Provence Biking & E-Biking Adventure

DAY 1

We meet you after noon in Avignon, in the heart of Provence. You can choose to arrive the night before and stay in our preferred Avignon hotel or take the TGV high-speed train down from Paris or Geneva that morning. After introductions and a quick explanation of the tour, we are off on our bikes! We’ll ride on flat roads along the Rhône River and then through quaint villages to St. Rémy-de-Provence, home of Nostradamus and the site where Van Gogh painted Starry Night.  Once we settle into our hotel, we take a short walk to dinner and learn about French food from Patrick, the owner of our favorite local restaurant.  Distances: 28 or 32 miles

DAY 2

We start our day with a loop ride that highlights local artisan food producers, visiting an olive oil mill, winery, honey bee farm, sheep’s cheese farm, and fig tree farm. You can stop, taste, and learn at each venue or speed past as your heart desires. The medium route will head to the majestic Château de Barbentane while the long route will head south through thickly forested lands up into the Alpilles Mountains, reaching the medieval, cobblestoned village of Les Baux-de-Provence, built right into the mountainside. Our riding distances are relatively short today because there are so many intereting places to stop. If you have extra time in St. Rémy this afternoon, you can visit the Saint Paul de Mausole psychiatric institution where Van Gogh was voluntarily held or the ancient Celtic (and then Roman) city of Glanum. Or you can choose to wander the streets of town following the Van Gogh painting tour, with copies of his famous paintings scattered around town. Tonight we'll enjoy another great French meal in a local restaurant.
Distance: 12 or 21 miles

DAY 3

Our ride today is mostly on rural roads through agricultural lands, passing bountiful orchards of fruit, pear, and cherry trees.  We head east, continuing our large loop around Avignon, and cross over the Durance River at Cavaillon. You can choose to detour into the city to see the Roman ruins and 12th century cathedral. Continuing on, we ride on rural roads through agricultural lands and a forest of cedar trees. The long route takes us to the ancient Fontaine de Vaucluse, France’s most powerful underground spring and a great place to have lunch. After checking into our hotel, we might have a hard time dragging you away from the sauna, jacuzzi, and outdoor pool but you’ll be happy we did when you taste the outstanding cuisine at Restaurant l’Estellan tonight.  Distance: 27 or 40 miles

DAY 4

Our first stop in the morning is the fantastic town of Gordes, named as “one of the most beautiful villages in France.”  Park your bike and walk through the old streets, up to the castle and the Abbey of Senanque. We then ride through the Domaniale de Venasque forest, rising on one of our hillier roads. But the effort is worth it, as we exit the forest into the town of Venasque, our second “most beautiful villages of France” town of the day. Perched on a hilltop with magnificent views of the plains below, Venasque is a great lunch stop. In the afternoon, we cycle through the towns of Mazan, Carpentras, and Aubignan on our way to our next hotel outside Vacqueyras. We are now in the heart of wine country and will have a pre-dinner wine tasting to sample the local grape varieties. For the long route today, you will add an extra morning loop taking you to Pont Julien (a Roman bridge dating to 3 BC and named for Julius Cesar) and lovely Roussillon. This is a hilly day but the short route option includes a shuttle up and over the steepest parts (which are very doable on an e-bike anyway). Distance: 30 or 47 miles

DAY 5

Today we cycle through the vineyards, first crossing the Ouvèze River as we head into the wine town of Violès and continue across the flat plain to Jonquières and Courthézon, with its 12th-century city ramparts and 12 fountains. It’s a beautiful morning ride through the heart of wine country. Our ride continues on to the city of Orange, one of the region's most famous cities in part due to its Roman ruins, including an amphitheater. We ride on andreach the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, one of the most famous producers of red wine in all of France. You'll have time for lunch, perhaps a walk up to the fortress relic, and a sip of wine in one of the many wine shops. The short route will end with a van pickup here while the medium route continues to the towns of Lirac and Tavel, considered two of the best rosé wine producing regions in the country.  On the long route we finish our 360-degree loop by riding back into Avignon, where we’ll toast our success by sipping a glass while perched on the ramparts of the Palais du Papes – the palace of the popes. Distance: 22, 34, or 44 miles

DAY 6

You have several options on this, our final morning. You can choose a short loop ride on a flat island in the middle of the Rhone River near Avignon, which wows those who partake with its smooth, quiet roads. Alternatively, you can put your bike aside and explore the town of Avignon on your own. Plus, you always have the option to sleep in late!  Our tour ends before noon and you can choose to stay another night in the city, rent a car to explore other nearby areas, or jump on the train back to your departure city.
Distance: 9 miles