FRENCH HIGH & MARITIME ALPS

Where it all began. From the 2002 season onward. In any case, this tour is historical territory for Loeven Sportwagentouren from A to Z. Just this much: we used to come here every year. Often more than once. Often as much as 600 km in a day. We were young, much less comfortable, much crazier. Time and again we drove here—officially for reconnaissance, but also privately simply for the fun of it—along roads that had long since been explored.

And not anymore since 2019. Of course, in this format a 100% customer-friendly base-camp solution isn’t possible; after all, the route runs—always along the main Alpine ridge—from Evian to Menton in a theoretically straight line south. No circular routes are possible—wrong: circular routes wouldn’t make sense. For this format that means a few more hotel changes, a few more days with luggage in the car. Buuut also: far more variety, significantly more scenery. Much more to feast your eyes on. The stops (unchanged since the first concept in 2002): Lake Geneva, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Jausiers, Vence/Èze. There we will, in turn, introduce a certain degree of luxurious “base-camping”.

For the 2026 edition we’ve planned something special. There will be some sections we’ve only driven privately until now—what we consider, in a way, secret stretches. By the way, does anyone know the Col de Défens or even the Clue des Barles? Naturally, we’ll include as many of the Tour de France giants as possible—towering mountain passes of grassy slopes, rock and scree. The image above shows an impression of the Col de l’Arpettaz in Haute-Savoie, reached by a route labeled as a forest road—sufficiently intact and daring. From the generally very dark forest the track leads straight into a sea of blossoms near the sky with views of Mont Blanc and the Aravis massif. Figuratively and literally, from darkness into light.

Galibier, Iseran, Izoard, Turini, Vars, Télégraphe, Lautaret, Glandon, Aravis, Bellecombe are the names of some of the better-known icons… But we don’t want to reveal everything at once. One thing only: you’re very likely to climb high, it will be spectacular, exciting and varied. One thing remains constant: we will seek out the summit regions with you.

Further south, in Vence, we’ll set up our base camp known from the “Side-Roads Special” and enjoy the Maritime Alps and their foothills. A trip into the hinterland of Grasse will take you into and through “God-forsaken land” as well as over Rallye Monte-Carlo icons. One or another of the famous special stages of that world-renowned motorsport event will surely come to mind for the motorsport-enthusiast guest on this day’s route—the “Nacht der langen Messer,” “Clue d’Aiglun,” “Col de Bleine.” We’ll drive those stretches with you. Another excursion will take you around the Grand Canyon du Verdon—France’s pride.

Finally, we’ve designed a decidedly decadent (and optional) high-end connoisseur summit on the coast between Èze and Monaco. So two events are possible in one. No one has to combine them; anyone who wants to can. We’ve made this an option, and for those who wish to connect the two summit tours we offer priority and a different pricing schedule, which we’ll gladly provide on request. We are organizers of sports car tours with a certain penchant for refined haute cuisine. We understand that for most guests the perfect mix is the experience of road and landscape together with a few gourmet touches. What we have combined in the GENUSS-GIPFEL CÔTE D’AZUR aims at the highest level of epicurean excellence and may not be everyone’s cup of tea. So: an option for those who truly appreciate such things!