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Physical Challenge
Highlights
Climb the time-worn stone steps at Arles’ Roman amphitheater, its walls still ringing with the sound of ancient gladiator fights.
Gaze out over the vast countryside from the ruins of Les Baux, a legendary court of love in the 13th century, later the refuge of brigands.
Cycle past the hauntingly familiar sites that Van Gogh painted during his remarkable years in St.-Remy-de-Provence.
Browse at the famous antique markets of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
Take a break from cycling, to stretch your legs in an endless field of scarlet poppies.
Arrive early or stay longer to join our other European cycling tours. See the Extensions tab for details!
Overview
Twenty-five centuries of history, and beautiful cycling
We offer biking vacations in several regions of France. The romantic corner of southern France known as Provence is the focus of one route, which we call The Provencal. After just a day here, you’ll understand why so many people say that biking in Provence was “the best vacation I ever had.”
Provence is so named because it was the first of the outlying provinces established by the Romans. On this trip, we’ll travel past many remnants of the old empire: from the Pont du Gard aqueduct, towering 160 feet over our heads, to a Roman arena still used for concerts and bullfights.
This is primarily a bike vacation, but with many other activities available. You’ll have opportunities for hiking and swimming, for walking tours along streets that date to the Middle Ages — and, of course, for some leisurely and memorable dinners.
Day 1: The Palace of the Popes
Our week begins in Avignon, a walled city settled by the Romans. Avignon reached its height in the 14th century when much of Europe was in chaos. Pope Clement V fled the anarchy of Rome and made his home here in Provence. For 68 years, Avignon served as the papal seat of seven Popes, each adding new embellishments to the palace. Today the enormous maze-like Papal Palace, sitting high on a rock, is a fascinating attraction for visitors.
Some in our group will also recognize Avignon from the childhood song:
Sur le Pont, d’Avignon, l’on y danse, l’on y danse
Sur le Pont, d’Avignon, l’on y danse tous en rond
The famous Pont d’Avignon, built in 1177, still stands — partly. Washed out by floods in the 17th century, today the bridge goes only halfway across the river.
Our trip officially begins at 6:00 pm, with our reception, drinks, and orientation, followed by dinner. If you’re in town by 4:00, join us for a walking tour of Avignon’s cobblestone streets, taking in the Papal Palace, the terraced hilltop gardens adjacent to the palace, the Pont d’Avignon, and the bustling town square.
We will have our welcome dinner tonight at one of our favorite restaurants in Avignon.
Day 2: Rural French Roads: The Joy of Biking
Avignon to Arles, via the Pont du Gard
Awake to the distant tolling of a church bell, and the chirp of birds in the trees. Breakfast, and then we’re off!
As we cross the silvery Rhone, glance back at Avignon’s skyline: 14th-century church spires and the turrets of the Papal Palace. A couple of hours biking takes us to the Pont du Gard, a 2000-year-old Roman aqueduct considered one of the 7 surviving wonders of the ancient world. We’ll spread out an elegant picnic below this daunting structure as you climb to the top — or swim in the sparkling waters below it.
Now you’ll discover what’s so special about biking in Provence. We’ve found some wonderful backroads, winding through apricot orchards, past fields redolent with wild rosemary and thyme, or polka-dotted with cheery sunflowers. In May and June, watch for bright fields of poppies. In autumn, enjoy the excitement of the grape harvest. Some of these roads are so narrow, they feel like a driveway — except that you rarely see a car.
Next stop: Tarascon, where you’ll want to visit the crenelated castle on the Rhone, complete with moat and drawbridge. The walls inside are hung with courtly 17th-century Flemish tapestries. From the parapets, you can see castle walls across the river in Beaucaire, Tarascon’s one-time enemy. And you can sympathize with the victims of the French Revolution, who were thrown from these parapets into the thrashing waters of the Rhone.
Just another hour of biking, past meadows alive with wildflowers, takes us to the bustling city of Arles, founded in 600 B.C. The wall of our hotel, right in the center of town, dates to the 13th century. The plumbing, happily, is newer.
Relax from your ride with a wine tasting. Then, after a leisurely dinner, stroll along the river as moonlight dances on the water.
