“I had imagined Provence as beautiful, gently refined, and hypnotic. I planned on spending seven days there stupefied with food and wine, rolling through the purple visage of lavender fields. Instead, I found a harsh, vertically-defined landscape. This was not the France of gentle postcards and feast-filled guidebooks. This was Haute Provence, the 1900-square-kilometer Geological Preserve where gorges sliced through crazed mountains and made driving a roller coaster adventure”.

Mon 23-May Paris to ManosqueTues 24-May Manosque to Moustiers-Saint-Marie 60Kms Direct route EARLY STARTWed 25-May Moustiers-Saint-Marie 96Kms Grand Canyon loopThur 26-May Moustiers-Saint-Marie to Forcalquier 57Kms Direct route EARLY STARTFrid 27-May Forcalquier to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse 102Kms Via Luberon ParcSat 28-May Fontaine-de-Vaucluse to Avignon 103Kms Loop through St RemySun 29-May Avignon Pont de Gard or rest dayCath & Tracy catch train from Avignon to Paris for 1535 Emirates Mon 30-May Avignon to Vaison La Romaine 65.9Kms Direct route Tues 31-May Vaison La Romaine 83.9Kms Vaison LoopWed 1-Jun Vaison La Romaine to Mazan 42.3Kms Direct routeThur 2-Jun Mazan 87.9Kms Ventoux Loop via Gorges NesqueFrid 3-Jun Mazan to Avignon 103Kms via Pont du GardSat 4-Jun Avignon to Paris Pack up and catch TGV

With its Mediterranean climate, the area enjoys arguably the best weather in France, with up to 300 days of sunshine per year, and little rain.Overall its great weather for cycling.

Spring (from March) - usually means great cycling in Provence and you could be forgiven for thinking it's Summer with temperatures between 16 & 23c. It will probably be warm enough to wear short sleeves & shorts during the day.Early mornings and late afternoons can be fresher, so long sleeves and leggings may be needed then.You could get the odd shower, so rain/wind jackets need to be brought just in case.

Provence is famous for the mistral wind, thankfully it's weaker in the Luberon valley than in many other areas.A normal wind speed is situated between 20 & 45 mph. It can make cycling harder but rarely is it a show stopper. Bring a wind jacket just in case.Its a dry wind that chases the clouds away bringing nice bright sunshine, so it's not all bad - its most frequent in Winter and then Spring

Manosque

Day one – Monday23 May

Train from Paris to ManosqueArrive early afternoon

Set up bikes & go for short ride

Le Pré Saint Michel, charming hotel in the South of France, is the ideal base from wich to visit places of interest, the Hotel overlooks Manosque and offers you all the charms of "Provencal" landscape.Charming hotel in the South of France built with traditional methods, the charm of Provence is conveyed by wooden beamed ceilings period doors. You will enjoy the panoramic views from the hotel hall. Breakfast to the sape of the cicada has its own charms

Le Pré Saint Michel - Manosque

Day two – Tuesday

24 May

Manosque to Moustiers Sainte Marie

Greoux –les-Bains

Sainte Croix du Verdon

Moustiers Sainte Marie

Manosque to Moustiers Sainte Marie

60 Kms

Early Start 7.30AM

Average 2%

Manosque to Moustiers Sainte Marie

60 Kms

Day three – Wednesday

25 May

Moustiers Sainte Marie – Grand Canyon loop

Trigance

Aiguines

Sainte Croix Lake

Grand Canyon Du Verdon

Grand Canyon Loop

96.4 Kms

Lunch at Trigance

Du Canyon Du Verdon Hotel

Aiguines for A/noon tea

Auberge Du Point Sublime

MoustiersSte Marie

Google map for comparison

Trigance

Moustiers Grand Canyon Loop

96.4 Kms

Average 8.5%

Average 4.5%

Average 3.5%

Lunch

Courtesy Bike Route Toaster

Moustiers Ste Marie Grand Canyon Loop

Day four – Thursday

26 May

Moustiers Sainte Marie to Forcalquier

Bras d'AssePop. : 378 . Alt : 485 m.

