J'espere que l'ete a ete bon. Mon petit tour d'Europe va bon train. Apres le Sud de la France, la Suisse, le Liechtenstein, l'Autriche, la Republique Tcheque et la pologne, J'ecris aujourd'hui de Berlin ou je suis arrive mercredi dernier et d'ou je comte partir demain matin en direction d'Amsterdam.
C'est d'ailleurs a ce sujet que je solicite votre aide. Pour aller de Berlin a Amsterdam, je ne sais pas, si je dois essayer de tracer une ligne droite et traverser le pay d'est en Ouest le plus directement possible ou si je ne devrais pas monter d'abord sur la Baljtique avant de suivre plus ou moins la cote jusqu'a Amsterdam.
Pour ceux qui connaissez bien l'Allemagne:
Sauriez-vous me guider dans ma prise de decision?
En boutique ici, je n'ai pas reussi, pas plus que sur le net d'ailleurs, a trouver les cartes qui auraient pu m'aider a faire mon choix.
Je vais essayer de me reconnecter d'ici ce soir en esperant que quelques bonnes ames auront pu nourrir ce billet de leur reponse eclairee.
Je vous remercie d'avance et enfin, excusez-moi pour l'absence des accents expliquee par ces claviers teutonisants qui m#exasper depuis deux mois😎.
Ca m'apprendra a faire des billets questions pareilles a la derniere minute aussi. C'est pas grave (meme si j'en suis reduit a me repondre a moi-meme 🤪). J'improviserai a partir de la sortie de la ville demain. Bonne rentree a tous et a plus tard cet automne.
la ligne directe est plus courte. Le territoire est plat donc pas de fatigue mais par contre un peu ennuyeux ( j'ai pedalé de la frontiére belge à eindhoven puis allemagne...) vu qu'il y a pas tellement à voir contrairement à certains pays dotés d'un passé historique. je ne serai pas te conseiller, c'est toi qui dois decider la meilleure route.! 😉bonne route !
Merci de vos reponses. Totale impro finalement. La veille de mon depart de Berlin, c'etait un dimanche et la course aux boutiques de cartes m'etait impossible. Plus tot au cour du voyage, en Autriche, un couple de Cologne m'avait egalement deconseille la ligne droite est-ouest pour son peu d'interet et m'avait plutot recommande de grimper vers la Baltique qui me tentait beaucoup finalement (Rostock, ..., Hambourg).
Sauf que lundi dernier, quand j'ai quitte Berlin, il pleuvait comme en plein deluge et le mauvais temps, meme si la pluie est moins feroce, n'a pas cesse depuis. De plus, il fait assez froid et mon equipement de couchage, bien qu'excellent, est moins efficace lorsque les temperatures approches de zero. De plus, j'ai promis a des potes d'essayer d'etre a Paris autour du 20 septembre alors j'ai opte pour la ligne droite.
J'ai donc ete amene a decouvrir la piste pan europeenne EUROPA-RADWEG (Boulogne-sur-Mer a Saint-Petersburg) que je suis plus ou moins depuis une semaine. Meme si il y aurait beaucoup a dire sur la qualite de ce trace, en revanche, il n'est pas depourvu d'interet. Je parcours en ce moment les montagnes du Harz (qui ont inspire Faust entre autre) et j'ai pu m'arreter depuis quelques jours dans des villes que place au top de mon palmares meme devant d'autre grandes villes comme Prague ou Salzburg.
Deux de ces villes par exemple sont Quedlinburg et Wernigerode. Beaucoup plus modestes mais O combien splendides. De plus, le parcours en foret, lent en raison de la qualite des chemins forestiers, se laisse tres agreablement admirer. L'oeil est aux aguets pour voire les bestiaux deferler. Il y a deux jours, j'ai pu me taper la course sur une dizaine de metres avec un chevreuil que j'avais surpris mais bon prince, je l'ai laisse gagner. 😇
Je serai tout a l'heure a Goslar (si la pluie veut bien se calmer un peu et me laisser repartir) ou j'en serai pile-poil a 4000 km depuis Toulouse. Je vais suivre cette piste jusqu'en Hollande mais je ne remonterai pas finalement vers Amsterdam. Je prendrai plutot le sud vers la Belgique et le Luxembourg avant de me diriger vers Paris.
