Provence Prestige en Vélo
Absorb the essence of Provence – sleepy villages, sun soaked vineyards, Roman ruins and the magnificent Pont du Gard. Easy cycling along quiet lanes and canal paths brings you to charming destinations where you are guaranteed a comfortable room and delicious food.
Holiday Highlights
- Wonderful fortified city of Avignon
- Magnificent Pont du Gard Aqueduct
- Cycling through fertile vineyards and fields of sunflowers
- Luxury accommodation and gourmet food
- Dinner at Michelin Star restaurant in Les Baux
- Time to explore the delightful town of St Rémy at the end of your tour
Expert review
- Read the full review from Darren Alff, the Bicycle Touring Pro.
What's Included
Starting Days
You can choose to begin this holiday on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays
Videos
Itinerary & Hotels
1
Arrival Avignon day 1
- Summary
Arrive at the luxurious Hostellerie la Magnaneraie in the quiet suburbs of old Villeneuve-les-Avignon. Explore the old town centre or relax in the hotel gardens by the pool before enjoying a delicious meal in the attractive dining room.
- Hotel
Hostellerie la Magnaneraie
Le Villeneuve-les-AvignonThe La Magnaneraie Avignon is a former 15th century country-house located on the colourful heights of the historical village of Villeneuve-Les-Avignon and just 5 minutes from Avignon at the gates of the famous city of the Popes.
Hostellerie La Magnaneraie offers stylish and relaxing settings. The hotel features 32 rooms and suites with thematic interior design. The alleys of the garden are planted with trees and they look out onto the Abbey and Fort St André.
Gourmet evening meals can be savoured on the restaurant's terrace upon reservation.
The hotel also offers a swimming pool, bicycle rental service and massages upon request.
Facilities
- Swimming pool - heated
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Air-conditioning
- Room service
- There is free uncovered parking, with covered parking available at a small charge
Board
- Cuisine
Excellent restaurant offering a typically provençal menu.
2
Avignon to Collias day 2
- Summary
It is a level ride to Remoulins before you cross the river beneath the Pont du Gard on your way to the Hostellerie le Castellas at Collias. Enjoy a small secluded pool and gourmet restaurant.
- Hotel
Hostellerie Le Castellas
ColliasHotel Le Castellas, a 17th century residence, is located on a small street in the heart of the village of Collias. Drawing on the placement of the houses, Madame Aparis has succeeded in turning the enclosed courtyard into an oasis of greenery, a garden a la Monet with a small swimming pool like a Roman bath tucked away creating a restful place for reading while relaxing on a lounge chair. From art deco to modern art and even Baroque art, each of the 13 guestrooms and suites in the Hostellerie Le Castellas will take you on an artistic journey through time. They are all decorated with originality and flair.
Facilities
- Gastronomic restaurant
- Small outdoor pool
- Sauna
- Parking
- Lounge bar
- Terrace
- Multilingual
Board
- Cuisine
The restaurant at the Hostellerie Le Castellas will awaken all your senses with a range of gourmet delights. Inside, the vaulted rooms made of stone from Vers Pont du Gard create a unique welcoming atmosphere. Outside, as soon as the sun is up, the tables are laid on the terraces, allowing guests to savour the beautiful surroundings.
Starting with the buffet breakfast, you can taste the chef’s homemade jams, marmalades, cakes and fruit salads, all colourful, full of vitamins and deliciously tasty. An excellent way to start the day. Le Castellas will make any meal a moment of intense delight. The menu changes with the seasons, taking advantage of the best produce available.
25 mi
(40 km)3
Collias to Tarascon day 3
- Summary
Begin with a short climb before taking quiet lanes through the vineyards of the Costières de Nîmes. Pass the bullring in Redessan then cycle to Beaucaire and cross the River Rhône into Tarascon. After exploring one or both of these bustling riverside towns, it is just a short ride south for two nights in the rustic charm of your 5 star chambre d’hôte Mas des Comtes.
- Hotel
Mas de Comtes de Provence
TarasconThe Mas des Comtes de Provence is a prestigious guesthouse in the heart of Provence. Originally a 15th century hunting lodge belonging to King Rene, amidst the orchards of Tarascon, you may enjoy its magnificent two hectares of gardens, the inner court yard, the vaulted salon with the great chimney, and the huge swimming pool.
Facilities
- Set in about four acres of beautiful grounds
- Large swimming pool
- Large vaulted reception room with fireplace
- Air-conditioned bedrooms
- Le Cigaloun restaurant set along the waterside
Board
- Cuisine
Good restaurant serving typical Provençal dishes created from local produce.
