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The Marc Seguin Bridge in Tournon

Rhône Cycle Path II, Lyon – Arles

From Lyon to Arles

8 Days / 7 Nights
Easy
The Marc Seguin Bridge in Tournon

‘Bonjour’ Lyon, as they say, on this eight-day bike tour along the lifeblood of the Rhône-Alpes region to Provence. Lush vineyards, fragrant orchards and gorgeous purple lavender fields accompany you on your cycle route in the heart of France. In addition to the multi-faceted natural scenery, the tour also reveals cultural treasures: magnificent cathedrals, relics from the Roman era and the outstanding Musée des Confluences in Lyon are on the programme.

Over eight days you cycle from Lyon along the Rhône and admire impressive cultural treasures as you go. For example, the largest Roman theatre in Gaul, Vienne. Or the architecturally outstanding museums and art galleries. The culinary treasures definitely shouldn’t be missed in France. Frogs legs, snails or goose liver are on every menu. For those who like more traditional fare, a delicately melting caramel ice cream would be the perfect choice.

  • Spectacular Musée des Confluences: It is located on an island at the confluence of the Rhône and Saone. Above all, the futuristic façade and the impressive exhibitions will definitely impress.
  • Pearl of the region: In the surroundings of Tournon sur Rhône, immerse yourself in the medieval old town! Tip: Take a lunch break and order a glass of the famous ‘Hermitage’!

275 kilometres of cycling will take you from Lyon to Orange over eight days. From the starting point in Lyon, you cycle comfortably without significant hills to Vienne, Serriéres, Valence, Montélimar and Bourg St. Andéol. Most of the Rhône cycle path is well developed and a prime example of good signage and an attractive route. Even for the entry-level cyclist this cycle tour is perfect, you spend between 35 to 65 kilometres per day on your bike.

Itinerary at a glance

Since 1998 Lyon’s old part of town is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Mighty churches, about 30 museums and an excellent food serving industry guarantee a delightful stay.

After just a few kilometres, the futuristic museum "des Confluences" appears, spectacularly located on an island at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers. We therefore recommend a short train ride to Givors (not included). You follow the meanders of your "companion", the Rhône, and soon reach Vienne with many traces of the old Roman colony. You will be impressed by the temples of Augustus and Livia and the largest Roman theatre in Gaul. The route continues directly along the banks of the Rhône. To the left and right, the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône rise steeply. However, you stay on the plain and soon cycle through a nature reserve with many observation posts to marvel at the flora and fauna. The route continues through shady alluvial forests.

The beautifully designed cycle path takes you South again, directly along the Rhône riverbank. World renowned grapes are grown in the surroundings of Tournon sur Rhône. We recommend you have your lunch break in one of the charming villages with their medieval village centres and sample at least one glass of the famous ‚Hermitage’. After that you will soon reach the main town of the Drôme-region called Valence. Also called the ‚Northern Gate to Provence’, it will amaze you with its vibrant town centre full of cafés and restaurants.

Effortlessly you cycle through the fertile Rhône-valley. The temptation for ‚petty larceny of food’ is especially high today, since there are peaches, apples and kiwis growing directly along the route. Nevertheless, make sure you also look up and do not miss high up a once proud castle which has sadly crumbled and turned into a ruin, but still keeps a watchful eye over the valley. In today’s Day Finish Montélimar it is all about ‚nougat’, which is produced here in special quality. Temptations from dawn to dusk.

Discover the Drôme provencal today. Marvel at dreamy "Villages perchés" (rock villages built on mountain slopes) and old Romanesque churches that blend picturesquely into the landscape against the backdrop of the Drôme mountains. You can't miss the lavender fields.

There is plenty of time to enjoy today's short cycling stage. You will change banks of the Rhône several times over impressive suspension bridges. The cycle path then leads to the former episcopal town of Viviers. Behind the 12th-century cathedral, you enjoy a magnificent view over the Rhône valley. In the riparian forests that follow, it becomes quiet, nothing can be heard except the whirring of the wheel spokes. Bourg St. Andéol is full of life again. Here, picturesque houses from the 16th to 18th centuries characterise the old town directly on the Rhône.

On the last stage, you cycle leisurely through fields of yellow sunflowers, apple and peach orchards, over fields of tomatoes and basil. Along the way is the small town of Pont St. Esprit, where a 600-year-old bridge with 25 arches stretches impressively over the Rhône. The destination, however, is the town of Orange with its famous Roman theatre and the town foundation arch, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Day
08
Departure or extension

Itinerary at a glance

Take in the artworks and the facade of the "Musée des Confluences." The medieval town of Tournon sur Rhône is impressive, as well as the charming city of Lyon. Treat yourself to baguette, wine, and caramel ice cream!

