© 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 , 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 e 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. z d’A e

The rides in this chapter can be easily strung together, starting in the east and c e & e working towards the west. u

r 334 • PROVENCE & THE CÔTE D’AZUR lonelyplanet.com Borgo Carlo Castillon Monte 40 km 24 miles Rivière La Turbie St-Jean-la- La Colmiane Monaco Demonte Vésubie ALPES MARITIME PXXX St-Martin- Plan-du- Isola 2000 CÔTE D’AZUR HINTERLAND PXXX Parc SEA Vence National du Mercantour sur-Mer Cagnes- Cannes MEDITERRANEAN sur-Mer Théoule- Le Trayas Puget- Théniers Mougins Gourdon Valberg 0 0 Grasse Agay MEDITERRANEAN PROMENADE PXXX St-Martin Napoule d'Entraunes Mandelieu-La PLATEAU DE CAUSSOLS PXXX PLATEAU Entrevaux Guilaumes Fréjus Tourettes La Moutte Pra Loup Ste-Maxime St-Raphaël Annot Bargeme d'Allos La Foux Castellane

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e Cô e Pro P th Russan Nîmes PROVENCE & THE CÔTE D’AZUR