Voilou. C'etait juste une petite note pour encourager les gens qui projettent de faire l'Allemagne a velo a venir pedaler dans cette region (sud de Saxe-Anhalt ou Basse Saxe). Vraiment il y a de quoi voir, de quoi boire et de quoi faire.
Juste un petit correctif pour dire que Saxe-Anhalt n'est pas la Basse Saxe mais bien un etat frontalier a l'est de la Basse Saxe. C'est ca aussi l'inconvenient des cybercafes: le compteur qui defile et toi qui essais de taper trop vite au clavier
superbe ton site, les photos, l'ensemble.....l'aventure en elle même....dommage je vois pas les spec de ton pedalier.....dans mon Scott sportser p1 j'ai aussi voulu l'habiller en rando au long cours.....même pneus Schwalbe marathon plus ...et....la belle Brooks aussi !!....c'est vrai cette selle est UNIQUE ...il n'y a pas mieux.....je viens de modifier mon pedalier et couronne en 44/32/22 et 11*34 à l'arrière.....avant j etait en 48/36/26 et 11*32....j'espère de voir une difference surtout en montée..car l'année passé (septembre...) j'ai eu dur à grimper les 33km du Gr St Bernard en Suisse....🙁....pourtant avec 9kg de bagage en tout!!!....
Un grand merci d'avoir pris le temps de passer chez moi.
Malheureusement, je ne suis pas une bete de technique et je me retrouve comme un con a essayer de te detailler mon pedalier. Dieu sait qu'il m'en a pourtant fait voir. J'en ai parle precedemment ici (il faudrait que tu fouilles dans mes precedents messages). J'ai eu beaucoup de probleme avec un premier pedalier (les plateaux en fait) de chez Specialite. RC, a la 4e galere me l'a change pour un Shimano me semble t-il mais je n'en suis pas certain. Depuis, impec.
Dernier probleme en date, c'etait il y a quelques centaines (en Allemagne) de kilometres, j'ai casse une pedale (????). Bizarre quand meme non ? J'ai pu la remplacer par une pedale issue d'un vieux VTT de merde dans le patelin ou j'ai creche ce soir la. Depuis, je roule avec. Avec mes pneus schwalbe, c'est le paradis. Jamais une crevaison. Et pourtant, qu'est-ce que je peux leur faire endurer!
On dirait que je suis candidat aux pannes bizarres uniquement: panne de feu avant, pedale cassee, plateau arrache, ... mais rien de normal comme une crevaison ou autre chose du genre ;-) Oh si, j'ai eu une roue legerement voilee en Suisse il y a quelques mois.
Meme si je suis incapable de te citer les chiffres de mes plateaux et de mes pignons (M'est avis que Franconet pourrait mettre son fion dans ce sujet ;-) ), tout ce que je peux en dire c'est que pour moi ca va super. Aucun probleme de montee et mon dernier developpement n'est que tres rarement utilise. Je viens juste de me lancer des defis il y a un jour ou deux dans des chemins forestiers sur des petites pentes a 18 ou 20 % (voire plus, des vraies saloperies quoi). Normalement, je les aurais montees a pied pour epargner ma chaine et finalement, j'ai monte tout le bazar de 80 kg en pedalant avec la caillasse et tout le toutim.
Mais bon, globalement, ma becane est une sacre becane. Avec elle, l'ensemble fait a peu pres 70 kilos, je n'en changerais pas.
Je termine avec le grand Saint-Bernard. Comme je l'avais raconte ici, j'ai ete amene a le monter de nuit en juillet dernier mais a partir du cote italien. Je ne sais pas trop ce que ca represente en km, 25 il me semble, mais j'ai boucle la chose en environ 4 heures (ce n'est pas une performance c'est juste qu'on se caillait tellement que je ne me suis jamais arrete. Mes pauses consistait en marcher a coter du velo en continuant de grimper).
