The Mediterranean Route 1. Main theme of the Route − an incredibly high number of remains of the ancient era (Greek cities, Roman The Mediterranean sea is commonly regarded empires); as a unit, even if landscapes, human − an extraordinary offer of seaside resorts settlements, cultures, are very different from ant tourist facilities. one coast to another, between two neighbouring countries, and even within the Part of the Italian stretch of the Mediterranean same country. Route runs through the plane of Po river, quite Indeed the Mediterranean sea features some far from the sea; main theme of this stretch is distinctive characters, depending on the therefore the river, more then the sea. special relationships that all peoples have with 1 sea and nature . 2. Cycle tourism along the Mediterranean Sea has been since ever a powerful means of subsistence: commercial way and production Mediterranean countries offer very little means. cycling facilities, in comparison with northern Harbours and markets are spread all around: and central Europe. The Mediterranean coast trading, sailing, building ships, fishing are offers, if possible, even less facilities. One common businesses - or at least common reason is that planes along the coast are few traditions - almost in every town. and generally narrow, whereas land uses are This may explain why Mediterranean coasts very intensive: there are just a few roads - or are so inhabited, why cities are - or have been even one single main road - in many sectors - so rich and beautiful, why so many of them of the Mediterranean coast. attained self government and preserved it for long time, amongst, and within, kingdoms and The design of the EuroVelo Route has empires. therefore to face one chief problem: the lack of cycling facilities together with the lack of Climate is particularly mild and brings warm quiet minor roads, suitable for cycling. winters and fresh summers. Such conditions explain the spreading of One second basic problem is the relief. All cluster-pines, olives, figs, citrus fruits, palms, along the northern coast mountains follows and herbs like lavender, myrtle, origan, which the shoreline at a very short distance. are so familiar all around the Mediterranean. Avoiding busy coast roads means necessarily Olives groves in particular are typical of these climbing mountains. In many cases even main lands: they were already important in the roads go up-downhill, since mountains dive ancient era (the Greek cities), and have been directly into the sea. Cycle tourists will grown for centuries and centuries, so they are discover - maybe with some surprise - how a distinctive element of the landscape. mountainous are famous tourist seaside Trees, flowers, aromatic herbs have a special regions (Provence, Côt d'Azur, Liguria, meaning to people living around the Croatia, Greece ...). Mediterranean - and to tourists too! -since here it is usual spending a lot of time in the One more problem are international borders open air. on the eastern Adriatic coast. The biggest problem is the border between Croatia and The above elements are the main themes of Yugoslavia (Montenegro): at present there is the Mediterranean route. It is however worth no open border on the coast: in fact, the only saying that the Mediterranean sea features available border is Vukovar, about 150 km other very important tourist attractions: west from Belgrade! As for international borders - Italy and 1 An attractive investigation into the spirit of the Slovenia, Slovenia and Croatia, Yugoslavia Mediterranean has been proposed by Predrag (Montenegro) and Albania, Albania and Matvejevi. See Predrag Matvejevi, Mediteranski Greece - all of them are main roads borders. Brevijar, GZH Zagreb, 1987, which has been This means that cycle tourists have to ride in translated - as far as we know - in English (University most cases on roads with much traffic. There of California Press), French (Fayard, Payot et Rivages), Italian (Garzanti, Hefti). are minor roads crossing borders, but they are 1 not open at present, or can be used only by people living near the border. The present report deals with the eastern stretch of EuroVelo Route n. 2, from the Pyrénées (Spanish-French border) to Athens. 3. The present report This part of Route n. 2 concerns seven countries: France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, The Route we are going to describe is to be Yugoslavia (Montenegro), Albania and regarded as a very preliminary proposal. But Greece. The report is divided into seven parts, for a few cases, Mediterranean regions are one for each country. just starting thinking about long distance cycling routes. Route n. 2 comes out mainly of suggestions by local cycling groups. This 4. The proposed Route means that the proposed Route needs more detailed studies and has to be assessed and The proposed Route, not considering the approved by local authorities. For all these Spanish stretch, is about 3.800 km long. reasons the final Route might be quite