For a combination of history, scenery, challenging climbs, plunging descents and sinuous clifftop roads, it’s hard to beat the high country in Provence, south-eastern France.

And whereas such roads can be covered somewhat faster in something like the new Aston Martin DB12 we were privileged to drive there, there’s still a breathtaking trip to be taken with a Renault or Peugeot hire car out of Nice Airport.