Cycling Tour in Provence & Camargue

Your journey’s starting point is the culture-rich town of Orange. Its intricate roman triumphal arch in particular, as well as the Amphitheatre – one of the few that still contain the rear wall of the stage – are well worth visiting. By the way, this town has nothing to do with oranges, but rather with the Dutch royal family, which used to own the eponymous medieval principality.

A population of 2000 but still world-famous: this is how the village of Châteauneuf, renowned for its superb wines, presents itself. The Papal Palace of Avignon, today’s final destination, is the largest gothic palace in the world and hardly missable. The Saint Bénezet bridge, with its remaining five (out of a total of 22) arches, is a unique architectural monument and well-known through a children’s song: “Sur le pont d’Avignon,…”

Initially, today’s stage will lead you to the little town of St. Rémy, which many visitors consider to be the prettiest town in the Provence. The smell of fresh thyme and melissa lingers in the air. Once you have traversed the Alpilles, you will reach the rocky town of Les Baux. Its region is known for excellent olive oils. Your destination for today is the Van Gogh town of Arles, which was also the former capital of the Kingdom of Burgundy.

Today you will explore the famous estuary of the Rhone. A unique flood plain landscape has formed here at the border between land and sea, which offers a habitat to countless plants and animals. Of course the most famous animals are the white horses, black bulls and flamingos. Needless to say, there is also agriculture. There are vast rice paddies for example. Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is an old place of pilgrimage, which already inspired van Gogh.

Today you will leave Arles and follow the Rhône to Beaucaire and Tarascon, which are only divided by the river. A majestic castle thrones on each bank of the river. The buildings in Nîmes on the other hand don't represent neighbourly rivalry, but form a connection between different time periods – almost two millennia lie between the Roman amphitheatre and Norman Foster’s Carré d’Art.

The smell of lavender will accompany you all day. After only a few kilometres of cycling you will already be able to spot the cultural highlight of your journey on the horizon - the famous Pont-du-Gard, a Roman aqueduct, which once transported fresh water to Nîmes. You will continue cycling leisurely to Uzès, a charming small town, which has a market square surrounded by beautiful arcades.

The last stage of your journey will lead you through varied landscapes: Initially, you will be riding through a hilly area full of oak trees and herbs, after which you will resume cycling past orchards and vineyards. Caderousse, a small village reinforced by a wall, is your last stop before returning to Orange.

After breakfast your cycling holiday in Provence and Camargue ends with your individual return journey home. If you wish we can extend your stay in Orange.