Mon vrai plaisir a ete la descente vers la Suisse. 45 bornes jusqu'a Martigny, ce que tu as du monter en fait. Je n'en croyais pas mes rotules. Pendant que je jubilais dans la descente, j'avais une pensee pour ceux que je voyais monter. D'autant plus qu'apres cette montee ils allaient se taper une descente des plus desagreables dans les au moins 15 bornes de chantiers du cote italien. J'en avais chie pour le monter mais j'ai ete recompense dans la descente.
Voilou une reponse un peu decousue, tu m'en excusera. C'est le lot des connexions hasardeuses qui me sont offertes sur mon parcours. Je fait vite a chaque fois.
sans probleme Cool !
à mon avis tu dois surement monter un 42/32/22 et 11/34 à l'arrière au vu de tes tranquillos en pleine charge....ton vélo dois être trés bien equipé comme je vois!
ouff, le St Bernard de nuit???? déjà de jour j'avais froid avant d'arriver au tunnel !...😕......septembre 2006 il y avais pas plus que 8° à 2100m...alors qu'à Martigny suis parti avec de la fine pluie mais tout de même 17°......
Mais bon ce mois ci je me limiterai à une balade au Canal du Midi.......disons plutôt pour tester les nouveaux pneus schwalbe que le pédalier......
bon vent !....
voici la photo de ma modeste machine avant le montage du nouveau pedalier.
Pour les pros des balades en Allemagne, nous cherchons comment aller de Würzburg (route romantique) à Berlin par les voies cyclables. Je pense à Main Radweg…
Voila j'aimerais avoir des infos, je pense partir de lille ou bruxelles et aller jusqu'au danemark en vélo, j'aime bien les villages et dormir chez l'habitant…
Voyager à vélo › Pays-Bas / France › Paris - Île de France · 11 replies
Nous sommes 5 amis irlandais qui ont l'intention de faire un événement de charité en Avril 2013. Nous avons l'intention de courir le marathon de Paris le 07…
Voyager à vélo › Irlande / Grande-Bretagne · 5 replies
Si on vous demandait de choisir entre ces deux pays, lequel choiseriez vous? pour quel critères? en quel saison? et en meme temps si vous avez des infos pour…
De retour d'un voyage en Andalousie, voici le meilleur itinéraire pour aller et revenir de l'aéroport. Tout d'abord vous ne pourrez pas couper à l'autoroute!…
17 days, 1,400 km, and 17,500 m of elevation gain cycling in northern Vietnam! 🇻🇳 🚴🇻🇳
From the misty Fansipan to the breathtaking landscapes of the Ha Giang Loop, from remote villages to vibrant markets...
I cycled through the north of the country, getting up close with its people—through mud, heat, endless mountain passes, and unforgettable encounters.
Most importantly, I discovered a Vietnam far different from the usual tourist circuits.
Join me on this adventure through a video that captures these 17 days of travel. :)
If Vietnam calls to you, come ride a stretch with me!
Bonjour
quelles sont les moyen les plus simple pour revenir du Cap Nord sans pédaler
train, Bateau, avion ?
qui à déjà fait l’expérience ?
Merci de nous renseigner
Hi,
can anyone give us some tips on how to get to North Cape from Lyon Gerland?
What’s the best route to join the EuroVelo 7?
How many kilometers is it from Lyon to North Cape via EuroVelo 7?
The best month to leave—we’re thinking early May.
Thanks for any advice!
Looking for a female travel companion for a cycling trip (arriving by plane in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and cycling toward Montevideo, Uruguay, returning by plane to France from Buenos Aires, Argentina) – 1,500 km
Hello everyone!
I’m planning a cycling trip across Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, with a departure set for late October, November, or December. I’m looking for a travel companion to share this long-distance adventure with.
Experience:
I already have solid experience in bicycle touring in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Currently, I maintain excellent physical condition by cycling an average of 250 km over 3 days per week (4 hours a day at 20 km/h).
The trip & the pace:
Daily pace: Between 50 and 80 km per day, to make steady progress while taking time to explore.
Accommodation: Flexible and authentic. We’ll alternate between wild camping, campsites, Warmshowers, small guesthouses, and budget hotels depending on opportunities and the weather.
