Head to head
Rally legend or the long fast run to the coast?
Our pick is the Col de Turini.
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Verdicts weigh road quality, scenery, traffic and how likely you are to actually enjoy the drive on the day. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 25 May 2026
The numbers
| Measure | Col de Turini | Route Napoleon |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers Atlas rating | 9.1 | 8.8 |
| Driving score | 9.3 / 10 | 8.6 / 10 |
| Scenery score | 8.8 / 10 | 8.9 / 10 |
| Length | 17 km | 72 km |
| Where | Alpes-Maritimes, France | Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to Alpes-Maritimes, France |
| Season | Open all year | Open all year |
Verdict
The Turini is a genuinely great driving road, tight, technical and steeped in Monte Carlo history, and it rewards a small car far more than a big one.
The Route Napoleon is the better journey. If you are covering ground from the Alps to the Mediterranean, it is the finest way to do it and the Turini is a detour off it.
The roads
Alpes-Maritimes, France
Legendary Monte Carlo Rally stage stitching together forested hairpins above the Roya valley.
10.6 mi · Rating 9.1 / 10 · 32 min
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to Alpes-Maritimes, France
Sweeping historic highway tracing Napoleon's 1815 march through lavender country and pine ridges.
44.7 mi · Rating 8.8 / 10 · 1 hr 48 min
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