VILLA-BASED TOURS - TOURISM & THE SIGHTS.

Bonnieux by night.
Bonnieux by night.

The Luberon and Provence provide a great environment for cycling holidays.



It's also the perfect place for outdoor living with superb countryside and stunning & intriguing hill villages.
In the relatively small area of the Luberon Park alone, we have four of France's classified "Most Beautiful Villages"; Roussillon, Gordes, Menerbes & Lourmarin. Plus a handful of other villages that should be classified too.
The area has a varied terrain: from the flat orchard filled river plane, rolling vine covered hills to quiet, long, spectacular climbs. Throw in the beautiful Provencal architecture and the quiet country back roads and it should make for some of the best cycling you have'll ever experienced.

On the cultural front, there is a wide and deep range of activities with many interesting villages (See them all below) & towns (L'Isle sur la Sorgue, historic Avignon, Arles and Aix-en-Provence), museums, chateaux, vineyards, churches, various festivals, historic sites etc...

View across the valley to the hill-top village of Gordes.
View across the valley to the hill-top village of Gordes.

We'll provide you with our own "Real Provence" guide to the area; with all the popular places to visit (as well as the lesser known but equally good sights), our favourite restaurants and cafés, vineyards, etc. Whatever your interests, just let us know and we will be happy to show you the ride that will take you where you want to go. Of course if you've had enough cycling the car is always an option, as there is lots to see just a little further afield.

Our self guided rides visit all of the best Luberon sights:



Roussillon: Visit the beautiful village and its famous Ochre mines.
Gordes: Spectacular hill village with great views.

Oppede le Vieux: A unique, charming, old village that was half destroyed by an earth quake - there's a great walk from the village square up through the half destroyed houses to the Castle & Church. Relatively unknown, but definitely worth a visit.Image to the left.
Goult: A very old, beautiful village, off the tourist track, great restaurants & village cafe and an interesting walk around the oldest part of the village.
Lacoste: A quiet and impeccably well preserved village, with a great walk up through the historic village architecture to the Marquis de Sade's Château that sits atop the village, dominating the valley below.
Menerbes: The archetypal Luberon village - made famous by the book "A year in Provence" - nice restaurants, views & walk.
Bonnieux: An interesting, stylish village with beautiful views down into the Luberon valley. Restaurants, galleries, shops...
Lourmarin: Beautiful village set at the entrance of the hilly ravine pass.

Oppede le Vieux.
Oppede le Vieux.

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse: Picturesque village, famous for the crystal clear water source that originates here and flows onto L'Isle sur la Sorgue. Nice walk up to the water source with plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops along the way. You can even hire a canoe or fishing rod! Also has a very interesting French Resistance museum.
Isle sur la Sorgue: Walk along the many interesting water ways of the "Venice of Provence" & browse the dozens of antique shops or just take a seat and enjoy a superb ice cream in the sun by the river.

Other activities include:



Vineyards - Try some wine tasting at the numerous, excellent, local vineyards.
Markets - The choice is large with a market somewhere almost everyday, there's an excellent farmers market on the Sunday in Coustellet, and a huge resellers market in Apt on the Saturday morning.
Fort de Buoux - An abandoned ancient village and fortress high on a stony outcrop - really interesting.
The Cedar Forest - at the top of the Luberon hills, great for a picnic.
"Conservatoire des Terrasses" and its centuries old stone agricultural buildings.
Abbaye de Sénanque - The famous, impeccably preserved 12th-century Cistercian Abbey.

View of Menerbes, aka the Ship.
View of Menerbes, aka the Ship.

And there are plenty more sights that are just a short journey by car:



Mont Ventoux - Probably the most famous mountain climb in the Tour de France. Take a drive up it, or if you're feeling fit join the others for the 2-hour grind up Cycling Mecca.
Roman sites - Pont du Gard (aqueduct), Glanum (excavated ancient village), Arles (Roman arena, theatre, baths & cemetery) & Nîmes (Roman arena, buildings).
Towns - St Remy de Provence, Avignon, Aix en Provence.
Sights - Les Baux de Provence, Château de la Barben, Zoo de la Barben, Vineyards (eg Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas).
Mediterranean beaches - Cassis, Bandol, Sainte Marie de la Mer etc.

VILLA-BASED TOURS - TOURISM & THE SIGHTS.

Bonnieux by night.
Bonnieux by night.

The Luberon and Provence provide a great environment for cycling holidays.

It's also the perfect place for outdoor living with superb countryside and stunning & intriguing hill villages.
In the relatively small area of the Luberon Park alone, we have four of France's classified "Most Beautiful Villages"; Roussillon, Gordes, Menerbes & Lourmarin. Plus a handful of other villages that should be classified too.
The area has a varied terrain: from the flat orchard filled river plane, rolling vine covered hills to quiet, long, spectacular climbs. Throw in the beautiful Provencal architecture and the quiet country back roads and it should make for some of the best cycling you have'll ever experienced.

On the cultural front, there is a wide and deep range of activities with many interesting villages (See them all below) & towns (L'Isle sur la Sorgue, historic Avignon, Arles and Aix-en-Provence), museums, chateaux, vineyards, churches, various festivals, historic sites etc...

View across the valley to the hill-top village of Gordes.
View across the valley to the hill-top village of Gordes.

We'll provide you with our own "Real Provence" guide to the area; with all the popular places to visit (as well as the lesser known but equally good sights), our favourite restaurants and cafés, vineyards, etc. Whatever your interests, just let us know and we will be happy to show you the ride that will take you where you want to go. Of course if you've had enough cycling the car is always an option, as there is lots to see just a little further afield.

