This cycling holiday of Provence is for the romantics, cyclists and Francophiles. But this tour is also ideal for French historians and cultural zealots. The Tour de Provence Roman, as the name suggests, is a cycling holiday in Provence, France that traces the very early history of the region, visiting famous historic towns including Arles, Uzes and Orange. And no visit to Provence is complete without a stop at the famous Pont du Gard in Avignon, where you will uncover some secrets on a guided visit and get the chance to explore this majestic structure from above and below. A beautiful, historic and culturally excellent trip with some incredible cycling experiences along the way.
Tour de VinesProvence – a timeless land of olives and vines drenched in sunshine. Think of Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources; fields of lavender and rugged hills where the herbs grow wild. This historical and French culture focused cycling tour will take you to the real Provence and beyond.
Provence, from the Roman Provincia Gallia, lies between the Côte d’Azur and the Rhône, stretching inland to the Alps. Provence is more than a geographical area – olive trees, lavender, sunflowers, and sunshine give it an identity all of its own. The quality of the light in Provence has attracted artists like Van Gogh and Gauguin, who lived in Arles, and Cézanne, with his many studies of Mont Ste-Victoire. The cuisine of the region is as distinctive as the light, with emphasis on fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil, seafood and the herbes de provence which grow wild on the hillsides. There are also great wines, such as the grands crus like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas in the Rhône Valley above Avignon.
This Roman Heritage tour follows the traces of the civilisation that gave the region its name. You will discover treasures in Arles, Orange, Nîmes, Uzès and at the Pont du Gard, and taste liquid treasure in the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The landscapes shift from the fruit-growing pastures of the Rhône Valley, to the dry garrigue of the hills, to the pan-flat expanses of marshland that make up the Camargue, dotted with rice paddies and pastures for the famous black fighting bulls.
Tour dates are in May and October and are timed to avoid the real heat of the Mediterranean summer. The cycling groups are limited to 16 and have 2 guides both fluent in French and English, together with a support van that’s never far away. This cycling tour is graded relaxed to moderate (2.5/5), with some hills and distances sometimes near 60 km (36 mi) in a day.
Provence offers quintessential French villages, stunning fields of lavender, distant snow-capped mountain peaks, and the famous star-studded seaside towns of the Cote d’Azur. This cycling holiday in Provence focusses on the Roman heritage sites in Provence, however, there will be plenty of food, wine and cultural experiences included throughout the journey.