This 35km loop takes you through the famous vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône, as well as past strawberry fields, olive groves and fruit orchards. It is a wonderfully scenic ride with the opportunity to do some tasting along the way!
Cycling through the Comtadin Vineyards
Wine tasting and cycling through the Cotes du Rhone
We start our tour from the village of Sarrians, a small market town just 8km north of Carpentras. Setting off from the tourist office we cycle north along Boulevard Albin Durand in the direction of Bédarrides. Take the first left onto Avenue Jean Giono and turn left again after La Poste onto Boulevard Frederic Mistral. At the end of this road turn right onto the D52 and leave the village of Sarrians behind, continuing along a peaceful country road.
After a few kilometres you take a right turn onto a small road called Route de la Tapiole, at the end of this road you’ll come to a green cycle sign pointing right, follow it along Route de Saint Laurent. Just as you’re about to re-enter Sarrians, look out for another green cycle sign, this time pointing left. Take a sharp turn onto Route de la Bésarde and continue, crossing a small junction along the way. When you come to a fork in the road turn left along Route Saint Privas Verclos. After a long stretch lined with plane trees, turn right and cycle alongside the Ouvèze river, keeping the water on your left. Look out for Chemin des Grones and make a right turn, after a while you need to make a left turn onto Champ Verdun (also, confusingly, signposted as Route de Peycard). This brings you to a junction, where you cross the D950 and take the first exit off the roundabout and then turn right to reach Vacqueyras via the Plateau des Garrigues, following the green cycle signs. The only tricky bit is a bit of a higgledy-piggledy junction - take a sharp left and follow the Route de la Garrigue north. At the end of this road turn right onto the Route du Couroulu, continue straight on across a small crossroads until you reach the end of the road then turn left onto the Ancienne Route de Vacqueyras which takes you, unsurprisingly, all the way to Vacqueyras through established vineyards and sunbleached old farmhouses.
In Vacqueyras, take a right and cycle downhill towards the town centre. Vacqueyras is a lovely old town, with shady tree lined streets and sunny little squares dotted with pavement cafes and bistros. There are, of course, plenty of opportunities to sample the local wines. Once you’ve had a look round Vacqueyras, head south out of town on the D7 following signposts for Beaumes-de-Venice.
Beaumes-de-Venise sits at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountain range and produces two types of wine - a sweet fortified wine called Muscat de Beaumes de Venise and a red Côtes du Rhône Villages - that can both be found in the many wine caves along Avenue Raspail and in the town centre. The village itself is very pretty and worth a wander round for its old stone houses, ancient churches and architecture spanning many centuries. If you have the time, there are a number of nice walks in the area and you can explore the prehistoric caves of Ambrosi and Rocalinaud.
To continue our route, we head south out of the village towards Aubignan along the D90. Aubignan is a small market town surrounded by 14th century ramparts. The outskirts of the village aren’t particularly inspiring but the centre is quite charming and the old quarter has some wonderful old relics from the past.
Follow Avenue Frederic Mistral through the centre of Aubignan, passing the tourist office on your left. Turn right onto the D55 (Avenue Jean-Henri Fabre) when you see the sign for Sarrians. Continue past the vineyards until you come to a left hand turn marked by a green cycle sign, turn here onto the Ancienne Chemin de Sarrians, turning left at the end to rejoin the D55 which will take you all the way back to where we started.
This 35km bike ride is mostly flat, with a steady climb of around 60m spread over the first 20km up to Vacqueyras. The remaining 15km are undulating, but gently and not too challenging. The scenery is absolutely beautiful and the colours change dramatically depending on the time of year. The majority of the route is on quiet country roads, surrounded by vineyards and orchards with views of Mont Ventoux and the Dentelles of Montmirail.
Cycle hire
Bike Hire in Provence
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Mountain bike hire
Mountain bikes, road bikes, tandems and children's bikes
This cycle hire shop is located in the centre of Bédoin village, just across the street from the tourist office.
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Town bike hire
Hire a bike for one hour or up to a week in the capital of Provence
Located in the centre of Avignon, this company offers electric bike hire and guided bike tours of the city.
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Luberon Bike & Scooter Rental, Bonnieux
Bike and scooter rental in the Luberon region, based in Bonnieux
Discover the Luberon in a different way...on a new scooter!
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Town bike hire
Reserve your bike online or visit the store for personalised service and expert advice
This shop rents a selection of town bikes, both standard and electric, for adults and children, and also offers bike repairs.
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Road bike hire
Friendly service, English spoken, and maps available to help you explore Mont Ventoux
This company offers a wide range of leisure and sports bikes for hire, perfectly located for exploring Mont Ventoux.
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Town bike hire
Explore scenic trails with peace of mind, thanks to itineraries and a reliable battery replacement network
This shop offers electric bikes for hire in Vaison-la-Romaine, Bonnieux, and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
What to see
There are dozens of vineyards along the route, many of which are open to visitors, some where you can get a bite to eat along with your wine and some where you can enjoy a guided tour of the vines.
Sights in Provence
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Saint Siffrein Cathedral, Carpentras 
Saint Siffrein Cathedral, Carpentras
A southern gothic style cathedral built on the remains of a Romanesque church
Pope Benedict XIII ordered the reconstruction of this building after the original Romanesque church collapsed, in 1404.
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La Synagogue, Carpentras
The oldest synagogue in France, still in use today
The synagogue of Carpentras is the oldest synagogue still in activity in France.
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Musee du Vin Brotte, Chateauneuf du Pape
Free museum & wine tasting
Created in 1972 by Jeanne Brotte, this wine museum is unique in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. First a modest museum displaying an impressing collection of old tools it has been renovated in 2002 and 2014 now presenting you with a museography called “In the footstep of the winegrower”.