Looking forward to reading your message and planning this amazing journey together!
I’m planning to leave Nice for Toulouse around 10/15 and I’m looking for tips / great deals regarding:
- The route: I was thinking of taking Nice - Grasse - Draguignan - Salernes - Cadarache - Cavaillon - Arles, then the Camargue, Sète, and the Canal du Midi to Toulouse. The idea is to avoid high-traffic roads and too many steep climbs. Are there any spots to avoid or must-see stops? Since it’s been a while since I’ve been on the road, I was thinking that sleeping indoors might be preferable. If you have any budget-friendly accommodation suggestions along part of the route, don’t hesitate!
Thanks in advance, and if you’re in the area around that time, we could ride together... Ciao.
Another long-time dream of Claudio’s: the Petit Mont Cenis pass and the dam at the eponymous lake.
A place where many Italians, including my father, worked in the 1950s–60s.
Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne → Lanslebourg → Petit Mont Cenis → return. 315 km, 3 days. Bivouac at St-Michel-de-M.
Brouter link
Leg One: Faverges → St-Michel-de-Maurienne
Leg Two: St-Michel → Lanslebourg → Mont Cenis Lake → St-Michel
Leg Three: St-Michel → Faverges
And it finally happened in August 2026: in the Maurienne Valley about the famous cycle route known as the V67
🇷🇼 Cycling in Rwanda: 4 episodes, an off-the-beaten-path adventure
After 3 weeks and nearly 1,200 km by bike across Rwanda, I made 4 videos to share this adventure in a different way: the landscapes, the encounters, the villages… but above all, all those incredible scenes of everyday life.
The 4 episodes are available here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGnfbxjccWAg
The 4th episode focuses on rural Rwandan life: simple, authentic, and sometimes surprising scenes that you only truly discover when you take the time to travel by bike.
If you have a few minutes, let yourself be transported to Rwanda…
Hi, I'm looking for info on cycling to Nordkapp via the EuroVelo 7. Has anyone done it already, and where’s the best place to start the EuroVelo 7?
Thanks
Hi,
We bought the MSR bike tent model (2-person + large awning that can fit 2 bikes) back in 2005. It’s served us really well, especially during a year-long trip in Africa. Now, one of the poles is broken, and we’d love to replace it since that’s the only issue with the tent—we still love it! The poles are 9.35 mm in diameter, with 8 sections of 49 cm and 2 sections of 28 cm. Total length when assembled: 416 cm. Actually, two large sections are broken: one straight and one curved. It’s a pain to find replacements since this model is no longer sold anywhere.
Would anyone have this model lying around unused and be willing to sell me a pole?
Hi everyone,
In early April, I’m redoing the Vélo Francette (La Rochelle to Ouistreham), and then I’d like to cycle along the Cotentin Peninsula (which I don’t know at all), follow the coast up to Cherbourg, and then head back down to at least Saint-Malo. I’d love to know if it’s pleasant for cycling—are the roads nice? Not too windy? What are the must-see spots? Any great campsites? All your tips and advice are more than welcome, and I thank you in advance.
Hi there,
I’m planning to bike to meet some friends in Côte d’Ivoire in early November.
I’ll be starting in Abidjan and heading to Abengourou, which is close to the Ghana border.
I’d like to take the trails. Does anyone have recent info on eastern Côte d’Ivoire?
Any tips, safety advice, or must-see stops? I’m open to all suggestions.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Fx
After testing it for three years across various modes of transport, I’m sharing this video of a bike packing case. It’s made from recycled cardboard and shrink-wrapped, with adjustable thickness and added bubble wrap depending on the level of protection you want.
Installing spacers at the fork and chainstays makes the packaging compact. With the fifteen-odd euros for shrink-wrapping at the airport, this case travels really well.
https://youtu.be/_GDJi-GqmkM
- Low bulk (1.10m x 0.70m x 0.25m for a large frame), it fits vertically in train luggage compartments and the total dimensions (x+y+z) don’t exceed 2.40m.
- Two carrying solutions for public transport and easy handling by airport staff (no more tears in the cardboard from openings).
- Discreet packaging when dealing with bus drivers and train conductors, as it looks like an ordinary parcel.