Day 3: The Legacies of Ancient Rome
The old Roman capital of Arles is today home to a lively arts community. Yet every time you walk around a corner, you find yourself face-to-face with the age of the gladiators. Indeed, few places outside Rome offer as many relics of that ancient empire as does Arles.
We spend two nights in Arles. While biking options are available, most people enjoy spending the day in town. Our guide will explore the narrow streets with you. Start with a climb to the top of the glorious Roman arena, still used for concerts and bullfights, and look out over the red-tiled roofs of Arles to the river beyond.
Next, visit the remains of the once-elaborate Baths, and imagine what went on here, two millennia ago! Sit amidst the broken columns of a crumbled Roman theater. Walk past the hundreds of stone sarcophagi in the Alyscamps, a burial ground since the time of Christ, and a setting for paintings by Van Gogh and Gauguin. Study the elaborate stone facade of the St. Trophime, one of southern France’s most famous churches, with Biblical stories illustrated by carved stonework.
There’s plenty more in Arles to fill your day. But in the afternoon, die-hard cyclists can pedal into the Camargue, a vast alluvial plain and wildlife preserve. The Camargue is famous for its cowboys, who ride the white horses you’ll spot in pastures; and for its distinct breed of small black bulls.
Dinner tonight is on your own. Join up with a few new friends and make a tough decision about which restaurant to visit: The restaurant next door, whose gay owners now display a rainbow flag (still a rare sight outside Paris) on their window? The Medieval, in a vaulted stone dining room that once housed an abbey? The family-run Vaccares, overlooking the town square, where the tangy aromas of fresh basil and goat cheese announce, the moment you walk in the door, that you can expect a classic Provencal dinner?
Day 4: In the Footsteps of Van Gogh
Arles to St. Remy-de-Provence
The ride to our next hotel takes us over twenty miles of road — and two millennia of history.
An hour out of Arles comes to an intriguing stop: The remains of a unique double aqueduct. One channel supplied water to the Arles of antiquity; the other powered a mill that ground the Arlesian’s flour. Most likely, we’ll be the only visitors at this unique but unheralded spot. Nearby is Daudet’s Windmill, where Alphonse Daudet wrote one of France’s best-loved books.
In contrast, we’ll have plenty of company at Les Baux, one of France’s three most visited historic sites. The fortress atop this spur of rock, surrounded by limestone cliffs and thorny brushwood, claims a sordid history. Originally built by warlords who boasted descendants from Balthazar, one of the Three Wise Men, Les Baux later became a “Court of Love” inhabited by wealthy families, visiting princesses, and wandering troubadours.
Les Baux again grew bloody in the 14th century. Raymond of Turenne based an army of brigands here, invading the countryside regularly. No bake sales for this crowd: They raised money by taking hostages, who were thrown from the high cliffs at sunset if the ransom was not delivered. Cardinal Richelieu put an end to the nastiness and had Les Baux ransacked, but the sturdy walls and towers that remain offer a haunting reminder of its colorful past. Replicas of medieval weaponry – a giant catapult and battering ram – make it easier to envision that past.
Every day we offer extra biking options for those up for it. Today’s longest option is a sweeping route along the base of the Alpilles (“little Alps”), a dramatic and jagged range of peaks running eastward from Les Baux. This route takes us through dappled-green oak forests and shimmering olive groves to the enchanting town of Eygalieres, whose sole barkeeper has become a good friend over the years.
Van Gogh fans may experience some deja vu while approaching St.-Remy-de-Provence. After cutting off his ear in Arles, the famous painter spent his last two years at an asylum here. Many of the landscapes and sights he painted are largely unchanged; you can still see them on our walking tour. Then, you can look forward to dinner at the Cafe des Arts, always a favorite for the chef’s hearty Provencal menus.
Day 5: A Crumbling Castle and a Crystalline Spring
St. Remy to L’Isle sur la Sorgue
A peaceful tree-lined road carries us from St. Remy to the vineyards of Terre Blanche. Here you’ll see how wine is made in a typical small French winery; then enjoy a wine tasting of recent vintages. Our picnic lunch is at the nearby Chapel of St. Sixte, a 13th-century chapel in a panoramic setting of olive trees set against the picturesque peaks of the Alpilles (little Alps).
