Tough Cycling Tour 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 and west of the town through world famous vineyards to the small villages of Chateuneuf du Pape and Tavel. 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. 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 pleasant introductory ride.  Later this afternoon you may like to visit the large and well preserved Roman theatre and triumphal arch. (Cycling distance approx. 66kml39 miles.).

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 Vaison la Romaine, considered to be the Jewel of Roman Provence and highly interesting from an archaeological perspective, and then 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. 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. 70kml42 miles).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

With three 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. 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 cycle to Venasque, a stone ship on a sea of guarrigue, vineyards and cherry orchards, the village gave its name to the Comtat Venaissin.   We continue via the Col de Murs to Roussillon. Our return route takes us through Gordes where the perfect harmony of the facades and the terraced gardens of Gordes seduced many artist such as Pol Mara and Marc Chagall.  (Optional cycling distance 77 kms/46 miles)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Having had the legendary Mont Ventoux in our sights for several days, today we have the optional challenge of climbing to the summit on our circular ride from Carpentras. The Ventoux is the highest point in Provence at 1912 metres and is a remarkable site with a large variety of vegetal and animal species. The summit offers a magnificent panorama on a sunny day and is a mecca for cyclists as those that complete the challenge command respect from other cyclists. Our route ascends from the village of Bedoin and is considered to be the “classic” route up the mountain, as used in the Tour de France with 22kms of climbing and an average gradient of 7.5%. It is famously the last climb of Tom Simpson, the first British rider to wear the yellow jersey in a Tour de France, when he collapsed and died 1km from the summit in 1967. There is now a memorial in his honour. From the top, we have an equally long descent to Malaucene before returning to Carpentras. (Cycling distance approx. 80kml50 miles.)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we head south on an undulating route to an enclosed valley that is home to the medieval village of Fontaine de Vaucluse and the source of the river Sorgue. The success of the village is principally due to the remarkable spring which flows out of a 230 metre high cliff and the village is one of the most visited places in the Vaucluse region. Our route continues west to cross 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. 66kml39 miles.)

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. Next we cycle via Fontvieille 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 water powered 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 . (Optional cycling distance approx. 71kml43 miles.)

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.