Twisty and slow or straight and fast? Sizzling Mediterranean heat or atmospheric frozen north? Picturesque countryside or modernist urban? An easy ride or demanding? Interesting motorcycle routes come in all shapes and sizes, so picking the five best is an impossible task. In a good way. There are simply too many to choose from.
In this selection of spectacular routes, we visit Europe's deepest canyon, discover the rich history of German motorsport, enjoy bratwurst on a snowy Alpine pass, follow in the sky-high footsteps of a Romanian dictator in the Carpathian mountains and trace the route taken for centuries by pilgrims in the Pyrenees.
We hope at least one of the routes will inspire you to reach for your helmet and leathers. Or, at least, take a virtual visit and explore online. Some roads are only open at certain times of the year, so check official websites when planning your motorbike adventure. And always make sure you have the correct tyres for the driving conditions.
The French Grand Canyon
France: Gorges du Verdon
Length: 45 km (70 km with the ring detour)
When: all year round
Site: www.verdontourisme.com
Provence – a land of medieval villages, lavender fields and classic vineyards – is wonderful for motorcycling. But the star of the show is the Gorges du Verdon, the deepest canyon in Europe, where cliffs soar 700m above a turquoise-blue river. The road twists and turns through the canyon, but is a delight to ride as it has been rebuilt to attract more visitors. It's now easy to take a break in one of the new lay-bys and enjoy views of this protected area of natural beauty.
From Castellane take the D952 towards Rougon and then on to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. The road clings to the cliffside as it winds up and up towards the highest part of the Parc du Verdon. After 18km park up and enjoy the scenery from the viewing platform at Point Sublime. Once in La Palud-sur-Verdon swap the smooth tarmac of the D952 for the rugged and wild D23 – the Route des Crêtes – a 23km circular detour with magnificent mountain scenery and views from the highest cliffs of the gorges.
Back on the D952, the scenery starts to soften after you reach the Col d'Ayen. Boats in the water below – Lac de Sainte-Croix, an immense reservoir of bright-blue water – announce the destination is close. Enjoy a coffee in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie – one of the most beautiful villages in France – then make a final stop at the Pont du Galetas, the best place to photograph the Gorges du Verdon.
A journey into motor-racing history
Germany: the Nürburgring
Length: 20.8km
When: mid-March to mid-November
Site: www.nuerburgring.de
To drive a lap of the Nürburgring is a dream for any motorcyclist. It's far, far more than a lovely ride along an amazing tree-lined road through beautiful undulating countryside. It's a chance to travel back in time and discover the old circuit, the Nordschleife, where motor-racing history was made. The 20.8km Nordschleife, or simply “Ring”, opened in 1927 with a mission to seriously challenge the very best cars and drivers. Even today manufacturers test new models on its demanding curves. In 1951 it became the home of the German Formula One Grand Prix and in 1955 it hosted the MotoGP World Championship, but by 1970 it was considered too dangerous and a redesign was begun. After a serious accident in 1976 involving the F1 star Niki Lauda, the German GP was moved to Hockenheim and a year later work began on today's unique Nürburgring GP-Strecke.
Today the old Nordschleife is still accessible to the public (€31-35 per lap) on Tourist Drive Days, when the normal rules of the road apply – although there is no speed limit for most of the track. Professionals can set amazing lap times while enthusiasts can simply enjoy and experience the amazing heritage of an iconic track. And, of course, its unique challenges – long and very fast stretches, a rich variety of 73 curves, hills and sudden changes of direction, and lots of nerve-wracking blind spots.
Once the adrenalin rush is over, take a calming wander around the parking lot of The Ring and admire the extraordinary collection of cars and motorcycles – both current and vintage – warming up their engines to enter the historic circuit. Then ride to Nürburg, a small village at the foot of an impressive medieval castle, where every bar, restaurant and hotel is dominated by the excited talk and images – from photos signed by racing stars to original posters – of motor-racing's rich heritage.
Switchback mountain
Italy: the Stelvio Pass
Length: 25km
When: May-October
Site: passostelvio.eu
This majestic road crossing the 2,757m Stelvio Pass is an engineering masterpiece little changed since it was built back in 1820-25 as a link between the Austrian Empire and the land it owned in Lombardy. A dizzying 75 hairpin bends – 48 on the northern side and 27 to the south – are part of its unique appeal. Today it is the highest finish point of any Grand Tour event – the Giro d'Italia – and a popular challenge for cyclists and motorcyclists alike. In 2007 it was even hailed as the “greatest driving road in the world” by the UK's Top Gear team.