PuimoissonPop. : 691 . Alt : 781 m. La Brillanne

Pop. : 649 . Elevation : 350 m

OraisonPop. : 5092 . Elevation : 645 m

Saint Julien d'AssePop. : 114 h. Alt : 461 m

Forcalquier

Located only 2 km away from the village of Forcalquier, in the heart of Haute Provence region, La Bastide St Georges hotel is the perfect holiday destination for nature lovers and for all those searching for peace and relaxation. You will have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful heated swimming pool located in the large garden, or discover the wonderful landscape renting a bike at the hotel reception and you will enjoy the wonderful view over the Luberon hills from the comfortable terrace, sipping a drink or simply meditating. La Bastide St Georges hotel is also surrounded by a forest where you can find the biggest bories ... (old stone houses) in the area.

La Bastide St Georges - Forcalquier

Moustiers Sainte Marie to Forcalquier

57 Kms

Early Start 7.30AM

Moustiers to Forcalquier

57 Kms

Day five – Friday

27 May

Forcalquier to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

Apt

Bonnieux

GordesAbbey Senanque

Forcalquier

Fontaine de Vaucluse

Hotel des Poètes -Fontaine Du Vaucluse

Forcalquier to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

102 Kms

Apt for lunch

Forcalquier to Fontaine De Vaucluse

102 Kms

Apt

1% average

Lunch

Day six – Saturday

28 May

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse to Avignon

Hotel Le Cloitre St Louis

The "Cloitre Saint Louis", a 16th century building combining historic structures with the modernity of the wing of the hotel inspired by the work of Jean Nouvel is situated in the centre of Avignon. Originally a Jesuit seminary, the "Cloitre Saint Louis" has also been a military hospital and a hospice over the years. After meticulous restoration, the Cloister has found a new lease of life as a cultural centre and a four star hotel since 1990.Near the "Palais des Papes" and the famous "Pont d'Avignon", your stay at the "Cloitre Saint Louis", a truly enchanting place, invites you to discover the art of Provençal living.

Avignon

Saint Remy De Provence

Les Baux De Provence

Orgon

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse to Avignon

103 Kms

Topo map 1

Topo map 2

Topo map 3

Fontaine de Vaucluse To Avignon

Average 3%

103 Kms

Orgon

Lunch

Day seven – Sunday

29 May

Avignon rest /free ride

Cath departs for Paris

Day eight – Monday

30 May

Avignon to Vaison La Romaine

Vaison La Romaine

Avignon to Vaison La Romaine

65 Kms

Avignon

Vaison La Romaine

MalauceneBedoin

Carpentras

Avignon to Vaison La Romaine

65 Kms

Hotel Le Beffroi

Christine & Yann CHRISTIANSEN are happy to welcome you to the Beffroi and wish you an excellent stay. A residence built in 1554, this family house has been modernized and lovingly furnished by the owners of the past fifty years. We hope that now, you, our cherished guest will accept our "four walls" which have lasted the vagaries of 400 years of fashion and transformation

Optional Vaison La Romaine Loop as recommended by Discover France

Vaison Loop - Total 83 Kms

Recommended by Discover France

Vaison La Romaine

Vaison route of loopTotal 83 Kms

Day 10 – Wednesday

1 June

Vaison La Romaine to Mazan

2 Nights in Mazan

Vaison La Romaine to Mazan

42.3 Kms

Vaison La Romaine to Mazan

42.3 Kms

Steffi’s Room

Chateau De Mazan

Mazan

Ride Gorges Nesque Loop

Mazan Option

Gorges Nesque Loop

79 Kms

Mazan Mazan

Gorges Nesque Loop

79 Kms

Optional

Mont Ventoux via Sault out of Mazan

Mont Ventoux via Sault

Mazan

Sault

Mont Ventoux

88 Kms

Mont Ventoux via Sault

Mont Ventoux

Mazan

Sault

Malaucene

Bedoin

Mazan

88 Kms (55Kms of pain!)

Day 12 – Friday

3 June

Mazan to Avignon

Mazan to Avignon via Pont De Gard

103 Kms

Pont Du Gard

Mazan to Avignon

103 Kms

Day 13 – Saturday

4 June

All depart for Paris by TGV