Itinerary
Enjoy the city with the wonderful architectural monuments from Roman times. The great theatre and the triumph arch are historical witnesses from this epoch. The old town attracts with Provençal charm as well as small pretty shops and cafés.
The first stage takes you into the world-famous wine town Châteauneuf-du-Pape. A stroll through the town should not be missed/ You travel to the city of Avignon along the Rhône on cycle paths and without the bother of car traffic. We recommend a stroll through the old town (guided options include a guided tour of the city) with a visit to the pope palace.
Without any difficulty and once again with hardly any traffic you leave the town and cycle directly to St. Rémy, probably the most beautiful and certainly the most typical town in the Provence. Nothing surpasses the hustle and bustle, the blaze of colour and the richness of herb scents under the shadow-offering plane trees in the ancient alleys of the old town/ The effort of the ascent to the Alpilles is rewarded with great views of the Les Baux/ Because of the harmonic location of the village and because of the fortress ruins, Les Baux is also known as the “city in rock”. Chosen small paths and tiny streets take you to Arles. Roman culture and Romanesque heritage characterise the cityscape and the history of Arles. Arles was the second-biggest city of the Roman Empire; it is also the city of Vincent van Gogh. Your hotel accommodates you for the next two nights.
Half sea, half land – the Camargue is a unique natural landscape with brackish water lakes, vast salt steppes, wild horses and the famous pink flamingos. Small paths take you into the unique nature reserve. In Mejanes with the Arena you have the opportunity of travelling with a small train through unspoilt nature and to admire, with some luck, flamingos and wild bulls. The route takes you on almost traffic-free paths back to Arles (guided options include a guided tour of the city).
In the morning you will cycle through the cities Tarascon und Beaucaire which are disconnected because of the river Rhone. Sights of these cities are their castles from the 12th century. Many cafés at the canal are inviting you to make a break. In Nimes you can have a look at the buildings which are built by the Romans. On the one hand the arena, the Maison Carrée or the Tour Magne, but on the other hand also a lot of modern buildings, for example the Carré d´art from Norman Foster.
The fortress of Tarascon, located high above the Rhône, accompanies you for a while through the vineyards of Costières-de-Nimes. About noon you will already see Pont-du-Gard, the famous aqueduct from Roman times, world heritage as well. Aromatic plants such as lavender, thyme and rosemary accompany you into the pretty Provençal town of Uzès, which attracts with its magical, medieval charm. Among other places of interest, the unique market square, surrounded by arcades, is worthwhile.
Today the landscape changes once again. The last stage takes you through the hilly landscape of the Garrigue, with its oaks and Mediterranean herbs. Later on, the vineyards and the lovely orchards of the Provence take over once again. On the other side of the river you cycle through other famous wine regions of the Côte du Rhône (Lirac, Laudan) and reach the city of Orange again in the afternoon.
After breakfast individual departure or additional nights in Orange.
Tour character
Apart from a few small ascents in the hilly landscapes of the Garrigue and the Alpilles, the route is easy and varied, suitable even for inexperienced cyclists. You mostly bike on small streets with less traffic and on asphalted paths.
Prices & dates
Charm category: see "Your Hotels"
Services & Information
Included:
- Accommodation in your selected category incl. breakfast
- Luggage transfer
- Welcome briefing (German, English)
- Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English, French)
- Well developed tour course
- GPS data available
- Service hotline
Note:
- Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
- Bike rental with rental bike insurance
- Reservation fee of CHF 20.- per adult (incl. legally required customer money protection)
Arrival/Parking/Departure:
- Orange train station
- Marseille or Lyon airport
- Public, guarded underground car park near the hotel approx. CHF 10.-/day
Other important information:
- The distance travelled is approximate and may differ from the actual distance
- Travel cancellation insurance, including travel interruption insurance is recommended