Missing your Stairmaster? Then bike up to the Notre Dame de Beauregard, high on a hill over the Durance River. This is a detour; nobody has to make the climb, and perhaps nobody will. But those who do will be rewarded with sweeping views from the peaceful grounds of this church.
Finally, a ribbon of road too small to appear on most maps offers yet another example of biking in Provence at its best. We pass orchards, forest, old farmhouses, and a field of horses. Soon we reach the Sorgue river, where crystal-clear waters offer respite from the hot day.
Refreshed, we continue on to L’Isle sur la Sorgue, where we spend two nights in a village on an island in the rushing river Sorgue. The village is full of canals, including one with a rope swing conveniently situated over the water.
The old waterwheels of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue once powered grain and paper mills. Now the industry has moved out, moss has taken over the old mill wheels, and the town is known as an antique center, with over 30 dealers and shops.
Day 6: Villages of Golden Stone
The Luberon
We’ll spend two nights in l’Isle-Sur-la-Sorgue. You don’t have to get on a bike at all today; if you’d like to stay in town, there’s plenty to do.
For those heading out on your bikes, the first village we come to is the history-filled Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Here, in a small cirque below a towering cliff, the Sorgue river gushes up from an underground source that remains mysterious. Since the days of Petrarch, poets and artists have been inspired by this magical spot. You can pause at a café beside the river, overlooking a moss-covered waterwheel from a long-forgotten mill.
If you want to spend the day here instead of riding on to the Luberon hill towns, visit the new Museum of the Resistance (this region was a strong pocket of the Resistance movement during World War II). You can also take a kayaking lesson on the Sorgue, or hike along one of France’s national hiking routes.
But the Luberon beckons strongly. This magical region of dark forests, meandering streams, and stone hilltop villages are already familiar to readers of A Year in Provence. We’ve mapped out a full-day circuit taking in six villages, each with a distinct personality. If that’s too much, you can easily turn back earlier.
We begin with Gordes, a village of golden stone spilling down a hillside. Get an energy boost at the small gay-owned cafe.
Next is Roussillon, the source of the ochre used in brown dyes. There are 17 shades of ochre, boast townspeople, ranging from orange to gold, from tan to rust, and every nuance can be found amongst the homes of this handsome town. A trail winds through the golden glow of the cliffs, past towering evergreens, to such spots as the vivid orange spires known as “Needles of Fairy Glen”. A picnic spot overlooks the cliffs, and a nearby shop offers a tempting selection of foods. A chunk of goat cheese, a baguette, and a ripe pear … and you’re ready to bike on.
As we meander south, we cross a simple stone bridge. It seems like a solid but unremarkable structure until you learn that it has a name (Pont Julien) and a history — it was built by the Romans and served as a vital link on the ancient Domitian Way, for pilgrims traveling between Italy and Spain. The bridge leads us to Bonnieux, once a papal fief, now better known as the site of a memorable goat race in A Year in Provence. Clinging to the hill, this charming village feels more vertical than horizontal. Fortunately, it’s just big enough to have a well-stocked pastry shop.
Then forgotten Lacoste, known not for its alligator shirts (wrong Lacoste) but as the home of the Marquis de Sade. His chateau still perches atop the hill. Who could resist a photo op? In nearby Menerbes, we’ve got two friends: the barkeeper, and a potter whose studio in the woods produces some of the most beautiful hand crafts we’ve seen in France.
A peaceful bike route leads us through sun-drenched fields to the ruins of Oppede-le-Vieux. A short path takes us to the hilltop chapel (remodeled in the 16th century — when it was already 300 years old!) and castle walls that mark the site of an ancient feudal stronghold.
Chances are, many cyclists in our group will not get to every city. But whether you turn around after lingering over lunch in Gordes, or cover the full circuit, we’re sure of one thing: You’ll understand the magical pull of the Luberon.
Day 7: Watermills and Wildflowers
L’Isle-Sur-la-Sorgue to Avignon
It’s time to return to Avignon. This is a short biking day, so you can relax in the morning and explore the village before hitting the road.
