In the Camargue, a marine accent
In short
Length
: 24 km round trip
Difficulty:
easy
Elevation:
none
With its dirt tracks which intertwine between the ponds, cross the rice fields to the north and the sansouïre to the south, run along the sea or the large enclosures where the bulls graze, the Camargue is a paradise for cycling (when not blowing not the Mistral).
The course on the dyke to the sea, between sea and marshes, gives a good overview of the singular landscapes of the Rhône delta tamed by man.
Get on your bike in
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
towards the east, to cover this work of about twenty kilometers built in 1859 to protect the Camargue from marine intrusions.
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First meeting with the pink flamingos on the
Impériaux pond
.
In the distance, a cloud of dust announces riders on the back of the Camargue, this rustic horse with a light coat, accomplice of the herdsmen.
On the coast, the dunes fringe the large sandy beaches, bristling with marram grass and sea lilies.
Some accesses to the sea invite you to leave the bike for a swim.
Caught up by these vast spaces of solitude where the sky merges with the water, we let ourselves be disoriented until the
lighthouse of La Gacholle
takes shape on the horizon.
The 17-meter white tower punctuates our walk, but the more sporty can continue to the
beaches of Beauduc
or reach
Salin de Giraud
.
Read alsoAt the Domaine de Méjanes, the preserved Camargue
Among the villages of the Alpilles
A landscape of arches and caves among the vegetation at Val d'Enfer.
Adobe Stock / Thomas
In short
Length:
43 km
Level:
medium to difficult
Elevation:
about 300 meters
The Alpilles?
Between the Camargue and Avignon, it is this limestone massif scratched with valleys full of holm oaks and Aleppo pines that dominates the medieval village of Baux-de-Provence.
We aim for this high point by riding in the saddle in
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
, at the foot of the chain.
The ascent of the
Val d'Enfer
, drowned in the vegetation, is rewarded by an astonishing stone decor, carved with arches and caves or cut by quarries hosting immersive exhibitions (Carrières de Lumières).
In Les Baux, take the time to admire the olive groves that line the valley and produce divine nectar before starting the descent to the village of
Maussane-les-Alpilles
, with pretty squares shaded by plane trees.
Then west is the village of
Paradou
and a lovely drive through fields and olive groves (again) where you can see the
Roman aqueduct of Barbegal
.
Further on, the shadow of Alphonse Daudet hovers around the
Fontvieille mill
, a source of inspiration for the writer in love with Provence.
We continue around the massif to the west to reach Saint-Rémy, also thinking how much these landscapes nourished the work of Van Gogh who stayed here for a year.
Read alsoThree ideal accommodations for spending time in Provence this summer
The Tour of Sainte-Victoire
The surroundings of Sainte-Victoire, to the east of Aix-en-Provence, are worth exploring by bike.
Adobe Stock / Marina
In short
Length:
60 km
Level:
difficult
Elevation:
1075 meters
This sculptural 18 kilometer long mountain that breaks the sky to the east of Aix-en-Provence is well worth exploring by bike (preferably electric) to show all its charms from the country roads that make it round.
Departing from
Aix-en-Provence
, the route begins on the
Tholonet road
where Cézanne so often set down his easel to paint his mineral muse.
The southern slope of the mountain and its majestic folds captivate the eye as the winding course takes us up to the foothills.
Around us, the pines take root in a beautiful ocher soil before the vineyards come to embroider the landscape of a fiery green to the village of
Puyloubier
, leaning against the mountain.
A few more kilometers and you veer towards the north, through a valley steeped in pleasant coolness and then through forests of oaks.
Before arriving in Aix-en-Provence,
Vauvenargues
offers a striking view of the northern slope, a long hilltop covered in pine forests.
Above the village, the potbellied castle of Picasso recalls the power of attraction of the mountain on the artists.
Travelogue
GO
By car or by train.
For the latter, arrive in Avignon (for the Alpilles), Aix-en-Provence TGV or Marseille, whose stations have vehicle rental agencies.
WHEN TO GO
All year round even if spring and autumn remain the most pleasant seasons in terms of temperature.
WHERE TO RENT YOUR BIKE
The Velocist
From €20 per day.
Place Mireille, 13460 Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
Such.
: 04 90 97 83 26.
Sun-E-Bike
From €28 per day.
2 rue Camille Pelletan, 13210 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
Such.
: 04 32 62 08 39.
Bee's Cycloplanet
From €40 per day (electric bike).
Resort at Tholonet.
Such.
: 07 81 64 47 34.
OR SLEEP
Casa Marina
On the seafront of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, this small hotel with 19 rooms, recently renovated, offers good value for money and a Mediterranean decoration with a bohemian chic spirit.
The restaurant gives pride of place to local products.
From €95 per double room.
Breakfast: 13€.
1 Avenue Gilbert Leroy, 13460 Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
Such.
: 04 90 97 80 31.
Domain of Valmouriane
At the edge of the Val d'Enfer, this new 25-room accommodation is a haven of peace for recharging your batteries in the heart of nature.
From €275 per double room.
Breakfast: 28€.
Route des Baux, 13210 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
Such.
: 04 84 51 11 11.
Hotel Sainte Victoire
At the foot of the northern slope of the Sainte-Victoire, an intimate and chic address with 15 rooms with breathtaking views of the mountain.
Very good table with a menu with exotic notes executed by the Brazilian chef Mateus Marangoni.
From €169 per double room.
Breakfast: €15.
33 avenue des Maquisards, 13126 Vauvenargues.
Such.
: 04 42 54 01 01.
Read alsoHotel Sainte Victoire in Vauvenargues, the expert opinion of
Le Figaro
GOOD ADDRESSES
Restaurant Edu
A safe bet recently opened by the Marseille chef Édouard Giribone who signs a generous Mediterranean cuisine, to be savored in the shade of the cypress trees.
17 avenue Albert Schweitzer, 13210 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
Such.
: 04 90 20 94 21.
LEARN MORE
The site departement13.fr offers in a section entitled "The loops of 13" a selection of cycling routes from 20 to 50 km with a tourist interest presented in the form of topo cyclo.
