or two night stay in this compact city, get back on the road with a gorgeous hour’s drive through the Provençal countryside, passing by two nature reserves, to the picturesque seaside town of Martigues.

The colourful fishing town of Martigues is a lesser-known gem of the region, often overlooked for nearby Marseille. However, this gorgeous town is a great spot for arts and culture, beaches or just a stroll around the picture-postcard port. After a day or two in this destination, the next stop takes you to what this region is best known for, lavender fields!

Potentially the highlight of the road trip, if you’re planning your road trip between mid-June to mid-July, then you’ll catch the lavender fields in full bloom. A sea of purple flowers awaits in the fields of Luberon, just under a 2 hour’s drive back inland from Martigues. If not visiting at that time of year, then a stop at Aix-en-Provence (which stands between Martigues and Luberon) is a better call. From beautiful tree-lined boulevards to a bustling market-filled Old Town, with plenty of gardens and a noteworthy Fine Arts museum, Aix-en-Provence is a wonderful stop to make on your road trip through this part of France.

Of course, a visit to the Provence region wouldn’t be complete without some time in the Côte d’Azur. Start this part of your road trip off in the coastal city of Toulon, just an hour’s drive from Aix-en-Provence. There, you can explore beautiful beaches, local markets and see the scene from above, taking the cable car up Mont Faron, for a breathtaking view of the city and the Mediterranean Sea.

From Toulon, begins the drive past the sparkling blue waters and white sand beaches of the famous Côte d’Azur. Stop off at the more well-known cities of Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Nice, for a taste of glitz and glamour, or choose to visit smaller destinations like Èze, Cassis or Menton for a spot of culture and history.

Storybook villages, stunning scenery and crystal-clear lakes - Rhône-Alpes

You’ve likely heard of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe, but have you heard of the wider Rhône-Alpes region that it sits within? If you’re a fan of outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, canyoning, water sports or winter sports, then a road trip through this region might be for you!

A great place to start a road trip through the Rhône-Alpes region is in the city of Lyon. Lyon is well-known for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, its culinary scene and its riverside walks. Lyon has a lot to offer visitors, so a stay of around 3 or 4 days here is a good enough amount of time to enjoy the city. From Lyon, which is located in the heart of the region, a great next stop on a road trip is the picturesque lakeside town of Annecy.

Annecy, just under a 2 hour’s drive from Lyon, is known as the ‘Venice of the Alps’, due to the mixture of charming stone bridges and pretty canals and waterways running through the town. This picture postcard town, on the edge of Lake Annecy, is a great destination for water sports like kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding. Hiking and cycling around the scenic surrounds of the city is also common, but if you’re a fan of Medieval architecture, cafe culture and sampling local cuisine, then Annecy has something for you, too!

From Annecy, Chamonix, the Mont Blanc-backed village you’ll definitely have seen photos of before, is just over an hour’s drive away. Chamonix is a popular spot for skiing, winter sports and hiking... or just for relaxing in a sauna or sampling hearty, traditional mountain dishes like raclette, fondue and tartiflette.

Finally, no road trip through the Rhône-Alpes region is complete without a stop in Grenoble. Just over 2 hour’s drive from Chamonix, Grenoble has museums and parks galore. A highlight of a visit to Grenoble is taking a quick trip on the cable car, for stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the city skyline.

Hiring a car for your road trip in France? Consider getting Car hire excess insurance

Car hire excess cover helps protect you financially, against damage and loss to your hire car, to give you piece of mind whilst on your road trips, in France, Europe, and beyond. This optional insurance product, covers you against any excess charges you may occur when renting a car abroad, covering the excess of charges the rental company may ask you to pay, should your rental vehicle be damaged or stolen, whilst in your possession.

This excess insurance works by reimbursing you the excess you would have to pay when making a claim against damage or loss with your car hire company. iCarhireinsurance.com offer excess insurance covering rentals in Europe and Worldwide, find out more about our cover types, here.