Tour Summary
Tour Dates: You may begin this tour on any day except Sunday.
See Schedule for blackout dates and additional tour scheduling details.
Location: Located in the far southeast of France, Provence is known for its lovely Mediterranean climate, fields of sunflowers, vineyards,
the Impressionists, its Papal palace and Roman ruins. Though most people are somewhat familiar with this region of France, few realize just how diverse are the many areas that
comprise Provence, or how deeply rooted the region's history is in that of ancient Rome.
The tour features 4
nights in Avignon, 3.5 - 4.5 hours from Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport by
express train.
Tour Type: Hub & Spoke Tour available with
standard support.
Terrain: The terrain, like everything about this region, is diverse. While there are lots of ups and downs on this tour (some
challenging), you will also enjoy long, relatively flat stretches of effortless cycling.
Length: 3 days /
4 nights. Ride as many days as you like. Day trips include options for adding
distance and challenge. Day trips can also be shortened.
Distance: Choose from
5 day-trips ranging from 27 - 54 miles (44 - 87 km) in length.
Highlights:
Roman ruins as impressive as those of Italy; particularly the grand aqueduct of the region, the Pont du Gard; and the Triumphal Arch and amphitheatre at Orange.
The sheer beauty of the Mediterranean landscapes and the play of light that so captivated Impressionists like Van Gogh.
An incredibly varied geography including mountain ranges, semi-arid garrigue, rolling vineyards, and cliff-studded river valleys.
Enjoy free wine tasting opportunities nearly everywhere along your route.
Perched medieval villages bathed in the warm Provencal sun.
The colorful city of Avignon with its medieval wall surrounding the city and its former Papal palace.
Day Trip Descriptions
Base: Avignon
Avignon is a vibrant southern city, full of historical sights. Must-sees include the city's many museums, churches and the Palais des Papes, the residence of the Popes who moved here
from Rome in the 14th century when Rome was politically unstable. Avignon's medieval center is completely surrounded by ramparts, giving the city a most unusual look. For
more information, click to visit Avignon on the web.
Spoke 1: Vintage Vaucluse
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Route:
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Begins and ends in Avignon. Largely flat with just a couple of climbs.
Optional side trip provides additional mileage and challenge.
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Distance: |
64 km / 40 miles |
Description: |
This day trip takes you through the many vineyards of
the Vaucluse Department and offers two noteworthy destinations,
Pernes-les-Fontaines and Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
This route features peaceful roads through woods and vineyards; and quaint tiny villages to explore such as
le Thor, St. Saturnin, and Jonquerettes. |
Option: |
Optional side trip to the beautiful villages of
St. Didier and Venasque adds 22 km / 14 miles and several long climbs. |
Spoke 2: Papal Grapes
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Route: |
Begins and ends in Avignon. Mostly flat except for the areas around Chateauneuf-du-Pape. |
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Distance: |
52.6 km / 39 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip takes you through the vineyards that belonged to the papacy when, during
the 14th century, the popes resided in Avignon and maintained a summer residence near
Chateauneuf-du-Pape. You leave Avignon by way of the Isle de la Barthelasse, an island in the middle of the Rhone River with splendid views of Avignon. The route takes
you down tiny roads through beautiful orchards, along the cliff-studded Rhone River to the village of Roquemaure, and then to the vineyards of
Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Chateauneuf is a world renowned center of wine making, as the
Chateauneuf vintage is one of the world's most exclusive appellations. Other villages worthy of exploration include
Bedarrides and Entraigues.
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Option: |
Optional side trip to the city of
Orange with its Roman Triumphal Arch and Amphitheatre, both of which date to
the first century of the Common Era. Side trip adds 20 km / 12 miles and lots of rolling terrain. |
Spoke 3: Vintage Heights
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Route: |
Begins and ends in Avignon. Mostly flat, with some rolling terrain and a couple of
climbs near the end. Optional side trip provides additional mileage and challenge. |
Distance: |
43 km / 27 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip takes you to the lovely wine villages of the Cotes du Rhone appellation in the uplands of the Gard
Department. The route begins with an option to spend some time in Avignon's sister city,
Villeneuve-les-Avignon, which boasts a number of notable sites of its own. After following the towering cliffs of the Rhone River to the village
of Roquemaure, you head west into gently rolling vineyards and the charming wine villages of Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres, Lirac, and Tavel.
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Option: |
Optional side trip into the wooded peaks to the west with their unusual granite outcroppings adds 15.3 km / 10 miles.
Though challenging, this side trip offers incredible scenery and spectacular views. |
Spoke 4: Pont du Gard
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Route: |
Begins and ends in Avignon. Lots of ups and downs and some long climbs. Optional side trip provides additional mileage and
challenge. |
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Distance: |
66 km / 41 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip's primary destination is the Roman aqueduct called the
Pont du Gard. Constructed by the Romans in the 1st century to transport clean drinking
water to the Roman city of Nīmes, this remarkable aqueduct bridges the Gard today as it has for 2000 years. You'll also cycle through a number of
charming medieval villages like 16th century Aramon, which feels forgotten by time. If you're visiting in September, you may even experience
a running of the bulls! The area surrounding the Pont du Gard is a park, complete with riverside beaches and a lovely picnic area.
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Option: |
Optional side trip to the magnificently perched village of Castillon-du-Gard adds 11 km / 7
miles and a very long climb. Your efforts are rewarded by one of France's most beautiful villages and extraordinary views. |
Spoke 5: Tarascon & Beaucaire
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Route: |
Begins and ends in Avignon. The route is mostly flat along very
quiet roads, with some rolling stretches before you reach Tarascon. |
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Distance: |
56
km / 35 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip's
primary destinations are the sister cities of
Tarascon and
Beaucaire. Facing one another on either side of the Rhone River, they
have been centers of commerce since antiquity. Tarascon boasts a fairytale 15th century chateau, considered to be one of the finest fortified medieval
castles in the whole of France. The route takes you first down the wooded shores of the Rhone and then along the tops of the hills that border the Rhone
to Tarascon. |