Today’s ride takes us past fields of red poppies, and soon we’re in Avignon. You may want to arrive early so you can tour the inside of the Papal Palace, or visit 14th-century Fort St. Andre across the river. Then get ready for a special dinner at one of Avignon’s many friendly restaurants.
Day 8: A Week to Remember
The hardest thing about our trips is saying goodbye to a wonderful group of new friends, and a charming region of France.
If you’ve got extra vacation time to spend in Europe, we suggest you save it for after the trip, rather than before: Chances are, others from this week’s adventure will be looking for some company for a weekend in Paris or perhaps Nice, on the Mediterranean coast.
Price Includes
Price includes: Comfortable hotels each night; Services of two HE Travel tour guides; All breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 5 dinners with wine included at dinners; Transportation to get luggage (and tired cyclists!) to the destination; Use of a bike; A wine-tasting; Map and routes. HE Travel provides complimentary Medical & Evacuation Insurance for every US Resident on our group tours who does not have other coverage.
Not included: Transportation to and from Avignon; 4 lunches; 2 dinners; Souvenirs, snacks, admissions; Gratuities for guides and HE Travel Tour Directors.
Options:
$120 E-bike Upgrade
Tour Insurance
We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance to protect your vacation investment in case of unforeseen circumstances such as flight delay, illness, or injury. Click Here to learn more about our Insurance partner.
Extensions
Come Early and Bike the Blue Coast of Portugal OR Puglia Cycling
For those with more time to spend cycling in Europe, consider heading to Portugal! Starting near Lisbon, our gay Portugal cycling trip takes us along quiet roads from the seaside hills of the Blue Coast through the agricultural region of Alentejo to the brilliant beaches of the Algarve. While hugging the Atlantic Coast, we’ll pass charming windmills, historic nautical sites, and quaint fishing villages. Experience the beauty and warm hospitality of Portugal!
Puglia Cycling
Spend a week cycling along ancient Roman lanes, coastal drives, and mountain paths. Each night, relax at an authentic gay owned and operated agriturismo, enjoying a glass of wine from the villa’s vineyards, gourmet meals, and a dip in the pool, with cute locals always stopping by to enjoy the festivities. Read a personal account of this tour on our Gay Travel Blog.
When you take our tours Back-to-Back, you get a discount! Contact us for details about joining Provencal plus Portugal or Puglia!
- What is the physical activity level of this tour?
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Physical Activity Level
This is our most popular route, in part because both less- and more-experienced cyclists can enjoy it.
The route is not entirely flat. But most of it is flat or gently rolling; if you’re ready to push yourself a few times, and possibly to walk up a couple of short hills, you can join a long list of people who have called The Provencal “the best vacation I ever had.”
The longest biking day (apart from the Luberon — see below) is the first day, at about 40 miles. You’ll face a couple of short hills the first day, but you could walk up the steepest one in five minutes. The biggest real hill that you need to get up comes on the fourth day, as we bike up to the ancient clifftop fortress of Les Baux. Less experienced cyclists may find themselves walking their bike for 10 or 15 minutes here, but it’s well worth it, to see one of Europe’s most impressive medieval sites.
Two days later we get to the Luberon, a picturesque region of cool forests, a crystal-clear river where you can cool off on a hot day, and half a dozen small hilltop villages, each with its own personality and charm. We stay two nights in the same hotel here, so some travelers consider the Luberon a rest day and don’t bike at all. Reasonably strong cyclists will probably want to visit all six of the villages; others will just cycle at one or two. We can also suggest appealing bike routes that are short and flat, and there’s plenty to see and do for those who don’t want to bike at all.
- Where does the tour start and end?
- This tour starts and ends in Avignon, southern France.
Each bike trip officially starts at 6:00 p.m. on the starting date given on our schedule and trip overview. We’ll have a reception and briefing, followed by dinner. For those who arrive early, we offer an optional walking tour of the town (along with a chance to meet other early arrivals). Finally, when our guides’ schedule allows, you can give your bike a test ride at 3:00. On arrival at the hotel, please look for our sign in the lobby giving details.
