Rhône Cycle Path

Starting in Geneva, you follow the Rhône through the Défilé de l’Écluse, a narrow river passage through the mountains. After just a few kilometers, you’ll cycle past the first vineyards, with frequent views of the Savoy Alps and Mont Blanc. Today’s stage covers 60 kilometers on smooth, easy-to-ride cycle paths.

Steep vineyards rise on both sides of the Rhône. You’ll cycle 65 kilometers along the riverbank on mostly flat terrain, enjoying scenic views. Be sure to stop in Chanaz, where charming 15th- and 16th-century houses and riverside restaurants create a delightful atmosphere. From there, the Rhône splits, and you follow the western branch to Champagneux.

Following the riverbank, the Rhône Cycle Path takes you 70 kilometers through the picturesque borderlands between Ain and Isère. In Pérouzan, you leave the river and cycle through small villages with medieval character until you reach today’s destination: the romantic hilltop village of Pérouges. Thanks to its stunning historic center, Pérouges is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Quiet paths lead over lush meadows and fields back to the Rhône for this 50-kilometer stage. You follow the river on excellent cycle paths all the way into the center of Lyon. Since 1998, the Old Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage site. Admire its many architectural highlights and enjoy the final evening in one of the city’s numerous exquisite restaurants.

After just a few kilometers, the futuristic Musée des Confluences appears, spectacularly situated on an island at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône. The route continues along the riverbank, flanked by the steep vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône. Remaining on flat terrain, you soon enter a nature reserve with observation points to admire local flora and fauna. The stage continues through shady riparian forests, covering around 70 kilometers.

The beautifully designed cycle path continues along the Rhône, heading south. World-famous wines are grown around Tournon-sur-Rhône. In this charming town with its medieval Old Town, stop for lunch and be sure to try a glass of the renowned Hermitage wine. Afterwards, you’ll reach Valence, the capital of the Drôme. Known as the “northern gateway to Provence,” the city delights with a lively center full of cafés and restaurants where Ttere’s plenty of time to enjoy a coffee after cycling today’s 55 kilometers stage.

Today’s 65 kilometers stage through the fertile Rhône Valley offers a gentle and enjoyable ride. The temptation to “taste as you go” is strong, with peaches, apples, and kiwis growing right along the route. Look up as well—many former castles have become ruins but still watch over the valley. In Montélimar, everything revolves around the region’s famously high-quality nougat, tempting you from morning to evening.

Cross the Rhône several times via impressive suspension bridges as you head toward the former bishop’s town of Viviers. Behind its 12th-century cathedral, enjoy a magnificent view over the Rhône Valley. Covering 65 kilometers, today’s stage highlights the region’s beautiful landscapes and variety by bicycle.

The route winds in a zigzag through vineyards and orchards until you reach the Pont du Gard cycle path, which takes you traffic-free to the lively town of Beaucaire, at the crossroads of Languedoc and Provence. You’ll pass vegetable fields and orchards in a landscape dotted with access roads to the old farmhouse Le Vieux Mas and crisscrossed by irrigation canals. Roman culture and Romanesque heritage shape the cityscape and history of Arles.