Cycling in the Cotes du Rhone from Sainte-Cecile-des-Vignes

The ride starts in Sainte-Cecile-Les-Vignes, a small village in the heart of the Cotes du Rhone wine-making region. The village has it’s own cooperative where you can buy their local appellation, Chantecôte AOC. Setting off from the car park at Jardin de la fontaine we head west along the Cours Portalet to join Route de Lagarde (D168), where vineyards surround you in all directions. Turn left after 1km onto a small path, then take the first right when you see the green cycle route sign. Continue over a small bridge and past a couple of buildings until you reach a crossroads, carry straight on past a number of smaller turnoffs until you reach the village of Lagarde Paréole. Follow the green cycle route sign and turn left after the war memorial.

You’ve just completed the only significant climb of the ride, around 50m of uphill over a distance of about 3km. Then it’s downhill all the way to Serignan! As you exit Lagarde Pérole, turn left at the crossroads onto the D65 to Serignan and coast along this quiet country road lined with oak and olive trees for about 5km.

Serignan is a small but charming village, constructed mostly from local stone. The narrow streets are full of interesting little nooks and crannies with architectural features from various different eras. Continue through the village and straight on at the roundabout, following the signpost for Serignan and as you arrive at the town of Serignan-du-Comtat, you come to a crossroads beside the church and the statue of Jean-Henri Fabre (a famous 19th century entomologist who made the town his home).

Carry straight on to the Avenue de la Libération and continue along the D43 until you reach a junction. You’ll see another green cycle route sign pointing in the direction of Camaret, turn right here and stick to the cycle lanes on this sometimes rather busy road. Look out for a turnoff on your left that takes you on to a quieter section of road, this will bring you to a bridge over the river Aygues that is accessible only to cyclists and pedestrians. Continue until you come to a small intersection and carry on straight ahead along Avenue Jean-Henri Fabre to Camaret-Sur-Aygues.

Once you arrive in Camaret-Sur-Aygues turn left in front of the Hotel de Ville (town hall) onto the Cours du Midi then turn left onto Cours du Levant, the main road that circles the village. Here you’ll find plenty of shops and cafes, should you wish to stop for a break. The village is surrounded by ancient ramparts and has a 13th century Saracen tower and a 12th century chapel. As with most of the villages around this area, the main industry is wine growing and there are plenty of cellars where you can stock up on a few bottles of locally produced Cotes du Rhone.

Exit the village via the Avenue des Princes d’Orange, in the direction of Travaillan. Continue cycling past a few houses until you reach a roundabout, where you take the second exit on to the D93, in the direction of Cairanne.

Look out for another signpost for Travaillon, accompanied by a green cycle route sign and turn right here onto Chemin Grand Daille. This quiet country lane takes you through open fields, lined on one side by tall trees.

In Travaillan turn left, passing in front of the town hall (Hotel de Ville) and the church. Turn left, onto Chemin de Sainte-Cecile (D154) and follow this direction, turning left at a little signpost for Sainte-Cecile-des-Vignes and cycling along a small rural lane until you reach a crossroads where you turn left and follow the signs for the D93, direction Sainte-Cecile. Look out for the second road on your right where you will turn on to the D154.

After a few hundred metres you’ll cross the River Aygues for the final time, take the first right after the bridge on to the narrow shady road of Chemin du Quartier and continue cycling until you come out into open land of fields, vineyards and the occasional farmhouse. You’ll eventually come to a crossroads where you’ll see the green cycle route sign again, turn left here onto Chemin de Beauregard and follow it all the way back to Sainte-Cecile-des-Vignes.

This wonderfully scenic ride is mostly flat and is fairly exposed, so make sure you wear plenty of sun cream and carry enough drinking water. The route is easy enough to follow if you keep an eye out for the green cycle route signs and you can allow about three hours to complete the circuit. The town of Camaret-Sur-Aygues is about halfway and makes a good stopping point for lunch or a refreshment break.