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The A8 autoroute, also known as La Provençale, is a -long highway in
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
that runs between Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence, or simply Aix, is a List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, city and Communes of France, commune in southern France, about north of Marseille. A former capital of Provence, it is the Subprefectures in France, s ...
and the A7 to the Côte d'Azur.
Route
The A8 is an extension of the A7 starting to the west of Aix-en-Provence at La Fare-les-Oliviers. The road passes through the Departments of Bouches-du-Rhône, Var andAlpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes (; ; ; ) is a Departments of France, department of France located in the country's southeast corner, on the France–Italy border, Italian border and Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coast. Part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'A ...
. It serves the towns of Aix-en-Provence, Fréjus, Saint-Raphaël, Mandelieu-la-Napoule, Cannes
Cannes (, ; , ; ) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a communes of France, commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions Internatio ...
, Antibes
Antibes (, , ; ) is a seaside city in the Alpes-Maritimes Departments of France, department in Southeastern France. It is located on the French Riviera between Cannes and Nice; its cape, the Cap d'Antibes, along with Cap Ferrat in Saint-Jean-Ca ...
, Nice
Nice ( ; ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one millionMonaco
Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a Sovereign state, sovereign city-state and European microstates, microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Regions of Italy, Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, ...
and Menton
Menton (; in classical norm or in Mistralian norm, , ; ; or depending on the orthography) is a Commune in France, commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera, close to the Italia ...
before crossing the border where it becomes the A10 in Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
. It crosses the mountain ranges of Sainte-Baume and of Maures between Aix-en-Provence and Fréjus and the Massif de l'Esterel between Saint-Raphaël and Cannes. Following the Grande Corniche the road offers panoramas of the sea between Nice and Menton.
Whilst the route now starts to the west of Aix-en-Provence, according to the 3rd edition (1973) of the Michelin Atlas des autoroutes de France, the A8 used to start just west of Coudoux. Indeed, the toll fees were listed as being 2FF from Coudoux to Aix-en-Provence in 1973.
Capacity
* 2x3 lanes from Coudoux (the junction with the A7 to La Barque (junction with the A52). * 2x2 lanes from La Barque to Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume (being expanded to 2x3 lanes) increases to 2x3 lanes at Cagnes-sur-Mer. * 2x4 lanes from Cagnes-sur-Mer to Saint-Laurent-du-Var (the road enters the Niceconurbation
A conurbation is a region consisting of a number of metropolises, cities, large towns, and other urban areas which, through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban or industrially developed area. In most ...
).
* 2x2 lanes in the section through the southern Alps
The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia.
...
from Nice
Nice ( ; ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one millionAntibes
Antibes (, , ; ) is a seaside city in the Alpes-Maritimes Departments of France, department in Southeastern France. It is located on the French Riviera between Cannes and Nice; its cape, the Cap d'Antibes, along with Cap Ferrat in Saint-Jean-Ca ...
and Nice
Nice ( ; ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one millionVar to Nice-West similar to those on the Péripherique in Paris. The autoroute is regularly closed on the Nice-Menton section as a result of rock falls onto the carriageways. The sections crossing the Maures and L'Esterel mountains are at risk from forest fires in summer.
28 : 
Aires de repos: Ventabren
* 
29 18 km: 28 : A51 autoroute
* 30 19 km: Aix-en-Provence (pont de l'Arc)
* 31 21 km: Aix-en-Provence (est)
* 32 27 km: N7 Châteauneuf-le-Rouge
* Péage de La Barque
* : A52 autoroute
* Aires de service: Rousset (eastbound) L'Arc (westbound)
* 33 47 km: Pourrières
* Aires de repos: Saint-Hilaire (eastbound) Barcelone (westbound)
* 34 58 km: Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume
* Aires de service: Cambarette
* 35 74 km: Brignoles
* Aires de repos: Roudai/Candumy
* : A57 autoroute
* Aires de service: Vidauban
* 36 118 km: Draguignan / Le Muy, Gulf of Aires de repos: Jas Pellicot
* Aires de service: Canaver
* 37 129 km: Fréjus / Puget-sur-Argens
* Péage de Le Capitou/Fréjus Ouest
* 38 134 km: Fréjus / Saint-Raphaël
* Aires de service: L'Esterel
* 39 145 km: les Adrets-de-l'Esterel
* 40 157 km: Mandelieu-la-Napoule
* 41 159 km: 42 165 km: Cannes / Mougins
* Aires de repos: Piccolaret
* Aires de service: Breguieres
* 44 171 km: 46 178 km: 47 179 km: Villeneuve-Loubet Centre
* 48 181 km: Cagnes-sur-Mer
* 49 185 km: Saint-Laurent-du-Var
* 50 186 km:
Interchanges
*28 : A7 autoroute
The A7 Autoroutes of France, Autoroute, also known as l'autoroute du Soleil (English: the Motorway of the Sun) is a French motorway. It continues the A6 autoroute (France), A6 and links Lyon to Marseille. The autoroute du Soleil is long and fo ...
