Located in the south earth part of France, Provence sits on the border of Italy and the Mediterranean sea. Its largely regarded as one of the most beautiful cycling destinations in the world. Cycling in Provence perfectly combines natural wonderment with historical landmarks to visit. Whether you’re admiring the incredible Roman architecture or enjoying the stunning vineyards in the region, Provence is a place to remember.

There’s great flexibility with each of our cycling routes in Provence. You can veer off the well-trodden paths and enjoy the scenic country roads and take in the lovely landscapes. It is one of the most photogenic areas of the world with delightful lavender fields, maquis-covered hills, olive groves, vineyards and pine forests.

Our cycle experts have created a guide to the best Provence cycling routes. 

St Remy Round Trip to Baux de Provence – 42km

The main introductory ride on our cycling tours usually starts in St-Remy. It starts on a traffic-free cycle road, which is ideal for getting familiar with your bike. You will pass lovely Provencal villages and climb up an easy hill to Baux-de-Provence. This is a fantastic hilltop fort and village with stunning views to enjoy. You can then make your way back into St-Remy by heading down a slightly twisty descent. A fun diverse ride.

We recommend stopping off at Baux-de-Provence to enjoy the amazing castles in the area. These medieval landmarks have spectacular panoramic views of the entire valley. There are also reconstructions of siege machines if you’re interested in military history. The machines could propel 50-100kg rocks up to 200metres and it took 60 troops to operate. This is a very popular spot in the village. 

View our Provence bike trips here

Roussillon to St Remy – 54km

This is one of the longer Provence cycling routes on our cycle tours. The miles are worth it though because you will take in some truly spectacular views along the way. It is also traffic-free cycling for the majority of the way, so you won’t have to dodge cars on your route. You start by descending from the Oche cliffs of Rousillon into the beautiful Luberon. Here, you find the iconic lavender fields of the region.

You will then reach the amazing Roman bridge at Pont Julien and take the fantastic Veloroute du Calavon. This is a purpose-made cycle path that takes you most of the way back to St Remy on a gentle downhill. The decent back has fantastic views of the famous hilltop towns in the area on your back home for the day.

On your route, we recommend eating at the La Table D'Yvan in St Remy. This is a traditional French restaurant based in a 19th-century farmhouse. If you ask for a garden table you’ll be able to take in the beautiful setting amongst the olive tree and hackberries. The menu changes every day based on fresh ingredients sourced from the local market. You can expect dishes such as herb-crusted rack of lamb or duck cooked with raspberries.

View our Provence bike trips here

Mazan to Chateauneuf du Pape – 36km

Take a lovely ride into the Cotes du Rhone region by using this Provence cycling route. You can set off through lush small vineyards and take in the views, whilst you head towards the town of Carpentras.

The next part of the route is a smooth ride on the traffic-free cycle path to Jonquieres. Guest love to turn off to the iconic vineyards in Chateauneuf-du-Pape and sample the delicious wine. Alternatively, you can ride through to the beautiful Roman city of Orange.

Chateauneuf-du-Pape is the main highlight of the cycling route with some great opportunities to try the different wines from the region. The wine is steeped in history which is why it holds such a prestigious name now. The vineyards have hundreds of years of experience and they know how to perfectly distil each bottle.  

View our Provence bike trips here

A selection of our Provence cycling holidays

Provence has been a Cycling For Softies destination for many years and continues to be one of our client’s most popular choices to go on holiday. It’s a fantastic location to explore by bike and there’s a great blend of history and natural beauty to admire.

View our Provence cycling holidays here

Indulgence | Around the Alpilles

This is a self-guided tour of the amazing garrigue, olive groves and vineyards that run through this stunning area of Provence. You will also stay in some of the best 4 and 5-star hotels in the region too. The tour is designed to have a leisurely pace with short and easy routes you can take.

On this Provence cycling route, you will experience the buzz of St-Remy-de-Provence as well as the fortified village of Baux-de-Provence. In addition, you will also visit the lovely small village of Eygalières. You will definitely experience the finer side of life in a relaxing area of France.

View our Indulgence Around the Alpilles cycling tour here

Provençal Discovery

On this tour, you will use the excellent E-bikes on these Provence cycling routes. The E-bikes allows you to get around Provence with ease and speed. You can easily glide up the hilltop towns of Gordes and Roussillon then head to the Luberon Valley and the Cotes du Ventoux. On top of this, you will stay at the best 3 and 4-star hotels en route and visit the best restaurants. This is a self-guided tour with a lot of flexibility

View our Provençal Discovery cycling tour here

Indulgence | Côtes du Rhône Vineyards

This self-guided tour explores the Côtes du Rhône where you will see some of the region's finest landscapes, charming towns and incredible hotels. You will cycle between two beautiful chateau hotels before a final stop in the amazing Crillon le Brave accommodation. 

View our Indulgence Côtes du Rhône cycling tour here

Classic | Avignon & Côtes du Rhône

Another one of Cycling for Softies' self-guided tours explores Avignon and Côtes du Rhône. On this trip, you will visit the spectacular scenery of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape vineyards. Another highlight is the city of Avignon where its rich history of the catholic church is clear to see. If you're a history buff you're in for a treat. 

View our Avignon & Classic Côtes du Rhône cycling tour here 

Indulgence | Starry Nights in Provence

The Provencal region has true natural beauty and inspired a lot of Vincent van Gogh's career. Our route will have a unique experience of starry nights in St-Remy-de-Provence. You will also take in the colours and culture of Arles and explore the delightful Provençal countryside. On this trip, you will stay in amazing 5-star hotels at the end of each ride. 

View our Indulgence Starry Nights In Provence cycling tour here

Classic | Picture Postcard Provence

This self-guided tour showcases the dazzling colours and aromas of Southern France. The holiday starts in the vibrant artistic town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence before heading through lovely vineyards, lavender fields and orchards into the heart of the Luberon. You can choose one of our e-bikes to effortlessly head through this tour. 

View our Classic Picture Postcard Provence cycling tour here

Bike & Boat | Provence & Camargue

This trip is a week cruise to explore the beautiful rivers and vineyards of Provence and Camargue. Each city is full of hidden landmarks and glorious Provençal wine. One of the highlights is seeing Flamingos and other wildlife of the Camargue regional nature park. 

View our Bike & Boat Provence & Camargue cycling tour here

For more information about Provence cycling routes, give us a call on 020 7471 7760, or alternatively, view our Provence cycling holidays here.

View all our France cycling holidays

Other posts you may like:

Cycling South of France
Best Restaurants in Provence
Hilltop Villages in Provence
Perfect Picnic Spots in Provence