| Distance: |
Map
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| 1.900km |
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| Highlights: |
St
Tropez, Crètes road, Camargue natural parc,
Sète, Black mountain , Carcassonne medieval
city, Andorra (Pyrénées mountains), 9 locks
Béziers, Florac, Cévènnes parc, Ventoux mount,
Napoléon road |
Day
1: As the Côte d’Azur unravels its roads before
us, you will enjoy the wonderful cliffs, the sea,
and the charming little villages of this beloved
coast. The day will end in Cassis, but before getting
there you will have experienced the route des Crètes
high above the sea, with its fabulous panoramic
views of the area. Cassis is a little seaside resort
snuggled at the foot of a very tall cliff called
Cap Canaille.
Day
2: A ride through the Camargue (see our Camargue
Tour) will end in Languedoc, a region well known
for its astounding Roman towns and monuments, as
well as its wine and aperitifs! We will spend the
night in Sète, the largest fishing port of Languedoc-Rousillon,
also know as the Venice of Languedoc. The charm
of Sète is in the effortless energy that spills
from the canal, the sea, the streets, and the restaurants.
It is no wonder that Georges Brassens, who is buried
here, was imbued with song and word, and also that
it provided the inspiration for Paul Valèry.
Day
3: Leaving the coast to climb slowly up the
“Black Mountain,” we will visit the “Cité de Carcassonne”,
following the Canal du Midi and driving through
some of the historical towns on the way. Carcassonne
and its Cité, built during the 5th century, has
medieval fortifications that are ranked among Europe’s
finest.
Day
4: Time to go up into the mountains along their
twisting roads! After a day ride up the Pyrénées,
the tour will stop in Andorra. This tiny principality
in the Pyrénées -- a mere bump on the border between
France and Spain – is one of the smallest countries
in Europe, and has one of the highest standards
of living in the world.
Day
5: After loading our van with the tax-free gifts
from Andorra we will be back on the bikes on our
way down the Pyrénées to the Mediterranean coast
and the region of Roussillon, until we get to Béziers,
the “Capital of vineyards and vine” and its cathedral.
Day
6: After leaving the coast, the tour takes the
winding roads up the Cévènes, land of hills and
valleys to reach Florac for the night. Florac is
a real geological crossing of the schist Cévènnes
in the South, the Mont Lozère in the North and the
Causse Méjean plateau. It's also the place where
the rivers Tarnon, Mimente and Tarn come together.
The water flows cheerfully through the center of
the town with little waterfalls and very big trout,
giving it a unique character.
Day
7: The plan for this day is to cruise down the
Cévènes, past the Rhône and to start to climb the
Pré-Alps. The group will enjoy picturesque canyons
and winding roads, spending the night in Sisteron.
This site has been fortified since time immemorial;
its citadel and the solitary bridge across the River
Durance stand as a fearsome sentinel over the city.
Way back when he cam bask into “business”, Napoléon's
march passed through Sisteron (see also our Napoleon
Road Tour).
Day
8: Time to head towards home and descend the
Alps towards the French Riviera and the sea.
