This week we're heading to the land of love, lavender and Van Gogh with our Weekly Cycle: Provence: Villages and Landscapes Cycling

In a Nutshell:

Where is it?  Starting in St Rémy (55 miles north of Marseille, 12 miles south of Avignon) you will experience the best of Provence on this relaxing cycling tour of the region. You’ll be travelling east through medieval villages, fields of lavender and the Alpilles mountains until you reach the riverside town of Isle sur la Sorgue. Distance: 179 km Grading: This cycle tour is graded easy to moderate so you will enjoy the holiday more if you enjoy an active lifestyle. The four cycling days follow quiet country roads and tracks, averaging 45 - 55 km per day, which is equivalent to around three hours cycling.  

Why Cycle Provence: Villages & Landscapes?

• Immerse yourself in the relaxing, daily life of Provence where you can enjoy the stunning landscapes that inspired Van Gogh and cycle through the countryside made famous by A Year in Provence, filled with its striking vineyards and orchards.

• Cycling through the quiet roads of St Rémy and its surrounding villages, you’ll have plenty of time to discover the secret gems of the region. Highlights include exploring the colourful village of Roussillon, visiting the lost village of Eygalières (and uncovering its castle ruins), as well as ending your trip in the picturesque ‘island’ town of Isle sur la Sorgue, surrounded by the green waters of the Sorgue river.

• Of course, no trip to France is complete without sampling the fine food and drink on offer. Famous for dishes such as ratatouille, the cuisine of Provence is flavoured with the rich herbs of the region paired with locally grown vegetables (and olive oil to rival that of their Italian neighbours). Relax after a day of riding by sampling some of this delicious food teamed with a glass of fresh, fruity wine.

 Planning and Preparation:

Although this tour is available from March to November, Provence can get quite hot during July and August so we recommend booking outwith these months. The closest airport to St Rémy and Isle sur la Sorgue (start and end points) is Marseille Provence Airport and is served by most major airlines. From there you can take a train to Avignon (1 hour) and a local bus to St Rémy (30 minutes). Alternatively, you can travel to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and take a train to Avignon (3 hours). You can find more information on trains from the SNCF website.