different from the present proposal. It reaches the most important harbours and railways stations. This facilitates transport The Route we illustrate consists mainly of modes interchange, and allows avoiding minor roads. Local cycling groups or cyclists mountainous sections and difficult borders: for with direct experience on the field told us instance, the closed border between Croatia these roads do not have too much traffic. and Montenegro may be by-passed by ferry Unfortunately it was not possible to collect (but this means crossing the Adriatic twice, data on traffic volumes, so we are not able to first from Dubrovnik to Bari and then from Bari confirm the information we got. For some to Durrës). roads we even do not have any kind of information; we just found them on the map Because of some links with harbours and and thought traffic levels "should" be low, main railways stations, and because of some since these roads are narrow and winding, do detours avoiding high mountain passes, the not connect important destinations or are Mediterranean Route is somehow a winding parallel to more direct or more important route. roads. Mediterranean Route n. 2 - Part 2 from the Pyrénées to Athens Country Total length Signposted stretches Stretches with (alternatives not km probably included) medium/heavy traffic km km France 670 70 120 Italy 1.270 100 120 Slovenia 70 15 Croatia 550 60 Yugoslavia 180 25 (Montenegro) Albania 460 180 Greece 580 40 Total 3780 170 560 2 France 1. Cycling in the South from Vence to Menton, which goes through a very inhabited and hilly corridor. Long distance cycling is increasingly popular in France. New cycling facilities are being The route we are going to describe, in built, and cycle tourism is developing, taking particular the eastern stretch, is anyway to advantage of France leading position on the intend as a work in progress, which needs tourist market. further investigations and assessments, both by cycling groups and public administrations. Both Mediterranean regions, Languedoc- Roussillon and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, offer interesting cycling facilities. 3. Main points of interest In Languedoc-Roussillon a leading role is The route reaches some of the most important played by towpaths along major channels: sea side resorts of the French coast: Côte Canal du Midi and Canal Rhône-Sète. Cycling Vermeille (close to Costa Brava), Port paths linking the major cities (Bézier, Barcarès, Port Leucate, Cap d'Agde, Sète, Narbonne, Montpellier, etc.) to these channels Golfe d'Aigues-Mortes (Palavas, Carnon, la and to the sea have been built or are under Grand-Motte), Nice, Monaco, Cap Martin, construction. Menton ... In Provence attractive minor roads with little In addition to it the route features a lot of traffic have been signposted for cycling like cultural and environmental attractions; we the one crossing Luberon Regional Park (100 mention just a few: km). Many mountain roads in Provence and − Perpignan, Roussillon capital; Alpes Maritimes do not have many cars and − Montpellier, which has been the first are very attractive for cyclists. Most of them, medical school in Europe; however, require strong legs! − Aigues Mortes, fascinating medieval town surrounded with high walls; − Arles, attractive historical town, with 2. About the proposed route ancient traditions and very lively; − Camargue Regional Park, well known for We looked for a possible route keeping in its ponds and channels, birds and horses; mind that it would consist of two main − Avignon, historical city surrounded with stretches very different from one another: high walls, ancient Holy See (Pope − the western stretch (Languedoc- Clemente V moved here from Rome); Roussillon) quite close to the sea and − Luberon Regional Park, attractive mainly consisting of level roads; mountain district to the east of Avignon, − the eastern stretch (Provence-Alpes-Côte bordered by Durance river; d'Azur) typically mountainous and quite far − Verdon Canyon, impressive gorge from the sea, since the few coast roads excavated by a Durance tributary, where have a lot of traffic. the road runs at more than 300 m above the river; Our chief referent for the western stretch is a − Nice, main city and long tradition seaside cycling association based in Toulouse resort; (Association VÉLO), which is working on − cycling routes and which pointed out a the Principality of Monaco. possible cycling route using towpaths and minor roads. A member of Association VÉLO A wide range of quality tourist facilities are tested personally the route. available all along the route. The chief referent for the eastern stretch is the Main railway lines link all important cities and Department of Alpes Maritimes, which gave tourist resorts along the coast and some us information and suggestions about the centres along the Durance river (Manosque). most complicate part of the route, the stretch 3 4. Route description From Béziers to Agde (28 km) the route follows cycling paths.