Explore France by Motorcycle

France is the grande dame of European motorcycle touring. No other country offers quite the same combination of empty, perfectly surfaced roads, dramatic landscapes that shift from gorges to mountains to rolling farmland, and a culture built around food, wine, and the unhurried pleasure of a long lunch in a medieval square. The autoroutes carry the traffic, leaving the quiet D-roads — France’s vast network of departmental roads — almost entirely to motorcyclists who know where to look. This is the country where touring was invented, and it still does it better than almost anywhere.

Gorges, Castles, and UNESCO Treasures

France’s south is where the riding and the culture collide most spectacularly. The Gorges du Tarn, one of the first purpose-built tourist roads in France, remains one of the country’s most thrilling riding routes — 53 kilometres of road carved through a canyon up to 600 metres deep, with tunnels, rocky overhangs, and a river glittering far below. It’s the kind of road that makes you pull over repeatedly, not because you need to rest but because you can’t quite believe what you’re riding through.

Carcassonne, the fortified city in the Occitanie region, is one of the largest surviving medieval walled cities in Europe — three kilometres of defensive ramparts enclosing a living town of narrow streets, cafés, and restaurants that has been occupied since before Roman times. A day off the bike to explore its walls and soak up the atmosphere is time well spent. Further north, Rocamadour clings improbably to the cliffs above the Alzou Canyon — a village of golden stone built across three levels, rising 120 metres from the valley floor. Two nights here, with time to explore or ride into the surrounding Causses du Quercy, is one of the highlights of any French tour.

Between these headline stops, France delivers a constant stream of smaller discoveries. Bourges, once the capital of France, surprises with its half-timbered houses and UNESCO-listed cathedral. Mende, tucked into the Lot Valley surrounded by mountains, charms with its paved side streets and medieval bridge. And the Livradois-Forez National Park provides hours of tranquil riding through forests and past lakes on roads that barely see another vehicle.

The D-Road Network: A Rider’s Paradise

France’s greatest asset for motorcyclists is its road network. The country’s D-roads — thousands of miles of departmental routes connecting villages, towns, and countryside — are the backbone of French touring. They’re well-surfaced, beautifully curved, and almost deserted compared to equivalent roads in the UK or Germany. Riding the D-roads through rural France is one of motorcycling’s purest pleasures — shuttered villages, fields of sunflowers, the occasional château on a hilltop, and mile after mile of flowing tarmac with nobody else on it.

The terrain varies enormously depending on where you are. The south offers gorges, mountains, and limestone plateaux. Central France is gentler — rolling farmland, river valleys, and dense forest. The Ardennes in the northeast provides wooded hills and a more rugged feel. And the famous mountain roads of the Alps and Pyrenees sit at either end of the country for riders seeking serious elevation. A single tour through France can take in all of these landscapes without ever touching a motorway.

What to Expect on the Road

French roads are superbly maintained and among the most enjoyable in Europe. The country’s investment in its autoroute network means the scenic routes are blissfully free of heavy traffic. Road surfaces on even the smallest D-roads are generally excellent, and the signage is clear and consistent. France is a big country — the largest in Western Europe — so daily distances can be as long or as moderate as the itinerary demands.

Traffic is light in rural areas, though the approach roads to major cities and tourist hotspots can be busier in peak summer. The French are generally respectful of motorcyclists, and filtering through traffic is accepted practice. Fuel stops are frequent and well-spaced across the country.

Beyond the Bike

French food and wine need no introduction, but experiencing them on a motorcycle tour — when you’ve earned every meal with a day of mountain riding or D-road cruising — elevates them to something special. Regional cuisine changes noticeably as you ride south: from the hearty stews and cheeses of the Ardennes through the duck and truffle country of the Dordogne to the Mediterranean flavours of the Languedoc. Even the simplest roadside lunch in France — a plat du jour with a glass of local wine — is an experience that most countries can’t match at any price.

The villages and towns along the way are endlessly charming. France has mastered the art of preserving its historic centres while keeping them alive and functional — you’ll eat dinner in medieval squares, drink coffee in half-timbered houses, and sleep in converted châteaux and characterful small hotels that make the accommodation part of the experience rather than just somewhere to rest.

Best Time to Ride

France’s riding season effectively runs from March to November, with April to October offering the most reliable conditions. The south is rideable almost year-round, with warm, dry weather from May to October. June and September are the sweet spot for most of the country — warm weather, long days, and manageable tourist numbers. July and August bring peak heat in the south and more tourists at the popular sites, though the roads remain quiet outside the coastal resorts. Spring and autumn bring beautiful light, quieter roads, and pleasant temperatures across central and southern France.

Ride France with Motorrad Tours

Our French tours take in the best of the country’s D-road network, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, dramatic gorges, and medieval towns — from the Ardennes through the heart of France to the fortified city of Carcassonne and the clifftop village of Rocamadour. With experienced guides who know every back road and hidden detour, characterful accommodation, and routes designed for riders who love the riding itself, this is France the way it was meant to be explored. Browse our upcoming France departures below.