Make your way to Avignon by either flying into Marseille airport or by rail into Avignon TGV station. You will be picked up and taken to your hotel via private transfer, where you can settle in and begin exploring the ‘City of Popes’. Make sure to visit the Popes Palace, a relic from Avignon’s historic papal ruling, as well as the remains of Pont d’Avignon bridge built in the 12th century. You can choose to stay an extra night in Avignon and embark on a loop ride to Chateauneuf-du-Pape, famous for wine, or to Orange’s Roman theatre. Or simply enjoy relaxing…
For your ride to Saint Remy, choose between 3 fantastic routes depending on your optimal distance. Either head straight down to Saint Remy, cycle alongside the river Rhone or even visit the iconic Pont du Gard bridge. Whichever route you choose, you’ll be making your way toward Saint Remy, one of the best examples of a typical Provencal village with charming character. Take a look around the Saint-Paul Asylum, where Vincent van Gogh painted many of his masterpieces, such as, ‘The Starry Night’ as a self-admitted patient.
Today can serve as a rest day, where you explore Saint Remy’s cobblestone streets wrapped around medieval buildings. If you are there on a Wednesday, consider wandering the major markets sprawling with an active and welcoming atmosphere. Alternatively, we will provide a number of beautiful routes to Eygalieres, a small village with authentic charm not far away from Saint Remy, or to Arles. A culmination of history and artistry merge in Arles, with Van Gogh painting 200 works in and around the city’s ancient buildings, including the UNESCO Roman amphitheatre.
Today you’ll ride toward is reaching L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, or Venice of the Comtat as it’s also known due to the many canals weaving through the town. There are 7 antique ‘villages’ within the town open year round with more than 350 dealers. If you’re lucky enough to be here on a Sunday, make sure to visit the famous Flea and Food market. There are countless art museums to explore, one of which is the Campredon Centre d’Art that hosts famous artist’s work. The architecture of the town itself is like a piece of art, what with the Gothic and Baroque Notre-dame-des-Anges Collegiate Church.
As the gateway to the Luberon, we will provide you with a number of different routes to try today in the local area from L’Isle-sur-La-Sorgue. Part of these routes will be on traffic free cycle paths that used to be part of France’s railway network, until they were disused and then damaged in WWII. You will have the choice of riding to Gordes, a charming hilltop village facing the Luberon, Lacoste, which is akin to a time machine, and Roussillon, featuring an ochre path leading to picturesque orange-red cliffs. If you’re up for a longer ride, you can hit all of the above, stopping to explore along the way.
Today is the day you say goodbye to your bike and Provence. We can arrange a private transfer back to the airport or Avignon train station from L’Isle-Sur-La-Sorgue. However, if you would like to extend your trip, we have many more routes within the area that you can experience before leaving. You may also like to consider spending more time in Avignon, or any destinations you have visited on this trip.
With fields of lavender, rolling vineyards and quaint hilltop villages, Provence offers the ultimate escape from city life. Ride through lavender fields, taste world famous wines and explore the Alpilles where Van Gogh famously painted.