, Coudoux
* Aires de repos: Ventabren
* 29 18 km: Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence, or simply Aix, is a List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, city and Communes of France, commune in southern France, about north of Marseille. A former capital of Provence, it is the Subprefectures in France, s ...
(ouest)
* 28 : A51 autoroute
* 30 19 km: Aix-en-Provence (pont de l'Arc)
* 31 21 km: Aix-en-Provence (est)
* 32 27 km: N7 Châteauneuf-le-Rouge
* Péage de La Barque
* : A52 autoroute
* Aires de service: Rousset (eastbound) L'Arc (westbound)
* 33 47 km: Pourrières
* Aires de repos: Saint-Hilaire (eastbound) Barcelone (westbound)
* 34 58 km: Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume
* Aires de service: Cambarette
* 35 74 km: Brignoles
* Aires de repos: Roudai/Candumy
* : A57 autoroute
* Aires de service: Vidauban
* 36 118 km: Draguignan / Le Muy, Gulf of Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez ( , ; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Var (department), Var departments of France, department and the regions of France, region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Southern France. It is west of Nice and east of Marseille, o ...
* Aires de repos: Jas Pellicot
* Aires de service: Canaver
* 37 129 km: Fréjus / Puget-sur-Argens
* Péage de Le Capitou/Fréjus Ouest
* 38 134 km: Fréjus / Saint-Raphaël
* Aires de service: L'Esterel
* 39 145 km: les Adrets-de-l'Esterel
* 40 157 km: Mandelieu-la-Napoule
* 41 159 km: Cannes
Cannes (, ; , ; ) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a communes of France, commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions Internatio ...
/ Les Tourrades
* 42 165 km: Cannes / Mougins
* Aires de repos: Piccolaret
* Aires de service: Breguieres
* 44 171 km: Antibes
Antibes (, , ; ) is a seaside city in the Alpes-Maritimes Departments of France, department in Southeastern France. It is located on the French Riviera between Cannes and Nice; its cape, the Cap d'Antibes, along with Cap Ferrat in Saint-Jean-Ca ...
Ouest, Sophia Antipolis
* Péage d' Antibes Ouest
* 46 178 km: Villeneuve-Loubet
Villeneuve-Loubet (; ; ) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. It lies between Cagnes-sur-Mer and Antibes, at the mouth of the river Loup, ten kilometres west of ...
/ Bouches du Loup
* 47 179 km: Villeneuve-Loubet Centre
* 48 181 km: Cagnes-sur-Mer
* 49 185 km: Saint-Laurent-du-Var
* 50 186 km: Nice
Nice ( ; ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one million51 187 km: Nice (Saint-Augustin)
* Péage de Nice Saint-Isidore
* 52 190 km: Nice (Saint-Isidore)
* 54 197 km: Nice (nord)
* 55 199.5 km: Nice (l'Ariane)
* 56 : 
58 214 km: Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
* 59 220 km: 
Autostrada A10 (
Autoroute A8 on Saratlas
{{Autoroutes A08
52 190 km: Nice (Saint-Isidore)
* 54 197 km: Nice (nord)
* 55 199.5 km: Nice (l'Ariane)
* 56 : Monaco
Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a Sovereign state, sovereign city-state and European microstates, microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Regions of Italy, Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, ...
(A500 Spur)
* Péage de La Turbie
* 57 208 km: La Turbie
* Aires de service: La Scoperta (eastbound) Beausoleil (westbound)
* 58 214 km: Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
* 59 220 km: Menton
Menton (; in classical norm or in Mistralian norm, , ; ; or depending on the orthography) is a Commune in France, commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera, close to the Italia ...
* ''State border''
* 224 km Autostrada A10 (Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
)
Opening dates of the A8
*1956: Creation of Escota, a company to be in charge of all the sections fromAix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence, or simply Aix, is a List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, city and Communes of France, commune in southern France, about north of Marseille. A former capital of Provence, it is the Subprefectures in France, s ...
to the Italian Frontier.
*1961: Opening of the toll sections of Fréjus through Mandelieu-la-Napoule to Cagnes-sur-Mer (exit 46).
*1969: Opening of the toll section from Roquebrune to the Italian frontier (initially only one carriageway and for lightweight vehicles. Then, in 1970, both carriageways were opened).
*1971–1974: Staged opening of the sections between Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence, or simply Aix, is a List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, city and Communes of France, commune in southern France, about north of Marseille. A former capital of Provence, it is the Subprefectures in France, s ...
and Fréjus.
*1976: Opening of the section between Cagnes-sur-Mer and Roquebrune (partly one carriageway only—the doubling of some tunnels was completed as late as 1988).
External links
Autoroute A8 on Saratlas
{{Autoroutes A08