Our self guided rides visit all of the best Luberon sights:

Roussillon: Visit the beautiful village and its famous Ochre mines.
Gordes: Spectacular hill village with great views.

Oppede le Vieux: A unique, charming, old village that was half destroyed by an earth quake - there's a great walk from the village square up through the half destroyed houses to the Castle & Church. Relatively unknown, but definitely worth a visit.Image to the left.
Goult: A very old, beautiful village, off the tourist track, great restaurants & village cafe and an interesting walk around the oldest part of the village.
Lacoste: A quiet and impeccably well preserved village, with a great walk up through the historic village architecture to the Marquis de Sade's Château that sits atop the village, dominating the valley below.
Menerbes: The archetypal Luberon village - made famous by the book "A year in Provence" - nice restaurants, views & walk.
Bonnieux: An interesting, stylish village with beautiful views down into the Luberon valley. Restaurants, galleries, shops...
Lourmarin: Beautiful village set at the entrance of the hilly ravine pass.

Oppede le Vieux.
Oppede le Vieux.

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse: Picturesque village, famous for the crystal clear water source that originates here and flows onto L'Isle sur la Sorgue. Nice walk up to the water source with plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops along the way. You can even hire a canoe or fishing rod! Also has a very interesting French Resistance museum.
Isle sur la Sorgue: Walk along the many interesting water ways of the "Venice of Provence" & browse the dozens of antique shops or just take a seat and enjoy a superb ice cream in the sun by the river.

Other activities include:

Vineyards - Try some wine tasting at the numerous, excellent, local vineyards.
Markets - The choice is large with a market somewhere almost everyday, there's an excellent farmers market on the Sunday in Coustellet, and a huge resellers market in Apt on the Saturday morning.
Fort de Buoux - An abandoned ancient village and fortress high on a stony outcrop - really interesting.
The Cedar Forest - at the top of the Luberon hills, great for a picnic.
"Conservatoire des Terrasses" and its centuries old stone agricultural buildings.
Abbaye de Sénanque - The famous, impeccably preserved 12th-century Cistercian Abbey.

View of Menerbes, aka the Ship.
View of Menerbes, aka the Ship.

And there are plenty more sights that are just a short journey by car:

Mont Ventoux - Probably the most famous mountain climb in the Tour de France. Take a drive up it, or if you're feeling fit join the others for the 2-hour grind up Cycling Mecca.
Roman sites - Pont du Gard (aqueduct), Glanum (excavated ancient village), Arles (Roman arena, theater, baths & cemetery) & Nîmes (Roman arena, buildings).
Towns - St Remy de Provence, Avignon, Aix en Provence.
Sights - Les Baux de Provence, Château de la Barben, Zoo de la Barben, Vineyards (eg Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas).
Mediterranean beaches - Cassis, Bandol, Sainte Marie de la Mer etc.

SOME TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS FOR OUR VILLA BASED PROVENCE BIKE TRIPS:

SOME TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS FOR OUR VILLA BASED PROVENCE BIKE TRIPS:

SOME TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS FOR OUR VILLA BASED PROVENCE BIKE TRIPS:

"We enjoyed the variety of the rides with a mixture of flat riding and hills, but most importantly we loved the scenery & small towns that you sent us through.
I certainly will be recommending the "Provence Cycling Holidays" to anyone who may be interested in coming here to France to cycle & enjoy the memorable experiences that we have had."
Provence Cycling Holidays - France - Stefania & Paul - NZ - Aug 2019 - 5* Guestbook review.
"We loved market days, the gentle hills, the historic ruins, the beautiful churches, the lavender fields etc - all lit up and glowing under the intense Provence sun. You could understand why Van Gogh and all the artists spent so much time in this beautiful part of France."
Provence Cycling Holidays - France - Caroline & family - Singapore - July 18 - 5* Guestbook review.
"The options for cycling covers all levels of cycling from easy to hardest. We enjoyed the rides we choose and would say we are leisurely cyclists. Covered almost 200 kms over 5 days and no sore muscles. Saw beautiful villages, orchards galore and scenery to be enjoyed."
Provence Cycling Holidays - France - Rose & friends - Can - Oct 17 - 5* Guestbook review.

SOME CUSTOMER QUOTES ON OUR SELF-GUIDED TOUR SET UP



SOME CUSTOMER QUOTES ON OUR SELF-GUIDED TOUR SET UP

SOME CUSTOMER QUOTES ON OUR SELF-GUIDED TOUR SET UP

"We had a wonderful 6 days cycling in Provence. Neil designed great rides each day to match our ambitions that took in wonderful villages, great lunch spots and wonderful views."
Provence Cycling Holidays - France - Adrian - NZ - Oct 13 - 5* B&B Tripadvisor review.
"Neil's knowledge and obvious love of bikes and the region helped to make our holiday a most memorable time."
Provence Cycling Holidays - France - Kim & Annemarie - Australia - May 11 - 5* B&B Tripadvisor review.
"Great cycling in beautiful surroundings with some great places of interest to visit."
Provence Cycling Holidays - France - Pippa & Dave - UK - July 10 - 5* B&B Tripadvisor review.
"Neil knows the area so well and keeps you on beautiful, quiet, country roads. We passed vineyards, olive groves, lavender and travelled through beautiful Provencal villages."
Provence Cycling Holidays - France - Donna - US - June 10 - 5* B&B Tripadvisor review.
"Neil's knowledge of the area is a great asset and proved to be invaluable. His recommendations for days out and places to dine were readily taken up and we were never disappointed."
Provence Cycling Holidays - France - Mark & Gill - UK - June - 5* B&B Tripadvisor review.
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