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Pope John XXII's castle, Chateauneuf du Pape 
Pope John XXII's castle, Chateauneuf du Pape
The remains of a castle overlooking the village and surrounding countryside
This castle was originally built at the request of pope John XII who was elected in 1316, with the castle starting to be built in 1317.
Read more about Pope John XXII's castle, Chateauneuf du Pape
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Chateau du Barroux, Carpentras
12th century castle perched on the dizzy heights of Les Barroux
A wonderful castle to explore in the heart of the Vaucluse department, offering wonderful views over the surrounding areas.
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Abbaye du Barroux, Le Barroux
Benedictine monastery famous for Gregorian chant
This monastery was founded and built in the 1970's and is now famous for its monks broadcasting their Gregorian chants live throughout the day.
Where to lunch
Being just over halfway, Vacqueyras is the ideal place to stop for lunch. There is a handful of pleasant restaurants and cafes where you can sample local cuisine and, of course, treat yourself to a glass of local wine.
Restaurants in Provence
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La Chassagnette Restaurant
The only organic Michelin Starred restaurant in Europe
This organic Michelin starred restaurant is situated just 12km outside Arles on the road to Sambuc and is run by the chef Armand Arnal.
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L'Epice & Love Restaurant 
L'Epice & Love Restaurant
Charming homely restaurant serving delicious dishes at fantastic prices
This is a popular place with both locals and travellers. It has a small cosy interior so if you want to dine there, best to get there earlier rather than later.
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Mickael Feval Restaurant
Fine dining restaurant with 1 Michelin star
This elegant restaurant is a must-visit for any lovers of modern cuisine and cooking methods. They embrace local produce and evolve their dishes according to the seasons.
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Le Temp de Vivre Restaurant, Uchaux 
Le Temp de Vivre Restaurant, Uchaux
Good value small restaurant with great food for non fussy eaters
Le Temps de Vivre is situated in the little hamlet of Les Farjons just down the road from Uchaux.
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Cote Sud Restaurant, Uchaux
Delicious food and wine at reasonable prices in a charming setting
The Cote Sud has a charming sophisticated interior and includes a lovely terrace where you can enjoy your food when the weather is warm enough.
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La Vache a Carreaux Restaurant
Small friendly restaurant with a great selection wines & cheese dishes
This small restaurant is on the Rue Peyrollerie, a winding alley just off the Place St Pierre. It is a great option for vegetarians, offering a wide variety of cheese dishes and salads but there are also fish dishes available.
What to do
Things To Do in Provence
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Bike tours & rentals
Guided bike tours and bike rental around Provence
Discover Provence on two wheels with guided cycling tours around Mont Ventoux, exploring quiet roads, picturesque villages, vineyards and beautiful countryside beyond the usual tourist routes. With experienced, knowledgeable local guides, personalised itineraries and premium electric bikes, you can enjoy everything from relaxed scenic rides and wine-tasting experiences to the challenge of cycling Mont Ventoux. Choose a guided tour with a bike included, join a ride with your own e-bike or arrange a private experience tailored to your interests and ability. Premium electric bike rental is also available if you'd prefer to explore independently.
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Aqualand Waterpark, Frejus
19 super water slides on one site, with toboggans & the black hole
With numerous slides, including the King Cobra - unique is western Europe - this is the largest waterpark on the Cote d'Azur! Inludes a rest area, show area, clockroom, fast food, grill and pizzeria, ice creams, drinks, and shop.
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Domaine Le Sagittaire Waterpark, Nyons
Aquatic leisure park within a 5star campsite close to Nyons
In the depths of the Drôme countryside in the French Provence, this 5 Star Residential Campsite comes complete with an entirely heated Aquatic Complex, which is open to the public.
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Nyonsoleiado Waterpark, Nyons
Waterpark situated in the heart of Nyons
Waterpark complex that contains a lagoon, 25m pool, whirlpool basin, waterslides for children and adults, cascades of water, rivers, paddling pools and much more.
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Aqualand Waterpark, St Cyr Sur Mer
11 super water slides, rapids & a flying boat, great for the family
Aqualand in St Cyr Sur Mer offer you 11 wicked slides in a great park environment with drinks, food, and shops for you to enjoy.
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Wave Island Waterpark, Monteux
The largest waterpark in France not far from Avignon
This huge waterpark covers an area of 4.7 hectares and includes a surf simulator, waterslides and a river feature called river land.
Where to stay
Cycling Hotels in Provence
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Lou Cardalines B&B, near Bedoin
A B&B with views of Mont Ventoux and a swimming pool
Set in a traditional Provencal building, and carefully renovated, Lou Cardalines offers two guest houses with direct garden or terrace access.
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Domaine de Pierravon B&B, Bedoin
Charming guest house in the foothills of Mont Ventoux
This fortified farmhouse has been converted into a lovely B&B not far from Bedoin village centre.
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Villa Champ Signoret B&B, Malaucene
Small guest house in beautiful surroundings with an outdoor pool
Located just 2 kilometres north of the village of Malaucene, this charming B&B has great views of the surrounding mountains and countryside.
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Mon Ventoux B&B, near Sault
A four room B&B with outdoor pool and jacuzzi
This charming B&B has four individually decorated bedrooms, free WiFi and indoor storage for bikes.
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L'Escapade Hotel, Bedoin
A 2 star hotel with a restaurant at the foot of Mont Ventoux
Located in a charming small village, with free parking and bike storage.
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Le Guintrand Hotel, near Bedoin
Small hotel with a bar restaurant, popular with cyclists
This small hotel lies just to the east of Bedoin village in Sainte Colomb, within easy reach of Mont Ventoux.
