An open roof, the warm breeze in your face, a road winding like a ribbon through the countryside. Few things connect motoring culture and the countryside quite as directly as a well-chosen convertible route. Europe’s most beautiful convertible routes take you through regions that have shaped generations of motoring enthusiasts: the coastal roads of the Riviera, Alpine passes with three dozen hairpin bends, and Mediterranean serpentine roads. We have put together four routes that should feature on everyone’s personal list of favourites.

Grande Corniche on the Côte d'Azur (France)

The Grande Corniche between Nice and Menton is the epitome of a Riviera road trip. The D 2564 winds its way high above the coast, offering views of the Mediterranean and, on a clear day, as far as Corsica. The route gained fame through Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 film *To Catch a Thief*, in which Grace Kelly drove along the coast in an open-top Sunbeam Alpine. Today, the route is a must for fans of classic roadsters, be it a Mercedes Pagode, a Porsche 356 or an Alfa Spider. Early in the morning, the traffic is light and the light over Èze and La Turbie is hard to beat.

Großglockner High Alpine Road (Austria)

The Großglockner High Alpine Road is one of the best convertible routes Europe has to offer. 48 kilometres of panoramic road, 36 hairpin bends and views of Austria’s highest mountain. The route was opened in 1935 and even back then it was deliberately designed as a scenic route, not merely as a link between valleys. For classic convertibles with limited air conditioning, an early start is recommended. It’s well worth stopping for a while at the top of the Edelweißspitze at 2,571 metres. The annual classic car meet around the Glockner attracts collectors from all over Europe in September and makes the pass a fixed fixture in the motoring calendar.

Passo dello Stelvio / Stilfser Joch (Italy)

The Stelvio Pass in northern Italy is the highlight of any trip through the Alps. Forty-eight numbered hairpin bends on the north-facing side, a pass at 2,757 metres and a backdrop that Jeremy Clarkson declared to be the best driving road in the world during a Top Gear episode in 2008. For a convertible, the Stelvio Pass is both a treat and a stress test. Tight hairpin bends, rapid changes in altitude and changeable weather place considerable demands on the vehicle. Anyone wishing to enjoy the route in a faithfully restored classic car should have the brakes, cooling system and soft top tension checked thoroughly before setting off.

Amalfitana SS 163 (Italy)

The Amalfitana, running along the coast south of Naples, is less a mountain pass than a picture postcard. It stretches for around 50 kilometres between Sorrento and Salerno, with steep cliffs on one side and the deep-blue Tyrrhenian Sea on the other. The SS 163 regularly features in international rankings of the most beautiful coastal roads. Positano, Amalfi, Ravello – even when you’re just idling, the names sound like film sets. For convertible drivers, the route is ideal in May and September. Tourism is more moderate then, and the sun is less harsh on the soft top than in the height of summer, when the fabric and seals are exposed to UV radiation for hours on end.

The right vehicle meets the right preparation

Jede dieser Cabrio Routen Europa stellt eigene Anforderungen. Alpine Strecken verlangen Kühlung und Bremsen, mediterrane Küstenabschnitte setzen Verdeck und Lack stark der UV-Strahlung aus. Gerade die permanente UV-Einstrahlung ist der größte Feind textiler Verdecke. Während günstige Ersatzstoffe oft schon nach wenigen Saisons ausbleichen oder ihre Oberflächenspannung verlieren, setzen Premium-Gewebe auf spinndüsengefärbte Polyacrylnitril-Fasern. Bei diesem Verfahren wird die Farbpigmentation bereits bei der Garnherstellung in die Faser eingeschlossen, was jahrelange Farbtreue garantiert. Wer seinen Oldtimer vor einer längeren Tour fachgerecht prüfen lässt, erlebt die Strecke entspannter. KHM fertigt originalgetreue Verdecke, Dichtungen, Persenninge und Spanngurte aus eigener Produktion und unterstützt die Vorbereitung auf lange Fahrten.

Fazit

Die schönsten Cabrio Routen Europa liegen oft näher als gedacht. Ob Riviera, Glockner, Stilfser Joch oder Amalfiküste: Die Kombination aus offener Fahrt, passender Kulisse und gut vorbereitetem Fahrzeug macht den Unterschied zwischen einer Reise und einer Erinnerung. Jede Strecke erzählt ihre eigene Geschichte und lädt dazu ein, die nächste Saison bereits jetzt zu planen und das Fahrzeug entsprechend vorzubereiten.