Provence’s proximity to Paris (only 2 ½ hours by high speed TGV train) makes this tour a perfect choice for travelers on a tight schedule. It begins in Avignon, a few steps from the downtown train station. An early arrival will allow for an easy-paced afternoon exploring the village of Saint-Rémy, Van Gogh’s home during some of his productive years. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

On easy trails or secondary paved roads, you’ll be biking through the picture perfect Alpilles mountain range. We’ll arm you with knowledge of places of interest, like a local wine-making estate where tastings are held. Stop for a swizzle if you wish, then sample olive oil — another regional specialty — once you’re near Maussane.
On a clear day, its towering fortress offers unobstructed views over Provence all the way to the Mediterranean Sea! Following this, you’ll soon find yourself in Arles with lots of time time to explore the museum-quality wonders on offer.

Don’t hop on your bike without first taking a stroll through Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to visit its well-preserved Roman theater. Wheel to Fontvieille, where Provencal writer Alphonse Daudet lived in a windmill that has since been turned into a museum. Further on, you’ll reach Tarascon, home to the Provençal fabric-maker Souleiado (a museum worth visiting). Even more worthwhile is Tarascon’s 15th-century castle, one of the best-kept medieval fortresses in France. Pedaling on, you’ll soon be in Graveson, where you’ll dine and overnight.

For lunch, you will find many open-air cafés and restaurants, along with little shops offering the perfect treats for a picnic.

Your ride back to Avignon will take you through La Montagnette (“the small mountain”) where the working monastery of Frigolet Abbey is located. If your schedule allows it, you can also stop in Barbentane for a quick tour of its castles.

Once in Avignon, return your bikes and depart at the time of your choice.