Cycling In Provence

Today we join the tour in the pleasant Provencal town of Orange. Clients arriving from London will join us later this evening.

Overnight Standard Hotel

Having had a chance to familiarise ourselves with our bikes, we start by exploring the area around Orange. There is the opportunity to cycle south of the town through world famous vineyards to the small village of Chateuneuf du Pape. There will be ample time to sample some of the regions’ famous wines and explore the ruins of the chateau which was built as a summer residence for the Popes of Avignon. After lunch we can return to Orange following the course of the mighty Rhone taking a break in the village of Caderouse, where ramparts encircle the village. Today provides for a gentle introductory ride, but alternatively you can just follow the local back roads through small, quiet villages. Later this afternoon you may like to visit the large and well preserved Roman theatre and triumphal arch. (Cycling distance approx. 33km/20 miles. Optional longer rides available).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we leave Orange, heading east, passing through the interesting village of Cameret sur Aigues and on through the vineyards to Seguret, at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Seguret is described as an ‘open balcony on the Rhone Valley’; it lies beneath the tower of the old medieval castle and stands proudly in a vine covered landscape which produces a very respectable Cote du Rhone. Inhabited as far back as the prehistoric era and enriched in Gallo-Romano times, today’s village was built in the 10th century and, up to the Revolution, belonged to the papacy before becoming part of France in 1793. Before you leave, be sure to make time to visit the santon (figurine) workshop of Monsieur Fournier. As we progress towards Carpentras we pass through Vacqueras, birthplace of the troubadour poet Raimbaud, and can make a short detour to Gigondas, for some excellent views of the limestone pinnacles and to try some of the best Grenache wines produced in the foothills of the Dentelles. (Cycling distance approx. 47km/28 miles. Optional longer rides available).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

With two nights in Carpentras you may wish to take the opportunity to take a day off from cycling in which case, there are ample things to do and see in this historic and attractive town. The town is situated in an area where, in the 14th and 15th centuries, Jewish communities were protected, benefiting from the presence of the Popes in Avignon and who granted them the freedom to worship and live having been banished from the Kingdom of France. The Synagogue, built 1367 and one of the oldest in France, still functions as an emotion-laden reminder of past and present Judaeo–Christian civilisation, and welcomes visitors. The Hotel Dieu in the town is an 18th century hospital with a well-conserved collection apothecary jars, decorated walls and ceilings. Antique lovers will enjoy the Rue de Porte Mazan and the town has a glass-covered shopping street. A short bus ride away is the town of Avignon where the amazing Palace of the Popes is a must-see attraction, and who could resist a little dance “sur le pont”…? For those that would prefer to ride several cycling options exist and east of Carpentras lies some of the Luberon’s prettiest villages. Three of them have made it into the list of the ‘Plus belles villages’ (most beautiful villages) of France, an association of 144 villages selected on the quality of their architecture, environment and patrimony. You can also cycle to Venasque, a stone ship on a sea of guarrigue, vineyards and cherry orchards, the village gave its name to the Comtat Venaissin. At the foot of Mount Ventoux, Venasque took advantage of its exceptional position at the tip of a spur protected on three sides from possible attacks. Three towers called sarrazines were erected to protect the town further in this natural defensive place. In the 6th century, St Siffrein, a monk who became a bishop, came to seek refuge there and built the first cathedral-church, of which the baptistry remains, it was carved in the shape of a Greek cross from the pillar of a Roman temple. Eglise Notre Dame holds a wonderful crucifixion typical of the Avignon school in 1498. Another route can take us south east to Gordes. Passing the centre of a small lavender-hued vale, the stern and simple Cistercian abbey of Senanque can be found. On the flanks of the Vaucluse plateau, just across the Lubéron barrier, Gordes is a typical Provencal village. The perfect harmony of the façades and the terraced gardens of Gordes seduced many artist such as Pol Mara and Marc Chagall. A maze of intricate lanes leads up to St Firmin’s church and to the massive hulk of a Renaissance château perched on the top of the village. Alongside the wall-bordered paths, Gordes adds up the natural beauty of age-old bories (small stone houses) covered in lauses (local flat stones). Dazzling with colours in a shrine of lush vegetation, Roussillon is the jewel of the ochre massif between Ventoux and Luberon. Roussillon built its reputation on ochre. Created in the 18th century by Jean Astier, the ochre industry made the valley wealthy for several decades. Nowadays, ochre offers visitors the infinite delicacy of its many colours at the corner of each street. (Optional cycling distance approx. 48km/29 miles but this can be lengthened or shortened).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