Each trip ends after breakfast. There are no group activities on that day, so if you have tight travel connections, you can get up and leave as early as you wish. When your schedule allows it, you’ll probably want to spend some time sightseeing in town, with others from the trip, before departing.
- I like to bike but my partner isn't into it as much. Is this a good trip for us?
- This is a great trip for the two of you. It includes two layover stops (when biking is optional, as we don’t change hotels), during which your partner can shop, hike, or go sightseeing, while you loop through the hilltop towns of the Luberons. On the other days of this trip, our “official” route from one hotel to the next is fairly short, but (as with all our bike trips) we’ve planned enjoyable longer options for those who want more biking.
Another trip the two of you would enjoy is Valley of the Chateaux, in the chateau region of France. This trip also includes two layover stops, and because there’s so much to see, we’ve kept the biking routes fairly short.
- How do I get to Avignon?
- Avignon is easily reached by train from Paris; it’s about a 4-hour ride on the high-speed TGV train, which you can catch right at Charles de Gaulle airport, or in downtown Paris.
Avignon has two train stations: Avignon Centre is right outside the town wall. Avignon TGV station is a short cab ride from town; there are also shuttle buses. (TGV trains, as of this writing, can use either station.) You can also fly into Avignon from Paris and take a cab (about $20) to our hotel.
What’s the train schedule from Paris?
You can get up-to-date rail schedules, as well as information about rail passes for France, and other European travel, from RailEurope. (In the U.S.: 888-794-7747.) For trains from Paris, you can select Paris (for trains departing from downtown stations) or Paris CDG Airport for trains from Charles de Gaulle Airport to your destination or a nearby TGV station.
How can I get to Avignon from Marseilles?
Probably, best way to get from Marseilles-Provence Airport (MRS) to Avignon (other than a very expensive 75 km cab ride or rental car) is to take the shuttle bus to either Marseille St. Charles Station or to Aix-en-Provence station, then take the train to Avignon (either the old Centre station two blocks from our hotel, or the TGV station on the edge of town, and a cab ride from the hotel). Because MRS is somewhat north of Marseille, the route via Aix is shorter but may take longer because there are fewer Aix to Avignon trains. (They run every 60-90 minutes or so during the day.) On the other hand, if you have some extra time, Aix is a fun city to spend a little time in. To find schedules, you can go to the French National Railways website SNCF Type or select from the drop-down list: FROM: Marseille Provence Aeroport TO: Avignon TGV. This will give you both bus departure times from the MRS airport and connection times in Aix, for the short TGV high-speed train ride to Avignon TGV Station. Most selections are shown via Aix-en-Provence TGV Station, but some may be via Marseille St. Charles Station.
- What books would be good reading before a trip to Provence?
- The best-known is Peter Mayle’s A Year In Provence, a light-hearted and entertaining account of an Englishman who buys a run-down farmhouse in the Luberon. If you enjoy his style, you’re in luck: He keeps producing new books with related themes.
The Peter Mayle of a few generations ago was Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897), whose Letters From My Mill paints a colorful portrait of life in Provence. You can visit his historic windmill, still standing in a windswept clearing amongst the olive trees, on our Provencal trip.
A favorite book of ours is Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. He’s taken a subject in which he’s keenly interested (the building of cathedrals in the Middle Ages) and woven a compelling novel around it.
We also recommend Travelers’ Tales France. The editors have collected the best essays about life and travel in France from over a dozen writers, including Peter Mayle, M.F.K. Fisher, Alice Kaplan, and Jon Krakauer. Their varied perspectives provide fascinating reading for anyone who’s about to visit or has visited, France.
- What will the weather be like?
- Typically you can expect temperatures to hit the high 60s in late April and early May, and to be well into the 70s by late May, June, and in September. Some days are likely to be in the 80s in July and August.
June through August are the driest months, but it’s unusual for us to have more than one or possibly two days of rain at other times in the spring or fall. On a majority of our bike trips in France, we’ve had half a day of rain or less. But, of course, we can’t promise anything about the weather. You can have a great time even if conditions turn out to be a little warmer, colder, or wetter than usual, as long as you bring suitable clothing. We’ll send some suggestions well in advance of the trip.