Explore the best Provence has to offer. Culinary highlights include a splendid Mediterranean feast of Côtes-de-Rhône wines, exquisite olive oil from a local olive press and more Roman ruins than you will find even in Italy. France’s small country roads will lead through the secrets behind the local artisans savoir-faire. And we’ll give you the chance to taste it all from special visits and markets right up to special dinner at a local chef’s home. You’ll also visit the places where Van Gogh and Cézanne painted a majority of their most well-known paintings. This trip gives you a superb view of both medieval and Roman masterpieces such as the theater and arena in Arles, the impressive Pont du Gard, the ancient Roman town of Aix-en-Provence and the medieval jewel of Uzès. A great bike tour for friends or couples where one partner likes to ride more than the other.

ITINERARY

Day 1 – Arrive in Arles Meet today at our hotel in Arles on the banks of the Rhône River. The Romans bridged the Rhône here during the 1st Century B.C., and today the city has a well-preserved Roman theater and arena. The latter is still used for Provençal bullfights. This evening, we’ll enjoy a special introductory meal together in a local chef’s home. Meals included: Dinner

Day 2 – Bicycle to St Rémy (20 miles, 700 feet gain) This morning Arles puts on one of the largest outdoor markets in France. You’ll have plenty of time to check it all out before taking a short but scenic ride to St Rémy. This afternoon you can start visiting St Rémy or take an optional loop ride that goes through quaint medieval Provençal towns including Maillane, home to writer Frédéric Mistral, a proponent of Provençal culture and winner of the 1904 Nobel Prize for Literature. Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 3 – Bicycle to Les Baux-de-Provence (31 miles, 1,800 feet gain) St. Rémy is where Van Gogh painted several of his most famous works during a year’s residence in the local sanitarium. You’ll appreciate the views that inspired him as we support a ride to Les-Baux-de-Provence and into the Alpilles hills. There is much to explore in St Rémy this afternoon including the Roman ruins of Glanum, Van Gogh’s sanitarium and the great shopping in town. Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 – Bicycle to St. Quentin la Poterie (40 miles, 1,600 feet gain) We’ll start the day with an olive oil tasting at a local olive press located just a few kilometers outside St Rémy. On our ride today we will cross the Rhône at Tarascon where you can visit the perfectly preserved 15th-century castle. Our route will then continue north to the Pont du Gard which is arguably the most extraordinary Roman ruin in all of Europe. It dates to 20 B.C. when it was built to support the aqueduct that carried water from Uzès to the Roman town of Nîmes. Later this afternoon we’ll arrive in St Quentin la Poterie a small town with a long tradition of pottery making going back to prehistoric times. The craftsmen of St. Quentin contributed their pottery making skills to decorate the Palais des Papes in Avignon in the 14th Century. Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 5 – Rest day in St. Quentin la Poterie (26 miles, 1,700 feet gain) Optional bike ride to Uzes and local vineyards. We’ll be in St Quentin again tonight, so you can decide whether you want to ride today, relax by the pool, or enjoy exploring the winding streets of St Quentin. We will also offer a shuttle into medieval Uzès for those who wish. If you chose to get out on your bike, we’ll take a loop ride south to Uzès and ride through rolling vineyard country. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6 – Bicycle to Séguret (45 miles, 2,500 feet gain) Today we head into the heart of the Côtes du Rhone vineyards with some of the most prestigious wines in the south of France including the renowned Châteauneuf-du-Pape. We’ll have a beautiful ride through small villages and open countryside before arriving at Châteauneuf where you can get a cafe lunch on your own, or picnic at the castle, a former summer palace of the Avignon Popes, followed by an optional wine tasting of your choice at any of the countless local wineries. Our route continues on to Séguret surrounded by vineyards and set against the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains- our little paradise for the next two nights. Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 7 – Vaison-la-Romaine and Côtes-du-Rhône vineyards (33 miles, 2,800 feet gain) You can take a day off the bikes and relax at the hotel or pedal our loop ride to Vaison-la-Romaine and the nearby quaint villages known for their wines. Vaison offers some great insight into Roman and medieval life and architecture with its Roman ruins, archaeological museum, and imposing castle. The rest of the loop continues through wine country and Provençal villages with the giant Mont Ventoux set in the background. For those who want to push their limits there is also the opportunity to ride up to 100 km (62 miles) and ascend Mont Ventoux, the most illustrious Tour de France climb! You also have the option to take on Mont Ventoux (49 km) and forgo the loop ride. Regardless of what you decide it’s guaranteed to be an amazing day! Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 8 – Shuttle to Avignon TGV Train Station We will shuttle you to the Avignon Train Station and send you on your way home, or to continue your travels! Meals included: Breakfast

Lodging

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