For those who cycled yesterday and would like a day off today, it is possible to leave your luggage in the support van as usual and use public transport to visit Avignon, travelling to St Remy de Provence after their visit. Today’s cycling takes us southeast through pretty Pernes le Fontaine, which took its characteristic title in 1936 and where more than 40 ancient fountains can be found. Mossy, sculptured, massive, or more discrete the fountains were installed from the second half of the 18th century. Onwards to Velleron and Le Thor where the Thouzon Castle, a registered historic monument, comprises both a medieval and modern set of buildings and from where there are excellent views. It is possible to make a short detour to the Grottes de Thouzon en route. These caves offer an easy walk along a horizontal gallery leading you along the fossil bed of and underground river where you can discover the delicate beauty of a subterranean jewel. Grottes de Thouzon is the only natural cave developed for tourism in Provence. Our route crosses the Durance river to Noves, a typical village of the area, with a network of narrow streets, two 14th C gateways and a 12th century church with a stone roof. Our destination for today is St Remy de Provence a town that beautifully symbolises the essence of Provence: boulevards shaded by plane trees and fountains splashing in the squares. St Remy was the birthplace of the famous astrologist Nostradamus and was dazzled by the genius of Van Gogh who was to seek asylum in the ancient Monastery of St Paul de Mausole. He had a workroom on the ground and bedroom on the first floor and he painted several of his famous works including “Starry Night”; the church and cloisters can be visited. Glanum is an archaeological site where excavations have taken place since 1921, unearthing a city from between 4th century BC and 3rd century AD. This site retains vestiges of its outstanding town planning and religious monuments. (Cycling distance approx. 48km/29 miles. Optional longer rides available)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Heading west we cycle around the base of the Alpilles, passing Mas Blanc des Alpilles, the smallest village in the department and surrounded by former agricultural land now used for market gardening and fruit trees, to Fontvielle and the Moulin de Daudet, where writer Alphonse de Daudet found inspiration for writing “Lettres de mon Moulin”. Close by we can visit the Barbegal Mill, a sixteen-wheel waterpowered device driven by water from the aqueducts and constructed in the 3rd or 4th century. We continue cycling through olive groves, to visit Les Baux en Provence, another of Frances most beautiful villages and a deserved inclusion in the list. Perched on a rocky spur, the village overlooks some staggeringly beautiful countryside. The lived in village has many interesting and beautiful buildings whilst the 11th century fortified village can hardly be distinguished from the surrounding rocky plateau. Our route concludes with a delightful descent into Remy De Provence. (Cycling distance approx. 41km/25 miles. Optional longer rides available)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Our cycle route today heads north of St Remy to the herb scented, fragile landscape of La Montagnette and to the village of Barbentane where it is possible to visit the 17th century chateau home of the Marquise de Barbentane. Along the way we pass through Maillane, birthplace of the writer Frederic Mistral. A non cycling option offers the opportunity to visit Arles. Once a metropolis of Roman Gaul, Arles became a symbol of ardent Christianity as can be seen through the arena, the Alyscamps burial grounds, the amphitheatre and the Roman baths of Constantin. (Optional cycling distance approx. 43km/26 miles. Optional longer rides available.)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

The tour ends in St-Remy-en-Provence this morning. Those clients returning by group travel train to London are likely to require an early departure. Therefore breakfast is only included for land-only customer.