Since 1998 Lyon’s old part of town is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Mighty churches, about 30 museums and an excellent food serving industry guarantee a delightful stay.

After just a few kilometres, the futuristic museum "des Confluences" appears, spectacularly located on an island at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers. We therefore recommend a short train ride to Givors (not included). You follow the meanders of your "companion", the Rhône, and soon reach Vienne with many traces of the old Roman colony. You will be impressed by the temples of Augustus and Livia and the largest Roman theatre in Gaul. The route continues directly along the banks of the Rhône. To the left and right, the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône rise steeply. However, you stay on the plain and soon cycle through a nature reserve with many observation posts to marvel at the flora and fauna. The route continues through shady alluvial forests.

The beautifully designed cycle path takes you South again, directly along the Rhône riverbank. World renowned grapes are grown in the surroundings of Tournon sur Rhône. We recommend you have your lunch break in one of the charming villages with their medieval village centres and sample at least one glass of the famous ‚Hermitage’. After that you will soon reach the main town of the Drôme-region called Valence. Also called the ‚Northern Gate to Provence’, it will amaze you with its vibrant town centre full of cafés and restaurants.

Effortlessly you cycle through the fertile Rhône-valley. The temptation for ‚petty larceny of food’ is especially high today, since there are peaches, apples and kiwis growing directly along the route. Nevertheless, make sure you also look up and do not miss high up a once proud castle which has sadly crumbled and turned into a ruin, but still keeps a watchful eye over the valley. In today’s Day Finish Montélimar it is all about ‚nougat’, which is produced here in special quality. Temptations from dawn to dusk.

You cross the banks of the Rhône several times over impressive suspension bridges. The cycle route then continues to the former episcopal town of Viviers. Behind the cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century, you can enjoy a magnificent view over the Rhône valley. In the alluvial forests that follow, it becomes quiet and nothing can be heard except the whirring of the wheel spokes. In Bourg St. Andéol, picturesque houses from the 16th to 18th centuries characterise the old town directly on the Rhône. Along the way is the small town of Pont St Esprit, where a 600-year-old bridge with 25 arches impressively spans the Rhône. The destination, however, is the city of Orange with the famous Roman theatre and the city foundation arch, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

In Caderousse, whose surrounding dykes protect the small Provençal village from any flooding of the Rhone, you cycle along the ViaRhôna through the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine-growing region. The route leads through the vineyards directly along the slopes and offers beautiful viewpoints over the Rhone Valley. In Avignon, we recommend a stroll through the old town and a visit to the Palace of the Popes, which has been declared a World Heritage Site.

The route continues zigzagging through vineyards and orchards to the cycle path of the Pont du Gard bridge, which takes you traffic-free to the lively town of Beaucaire, at the crossroads between Languedoc and Provence. Past vegetable fields and orchards in this landscape criss-crossed by access roads to the old farmhouse Le Vieux Mas and irrigation canals. Roman culture and Romanesque heritage characterise the townscape and history of Arles. Arles was the second most important city of the Roman Empire, but is also the city of Vincent van Gogh.

Day
08
Departure or extension

Route Information

Easy

The terrain is mostly flat and easy to cycle on. The Rhône cycle path is overall well-constructed and a perfect example for signposting and routing.

Prices & Dates

Category: 2**, 3*** and 4****-Hotels (French classification)

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation as already mentioned
  • Breakfast
  • Welcome briefing (German, English)
  • Luggage transfer
  • Well developed route
  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
  • GPS-tracks available
  • Service-hotline

Optional extras

  • Bike rental, including rental bike insurance

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Lyon train station
  • Lyon or Marseille airport
  • Multy-storey car park close to the hotel approx. EUR 25 / day, no reservation possible
  • Good train connections from Orange to Lyon

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price!
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation as already mentioned
  • Breakfast
  • Welcome briefing (German, English)
  • Luggage transfer
  • Best developed route
  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
  • App for Navigation and GPS-data
  • Service hotline

Optional extras

  • Bike rental, including rental bike insurance
  • Return transfer per minibus to Lyon every Sunday (min. 4 people), costs EUR 130 per person, for own bike an additional EUR 39. From Sète every Tuesday (min. 4 persons), costs EUR 160 per person, for own bike additionally EUR 39

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Lyon train station
  • Lyon, Marseille, Montélimar or Nimes airport
  • Multy-storey car park close to the hotel approx. EUR 28 per day, no reservation possible/necessary
  • Good train connections from Arles and Sète to Lyon

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price!
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.

Join us in achieving greater sustainability by choosing our digital route book, rather than the printed version. As a small thank you we will give you a discount of EUR 20 per room.

Antonia Kreiseder

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Antonia Kreiseder
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