Sun and the scent of wild herbs
Biking vacation in the Provence
Cycle Tour through one of the most beautiful regions of Europe: Provence and Camargue. The land of light, colours and scents. For these reasons, many well known painters have lived in the Provence: Picasso, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse, Cézanne, Chagall ... The Mediterranean climate is pleasant, the sun shines more than 3000 hours a year. People are living outside, even during the winter, play "pétanque" and drink their "pastis". Provence has not only an easy way of live, but is also one of the richest cultural regions of Europe. Numerous monuments testify a long and great past since the Greek and Roman period going to the Middle Ages and, at least, to the last centuries.
Provençal bike tours
The Provençal bike routes are mostly flat on small, low-traffic side roads or asphalt paths. There are a few short climbs during the bike tour, but they can be easily mastered by e-bike.
Romans, popes and modernity
In Provence, you'll come across great works of architecture, such as in Orange, the Arc de Triomphe and the ancient theater. The three-story Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard is also an architectural masterpiece from Roman times. Arles is home to a Roman arena, where gladiator fights were once held, and an ancient theater, where tragedians held their textual contests. The medieval Papal Palace of Avignon is built in the Gothic style. Enjoy the beautiful view of the city and the Rhône River from the palace terrace. Modern architecture can be found in Arles: the spectacular 56-meter-high Tour Luma, designed by Frank Gehry, is a gleaming, intricate and imaginative tower with a mirrored facade.
In the land of colors and light
Artists liked to stay in the light-flooded Provence. Visit the painting places of Vincent van Gogh and you will understand how the intense colors in his paintings came about: Bright blue skies, purple lavender, yellow sunflowers, and intense reddish or yellow ocher characterize the landscape. 864 of his works were created in and around Arles. He also painted in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. From time to time he received a visit from Paul Gauguin. Visit the Atelier Cézanne near Aix-en-Provence and, throughout Provence, one of the many galleries that exhibit works by contemporary artists. Theater lovers will find in Avignon the most important theater festival in Europe, held annually in more than 30 venues in the city.
Tapenade and Bouillabaise
Everyone knows the herbs of Provence. While cycling, you will breathe in the scents of marjoram, rosemary, thyme and oregano - and find them on the dishes in the evening. Tapenade is the Provençal specialty par excellence and a nice souvenir: paste made from olives, capers, anchovies and olive oil, often flavored with herbs. It can be spread on fougasse, a pastry derived from Roman flatbread, also called Provençal pizza. Ratatouille originated in Nice and is a stew of tomatoes, eggplant, onions, zucchini and peppers, seasoned with garlic and herbs of Provence. Since one is never far from the sea in Provence, the cuisine often includes fish, for example, the bouillabaise, a soup made of at least three different types of fish, namely the great red scorpion fish, the gurnard and the European conger eel. It is seasoned with fresh herbs of Provence, garlic, onions and tomatoes. Rouille, a creamy sauce made from olive oil, bread crusts, garlic, saffron and chili, is spread on a baguette and then dipped into the soup. Delicious! It goes well with a glass of Provençal white wine, perhaps a Clairette or an Ugni blanc.
Lavender as far as the eye can see
In the vast, unique landscape of the Camargue with its brackish lakes, rice fields and salt steppes, you may be lucky enough to spot wild horses, pink flamingos and black, wild bulls. Waving lavender fields up to the horizon will make you fall into a purple color frenzy, the scent does the rest. To the left and right of the cycle routes you will also see vineyards, olive groves and rocks again and again. You don't have to cycle up the steep slopes of the mystical Mont Ventoux, visible from afar, like the racing cyclists of the Tour de France, but you will always have it in view.