29 mi
(47 km)4
Day trip from Tarascon day 4
- Summary
Explore the many canals, stopping off at the port of Beaucaire and the typical Provençal village of Vallabrègues. Extend the journey to visit the Abbey of St Michel de Frigolet before returning via the Celtic village of Aramon. Second night in the beautiful Mas des Comtes.
20 mi
(32 km)5
Tarascon to Les Baux de Provence day 5
- Summary
After visiting the Olive ‘Boutique’ at the Château d’Estoublon, climb to les Baux de Provence and settle into the beautiful 5-star hotel, Baumanière Les Baux de Provence, with plenty of time to explore the fascinating medieval village or spend the afternoon relaxing in the hotel grounds. Tonight’s dinner is in the excellent 'La Cabro d'Or' restaurant.
- Hotel
Baumanière Les Baux de Provence
Les Baux en ProvenceSet in a magnificent garden at the foot of the sculptured cliffs of Les Baux de Provence, savour the unpretentious, informal luxury of this 5 star Provencal house for a privileged moment of relaxation, focusing on gastronomy and well-being in the land of cicadas, grapevines and olive trees.
Facilities
- The spa has bright luminous treatment rooms opening onto the patio providing facial and body treatments, massages, Hammam, fitness studio and sensory pool
- Enjoy an energetic swim in the large outdoor pool or just relax on the sunbeds on the terrace
- The hotel also boasts a gastronomic Michelin star restaurant
Board
- Cuisine
In its fresh and lively decor, the dining room and terrace of the Cabro d’Or restaurant offer an ideal setting to delight in the honest, refined cuisine of the chef, Michel Hulin.
21 mi
(34 km)6
Les Baux de Provence to St Rémy day 6
- Summary
Take a short ride to St Rémy to seek out the haunts of Van Gogh, or visit the Roman sanctuary of Glanum. Alternatively you could take a more challenging 24 mile ride across the Alpilles to Maussane and Eygalières. Then head to your accommodation, the 5-star spa hotel, Le Vallon de Valrugues. There’s time to settle in before enjoying another wonderful dinner.
- Hotel
Vallon de Valruges
St Remy en ProvenceThe Vallon de Valruges is a 5 star hotel and spa with 48 rooms and suites, elegant and personalised, partly renovated in 2010. The hotel is ideally located in a quiet area just 600 metres from the centre of Saint Remy de Provence.
Facilities
- Spa
- Excellent restaurant
- 5 star hotel
- Lovely pool
- Air-conditioning
- Bar
- Laundry
Board
- Cuisine
Eat gourmet food and drink vintage wines in the period splendour of the dining room or have a more relaxing meal on the terrace.
24 mi
(39 km)7
St Rémy day 7
- Summary
Many of our clients spend their final day exploring St Rémy. The town offers a delightful labyrinth of narrow medieval streets with boutiques, bistros, museums and art galleries, or we offer a choice of cycling circuits before a final night of relaxation at your hotel.
Route & Location
Customer Reviews
4.8 out of 5 rating based on 4 reviews
- Service (5/5): Good overall. Taxi Robin was not booked for the final day of our holiday. He was unaware of us.
Belle France: Thank you for your feedback, I checked your booking to see if we had booked and although we had sent him the request he had not replied and we had missed that so I do apologise for this. I do hope that did not make you too late for your train and if you had to pay for a taxi please send us the details so that we can make a refund.
I do hope that you enjoyed the bottle of champagne that we had ordered for your first night accommodation to celebrate your special occasion.
Kind regards
Lorna
15th September 2016Product (5/5): Excellent - Service (4/5): pretty responsive
27th August 2016
Product (4/5): very good. Shame the cycle distances were so uneven..big slog on day 1, then almost nothing afterwards. - Service (5/5): Everything worked out as planned.
14th October 2015
Product (5/5): Some of the written instructions were a little sketchy but we considered it to be a bit of a scavenger hunt and we eventually made it to our desired destination. For instance, the directions from Pont du Garde to La Begude St Pierre made no mention of the fact there would be a barricade across the road which we would have to crawl under...we eventually decided that was what we had to do and we guessed right. - Service (5/5): First time dealing with this company and we were pleased with the service.
10th August 2015
Belle France: So glad that you were pleased with our service, hotels and route and we really hope to hear from you again. If you had told us about the loose chains on the bike we would have sent our mechanic out to tighten them for you. Hope it didn't affect the cycling.
Lorna
28th August 2015Product (5/5): Some beautiful hotels and memorable food and well researched quiet rural roads and tracks to cycle along. Bikes were fine but chains a bit loose!
5 out of 5
15th September 2016
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