Vineyards & Villages Along the River Sorgue

Our ride starts from the Place du Marché aux Raisins in the village of Châteauneuf de Gadagne; a medieval village that still has the remains of its fortified ramparts and feudal chateau. Despite being heavily pillaged and damaged during the French Revolution, the chateau is considered to be one of the most beautiful in France. The village itself is delightful with narrow old alleyways, ancient doorways and fountains tucked amongst the nooks and crannies.

Cross the bridge across the river Sorgue, pass the old washhouse and follow the Chemin des Matouses alongside the river, following the green cycle route signpost. The many trees along here have been planted to offer a protective windbreak against the sometimes violent gusts of the Mistral. The road veers away from the river and bends to the right, passing underneath the railway track and carrying on picking up the green cycle route sign on the other side. Continue until you reach Chemin des Tailledes and turn left, after the sports fields turn right onto Chemin des Confines, a quiet tree-lined road with farmland on either side.

You’ll cross a small stone bridge onto Chemin du Pont de Bois and at the junction turn right, again following the green cycle route signs. You’ll cross another bridge before you come to another junction, where you turn left onto Chemin du Trentin then look out for the first road on the right, Chemin du Moulin de Vihlon.

At the stop sign, continue straight on along the Chemin du Réal de Montclar and follow the irrigation ditch through farmland for about 600m until you turn right onto a small road called Chemin de la Gaffe de Ragachon. Continue until you come to a crossroads, then turn left onto Chemin de la Tapy.

Look out for the next green cycle route sign, which will direct you to turn right onto the Chemin de Thouzon, a quiet road through open farmland that changes colour dramatically with the seasons. At the roundabout take the exit marked for Le Thor and continue along Route Saint-Saturnin through a pleasant residential area until you come to a right turn towards the village centre. Cross another bridge over the river and pass by the big stone church of Notre-Dame du Lac on your right.

Le Thor has plenty of architectural treasures; Notre Dame du Lac is a 12th century Romanesque church with impressive gothic arches, the medieval château was carefully restored in the last century, and the 19th century belfry is topped with a clock and a wrought iron campanile.

You will find yourself cycling down the main road of this small village, and passing under the stone gateway of the belfry, take the next right past the post office onto Place du Marché. When you get to a carpark turn left and cross the river again, at stop sign follow the road opposite onto Chemin du Mourgon. You’ll come to a dead end sign but carry straight on, the road bends to the right and takes you to a small underpass that goes beneath the railway track. On the other side of the railway track turn right and cycle along Chemin de la Grange until you reach another stop sign. Turn right onto the D1 and then cross the main road to get onto the small shady Chemin des Aubares. When you arrive at a junction with a railway crossing you’ll see a dedicated cycle path to your left, follow this past a picnic area and pick up the Chemin de la Jousseline on the left.

At the next intersection follow the green cycle route sign and turn right onto Chemin du Cavaillon, this quiet back road passes through beautiful fields of grapevines and brings you back to Route du Thor where you turn left to reach your starting point in the village of Châteauneuf de Gadagne.