The route most loved by motorcyclists starts from Prato allo Stelvio at an altitude of 907m above sea level and follows the SS38 south-west along a wide verdant valley. At first the road carves through the lush green pine forests, but soon the terrain becomes more rocky, the mountain scenery opens up and the fun begins – the incredible series of switchbacks that leads, finally, to the Stelvio Pass. Dress for winter riding as it gets cold – you can ski here all year round – with temperatures hitting a summer peak of just 10°C. Stop for a warming hot chocolate in one of the cafes and take in the view and the strip of asphalt you have just conquered, which zigzags into the distance.
Be warned. Some of the hairpins are very tight and the road can get be quite busy – it is far more about bike control and views than speed – so the earlier you start the better. You are also in an area with a wide choice of other beautiful Alpine routes, so why not take out your map and explore?
Enjoying Ceausescu's folly
Romania: Transfagarasan, the DN7C
Length: 120km
When: all year round
Site: transfagarasan.travel
The Transfagarasan road is – quite simply – one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Climbing through some of the highest and most inaccessible mountains of Europe, it is like driving through a fantasy film set. The reality is almost as strange because it was built on a whim by the Romanian dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu, whose poor troops had to carve every metre through solid rock. No wonder it's nicknamed “Ceausescu's Folly”.
For the motorcyclist, however, it is as though their riding dream has come true. Set out from Sibiu and head south on the DN7C or Transfagarasan – it is well signposted – and you soon enter a breathtaking landscape and asphalt corners of all types that are a pleasure to ride. There are long serpentine curves, a huge number of hairpins, bridges over rivers and sections that overhang the valley and tunnels.
The road continues to rise up and up. In Fagaras National Park – an area of wilderness where bison roam – you cut through dense forests and later, as you near the summit, you will come across a small glacial lake, Balea, a jewel set in the mountains. It's a perfect place to stop and enjoy a traditional Romanian meal at one of the rustic restaurants. The descent is also spectacular. One highlight is Lake Vidraru and the gigantic dam that spans the Arges River. The panoramic views of the valley and natural landscape below are incomparable.
For anyone from experienced motorcyclists in search of a thrill to holidaymakers seeking awe-inspiring landscapes, the Transfagarasan road will prove unforgettable. The route is only open in the summer months, so plan ahead and – given the climatic conditions in the area – make sure you check the weather forecast.
The pilgrims' way
Spain: Pyrenees, Roncesvalles Pass
Length: 360km
When: all year round
Site: www.spain.info
Spain is a welcoming land for motorcyclists, with a beautiful coastline and interior as well as extraordinary cities such as Barcelona, Zaragoza, Seville and Granada – just to name a few. If you are looking for curves and to escape busy roads, however, why not head to the Pyrenees, which marks the border between Spain and France and even includes the tiny independent country of Andorra. The region has an amazing array of mountain routes, but one of the classics starts in Bilbao, Spain – a visit to the Guggenheim museum of modern and contemporary art is a must – and finishes in Biarritz, France. This is a ride to remember through forests and mountain passes with amazing panoramas, jagged cliffs with crashing ocean waves, wooded hills and sprawling plains.
From Bilbao head to Pamplona (the home of bull running) on a road with some enjoyable fast stetches and take the N-135, which climbs in a series of wide and regular curves with excellent surfaces into the Pyrenees. On the way up to the Ibañeta Pass – or Roncesvalles Pass – there some lovely bends although some are blind. The picturesque town of Roncesvalles is a classic stop-off point for those crossing the mountains and a popular starting point for the thousands of pilgrims who make their way to Santiago de Compostela.
From Roncesvalles it's time to cross the border into France – many of the locals, of course, think it is all the Basque country – on the way to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Pilgrims to this day still pass through Porte Saint-Jacques, the 15th-century gate that is a Unesco World Heritage site. There are stupendous views of the Pyrenees, but soon the landscape turns from mountains to fields as you drop down towards the coast and Biarritz, the perfect place to try another sport beloved by thrill-seekers... surfing.
