Road-trip on the National 7: the must-have steps

Are you going on a holiday to the Midi de la France? Here are the essential steps for your road trip on the National 7!

Want a road trip in camping-car or van on the Nationale 7? It is called the "seaday road" or the "Blue road". With a total length of 996 kilometers, this legendary asphalt ribbon is the spinal column of the map of France. It was France’s longest national road. From Paris to Menton, it symbolizes the departures for a holiday in the sun, from Paris to the singing of the cigales. Alternative to the motorways A6, A77, A7 and A8, it embodies the slowness, the 1960s and the hippie wave, local products, dishes and wines.

The National 7 will make you cross beautiful regions to explore in France: the Centre , Burgundy , the Rhone Valley, the Provence and the French Riviera.

Would you like to explore France by taking your time? Here are the must-see stages of a road trip on the National 7: swipe the villages of France by revisiting their history, culture and heritage!

Step 1: Paris to Nevers

It should be noted, first of all, that the National 7 has been renumbered many times since the 1970s. Today, it has only kept only half the length under its name. The National 7 begins in Paris, between the Porte d’Italie and Le Kremlin-Bicêtre. This first stage of 235 kilometers leads you to Nevers.

Out of Paris, don't miss the Khânh-Anh pagoda in Evry. No, you are not in Thailand , but in Essonne. This is the largest pagoda in Europe. In the heart of the French Gâtinais Regional Natural Park, visit Barbizon, nicknamed "the village of painters". On the edge of the Fontainebleau forest, it is an emblematic village of French painting. Corot, Daubigny, Dupré, Millet, Monet or Renoir have been there to find inspiration.

The Château de Fontainebleau (re)discovers the royal history of France, from François I to Napoleon I. Then leave Île-de-France after Nemours, and visit Montargis. On your way, do not miss the Pont-Canal de Briare, on the Loire. To the west, the Châteaux de la Loire are close.

In the east and south, the wine route of Burgundy opens. This section of the National 7 with its mythical terminals, the villages and their castles, the vineyards to Nevers. Before Nevers, do not miss the Church of Our Lady of Charity-sur-Loire.

Step 2: From Nevers to Roanne

After visiting the must-see monuments of Nemours, Montargis and Nevers, direction Moulins. Your journey passes through the Nièvre, then the Allier, where the first hills of the Massif Central draw. The villages of Bessay-sur-Allier, Varennes-sur-Allier, Saint-Gérand-le-Puy punctuate your road.

In Saint-Loup, a museum dedicated to the history of the National 7 is a cultural break. You will enter the Loire, by visiting the town labeled "Villages et Cités de Caractère": Le Crozet, Ambierle, Saint-Haon-le-Châtel.

A return to the National 7 leads you to Roanne: we already observe some southern airs. A walk in the old centre of Roanne is worth a visit, including the dungeon of a castle of the 11th century. If you like hiking, the Madeleine Mountains are to be seen, with the Puy du Montoncel.

Step 3: from Roanne to Valencia

Along the Nationale 7, there are also the gorges of the Loire, with its breathtaking panoramas. On the east side, the Beaujolais mountains announce Lyon. In Joux, pass the collar of Pin-Bouchain: it is the highest point of the N7 (759 meters).

Afterwards, visit the Presqu’Île de Lyon and its historic centre, its historical and cultural monuments (Fourvière, traboules, places and parks), before going along the A7 by calling to Vienna (Isère). Ancient city, you will not miss its Roman ruins. Notably the Temple of Augustus and Livia, the archaeological garden of Cybèle and the ancient theatre where the famous Jazz festival takes place in Vienna. On the Rhone side, the heights of the Pilat Natural Park and the vineyards of Condrieu are close. For the rando, the Crêt of the Eye is the culminating point of the Pilat massif .

Step 4: From Valencia to Avignon

In Valencia, the Rhône valley announces the Midi and Provence. Walk into the alleys of the city, before you continue. Make a small detour by Romans-sur-Isère, and the villages of Vercors (Combovin, Chateaudouble, Peyrus, Léoncel, Saint-Jean-en-Royans).

Then take the direction of the charming city of Crest leads you almost to Drôme Provençale . Visit Mirmande, one of them these villages which make the pride of the French heritage. After a distance in the heights, back to Montélimar, where you will pass in front of the Palais des canbons and the nougat.

The suite is a florilège of unmissable villages and sites. Immanquables for their heritage and the beauty of Provence landscapes, we often know the sweet names. These are those of Saint-Paul-les-Trois-Châteaux, Lapalud, Mornas, Piolenc (National Museum 7), Orange (Romans), Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vaqueyras, Gigondas. The Rhone wine route under the sound of cicadas!

Step 5: from Avignon to Aix-en-Provence

Avignon, the city of the Popes. Head of the Vaucluse, this city is a must-see during a road trip on the Nationale 7. Famous for the homonymous bridge , Palace of the Popes and for its theatre festival, Avignon is classified as “City of Art and History”. It is also part of UNESCO’s world heritage.

It is a very pleasant city to visit, with a historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the foreground. If you like culture and heritage, stop in Avignon for a few days. Take the time to discover the museums of the city, stroll through the pedestrian streets of the intra-muros center. Also, why not, attend a play. Take a walk to Rocher des Doms Park, with its view over the city and the famous Saint-Bénézet Bridge. Finally, enjoy the bars, terraces and restaurants to the Place de l’Horloge.

Put the course southeast, with the Alpilles massif, the Baux-de-Provence and Lubéron regional park . Aix-en-Provence is the cultural capital of Provence. Here you will find an explosion of flavors and colours from Provence, historical monuments to time (Mirabeau Course, Rotunda, private hotels).

Step 6: D’Aix-en-Provence à la Côte d’Azur

After your Aixian getaway, explore the beautiful Provencal countryside, including the villages (Vauvenargues, Puyloubier, Tourves, Pourcieux), the Sainte-Victoire mountain and its pines in the background and the Sainte-Baume massif.

In the Var , one would almost think to get to the beautiful beaches of the Great Blue. The former route of the National 7 takes you close to the Var coast and its famous seaside cities (Fréjus, Saint-Raphaël, Saint-Tropez ).

The end of the journey is close, but the Côte d’Azur offers an undeniable amount of things to see and do. Spend for example by the Adrets-de-l’Estérel. Further, the cliffs with red shades of Massif de l’Estérel , throw themselves into the sea. Come back to city scapades, visiting the cities of Cannes, Antibes, Nice, Monaco and Menton.

Step 7: Cannes to Menton

In Alpes-Maritimes , enjoy it to make a stopover Grasse , the world perfume capital. This city is perched on the heights of the Parc des Préalpes d’Azur.

Although Grasse is not on National 7, it has a must-see cultural heritage. On your wake, join Nice from the Cap d’ Antibes . Nice and its hinterland are simply superb. In the old town, don't miss the Colline du Château and the Promenade des Anglais. You can also take height on Mount Boron, a little less frequented.

Finish your road trip on the National 7 by a visit to the village of Èze, a beautiful village perched above the sea. Le voyage se termine par le Rocher de Monaco and the city of Menton, the "city of lemon". Menton appears as a preserved city at the edges of the Italy where an incredible serenity reigns. Classified as the city of Art and History, Menton is visiting by strolling and taking his time. It falls well, your road trip on the National 7 just ended!