Provence & the Côte D'azur
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© Lonely Planet 333 Provence & the Côte d’Azur HIghlIghtS Gazing seawards from the vertiginous heights of La Turbie on the Grande Corniche (p339) Viewing perched villages (p335) from a variety of different angles Coming to grips with the immensity of the ages-old Gorges du Verdon (p344) TERRAIN A bit of everything – from relatively flat along the coast and in the vineyards to hills and then mountains in the interior. Telephone Code – 04 www.discover-southoffrance.com Provence and the Côte d’Azur conjure up images of rolling lavender fields, blue skies, gorgeous villages, wonderful food and superb wine – most people’s idea of a perfect holiday. They certainly deliver on all those fronts, but what many don’t expect is the incredible diversity. Tucked into the southeastern corner of the mainland, their noisy cosmopolitan coastal cities contrast stiffly with the cycling paradise just inland, an Eden of tiny villages linked by deserted mountain roads. From the Alps of Haute-Provence (Upper Provence), the land falls away towards the Mediterranean – you can cycle continuously downhill for 100km or more – but deep, steep-sided valleys create a barrier to east-west riding. The Rhône delta area, known as the Camargue, is a flat, windswept extravaganza of bird life, ideally explored by bike. The hilly, sun-rich Luberon is a mix of manicured vineyards and ancient villages tumbling haphazardly down rocky slopes. Legendary Mont Ventoux, one of the major climbs of the Tour de France, lurks in the hinterland, silently luring cyclist-pilgrims to its summit. In the midst of all of this, historic sites th abound, with relics dating from prehistoric to Roman times alongside ruined and PRO E CÔ restored châteaux of the Middle Ages. There’s something in Provence for every V T EN cyclist, from the mountain goat to the casual day-tripper. E D’A Z The rides in this chapter can be easily strung together, starting in the east and C E & working towards the west. U R PROVENCE & thE CÔTE D’A ZUR 334 0 40 km PROVENCE & THE CÔTE D’AZUR 0 24 miles • PROVENCE & THE CÔTE D’AZUR St-Martin St-Paul Pra Loup de l'Ardèche Trois Château Vaison-la- Borgo Romaine Demonte THE LUBERON & MONT VENTOUX PXXX Bagnols- La Foux sur-Cèze Barles d'Allos Orange Malaucène Sisteron St-Martin e d'Entraunes Bléon Beauvezer Bédoin Isola 2000 Sault Volonne Valberg Thorame Parc Carpentras Banon Digne-les- Guilaumes National du Uzès Bains La Colmiane St-Estève St-Christol Thorame- Mercantour Villeneuve Ganagobie Haute Russan Collias lés Avignon Les Mées St-Martin- St-André- Vésubie Avignon Forcalquier Fountaine Lagarde d'Apt les-Alpes Puget- Théniers de Vaucluse Annot D Oraison Barrême u Entrevaux Plan-du- St-Jean-la- ra Apt Var nce Roussillon Rivière Nîmes St-Rémy Coustellet Céreste Moustiers Ste- de Provence PLATEAU DE CAUSSOLS PXXX Parc Naturel Manosque Valensole Marie Castellane ALPES MARITIME PXXX Cavaillon Menerbes Régional Parc Naturel e Les Baux du Luberon Régional Castillon n Riez ô de Provence Lourmarin du Verdon h GRAND CANYON DU VERDON PXXX R Cadenet Trigance La Turbie Arles Vence Bauden Aiguines Bargeme Salon- Comps-sur- Gourdon de-Provence Rognes Artuby Monte Montmevan Monaco Carlo Meyrargues Grasse Cagnes- Rians Toutour sur-Mer ne G Tourettes hô r Miramas R a tit n Bargemon Mougins Pe Parc Naturel d Tavernes Régional R Aix-en- CÔTE D’AZUR HINTERLAND PXXX h Istres Berre Draguignan Mandelieu-La de Camargue ô Provence Mt Ste- Cotignac Cannes n l'Étang Victoire St-Maximin- Napoule e Lorgues Trets la-Ste- Théoule- Les St- Étang Cabriès Baume Le Muy sur-Mer Maries Étang de de Berre Vaccarès Gardanne Le Trayas de la Mer Cabasse Les Arcs- Fréjus Agay Martigues Marignane sur-Argens Port St- Brignoles St-Raphaël Louis Rougiers Le Cannet MEDITERRANEAN PROMENADE PXXX du Rhône L'Estaque Roquevaire des Maures Gonfaron Aubagne Marseille La Ste-Maxime Sauvette Cuers Le Castellet La Moutte Cassis Cogolin Sormiou Collobrières lonelyplanet.com La Ciotat Bandol Toulon Le Lavandou Hyères Le Rayol Golfe du MEDITERRANEAN Lion Cabasson SEA Giens Port Cros Porquerolles.