This self guided short cycling break links the towns of Saint Rémy and Arles, towns of art and light. Along seldom-used roads and accompanied by the scents of thyme and rosemary, you’ll ride along the traces of Van Gogh in the plains and hillsides of Provence, through olive groves and vineyards.
During this short break cycling holiday, you will pass hidden stone farmhouses and Romanesque chapels, Roman ruins and perched medieval villages. Under the jagged limestone ridges of blue hues, and in the valleys of pine forests and aromatic herbs, you will discover the picturesque villages of Eygalieres, Maussane and it olive oil producers. And cross the Alpilles mountains to reach the beautiful perched medieval village of Les Baux de Provence. And finally the Roman city of Arles !
Your trip begins in St Remy de Provence, an artists' town where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life. Explore the artsy Saint-Rémy de Provence and its environs, the museum of Van Gogh's paintbrush. Head into the sunlit hills to discover the remains of the Roman town of Glanum.
Meals included : none
Night : Saint Remy
Market on Wednesday & Saturday morning in St Remy
+33 (0)4 86 65 00 20
contact@intura-travel.com
Your cycling trip starts by following the base of the Alpilles mountains to the east, first on small roads and then on a track leading into the vines. You reach the picture-perfect Provençal village of Eygalières, off the beaten tourist path, whose main square offers a few restaurants and cafés for a midday break. Heading northbound on tiny roads you reach the sleepy village of Mollégès before returning to St. Rémy through the heart of the countryside.
Your continue towards St. Etienne-du-Grès, and the Romanesque chapel of Saint Gabriel. From here you follow alongside the imposing silhouette of the Alpilles, among olive groves and almond trees. After lunch or picnic in Fontvieille, you will visit the elegant Château d’Estoublon estate, and sample their olive oils and fine wines. Riding into the heart of the Alpilles, you reach Les Baux de Provence, a medieval village built atop a vertiginous rocky spur, and listed as "one of the most beautiful villages in France".
Morning transfer to Arles. End of the trip in Arles.
You leave Arles and head south towards the vast expanses of the Camargue. Horses, ponds, bulls, rice fields and reeds: the landscapes do not deceive, you are here in the middle of the Camargue! You will discover the great wilderness of the Camargue with its large lagoons, its pink flamingos, and its ponds as far as the eye can see.