- No need to return to the starting point to retrieve the case from your outbound trip, which you’d otherwise have to store somewhere, or deal with a bulky cover to pack in your panniers.
- You can still check tire pressure through the plastic film without damaging the packaging too much.
Drawbacks: Around 3 hours for this lengthy and meticulous process—removing the wheels, pedals, handlebars, and derailleur without misaligning them, then securing all components to the frame.
If you get a chance to test it, send me your feedback for future improvements.
I just took a trip in Tunisia from Tozeur to Douz, skirting Chott el Jerid to the south. I’m back with the urge to keep going further south via the 4x4 tracks to connect Douz to Ksar Ghilane. Has anyone driven this route recently or explored southern Tunisia?
Thanks for your tips!
fix
😎Fellow traveling cyclists or not, all of you who love travel, the pleasure of physical effort, nature, beautiful machines, people with true passions they seek to fulfill, and who also enjoy reading great literature about all this—the *200* magazine is for you just as it is for me. I should mention I have no financial or other interest in this (in an era where we accuse our politicians of all sorts of vile interests, I prefer to take precautions). I’ve been subscribed since the beginning, and every three months, I get my 130 pages of dreams (the magazine just went from 110 to 130 pages).
It covers everything from the trans-America route to the TCR (Trans Continental Race) from Belgium to a small town in Turkey, with mind-blowing averages—4,000 km and 80,000 m of elevation gain in 8 days and 15 hours for the winner. Let that sink in, and all of it without assistance—accepting a patch could penalize you. There’s also a story about crossing Iran, encountering one of the world’s most welcoming populations, following in the footsteps of Nicolas Bouvier, as well as retirees leisurely traversing France. The common thread in all these stories? Beautiful writing. Take, for example, a stunning article: *"Passengers of the Cold: From Edinburgh to Thurso, at the very north of Scotland, 550 km of moors, coasts, and icy wind. In Thurso, the road ends at a quay, facing the Orkney Islands. We wanted a November trip, off-season. We wanted to surprise winter. Just before the snow."* A sublime piece on the experience of facing adversity and the chance encounters along the road and in the elements.
Before I embarked on my own bike trips, I dreamed a lot about them—from the Atacama to the Gobi, along the Mekong, and not forgetting France. And now, these 130 pages every quarter keep those dreamy vibes alive through stories written in the most beautiful prose.
I’ll stop here because it might sound like I’m advertising, but if you don’t know *200*, I invite you to discover it. It’ll give you wings for the most incredible challenges or simply reinforce your desire for slow rides with your eyes open to others and nature.
A little news to wrap up: Axel Carion and a friend just broke the record for crossing South America from Colombia to Ushuaia in 59 days. On its own, that doesn’t mean much, but I can’t help it—it makes me dream. You should see how he talks about it, the flashes of that wild nature he’s stored away: a snowstorm at Paso Jama and the surreal sight of the suddenly snow-covered Licancabur!
Luc
PS: The magazine is called *200* because a day’s ride starts at 200 km—well, I’ve never done a ride like that since my longest was 167 km (with 18 kg of luggage, mind you), but why not one day? The magazine will explain how to tackle your first 200, and then the question in conclusion: when will you do your first 300?😏
I’ve got my flight ticket sorted—departing in mid-November and returning in mid-March. I’ll arrive in Santiago and leave from Buenos Aires.
I’ve already been to southern Argentina, specifically Torres del Paine National Park, and I’d love to go back to do the full W trek (I only did the shorter version last time).
I also want to do some hiking and maybe even tackle a summit. I climb and occasionally do some mountaineering, so I’ll definitely be going with a guide.
I plan to start around Temuco in Chile, with the idea of heading toward the lakes, then taking the Carretera Austral.
I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to Ushuaia—it’s supposed to not be *that* worth it, except for the bragging rights of saying you’ve been to the end of the world.
I saw there are lakes in Argentina too.
I don’t have a precise itinerary, but what I’d love is, once I reach the southernmost point of my trip, to take a mini-cruise to see some wildlife. Any tips for that?
What kind of sleeping bag did you take? Is a 0°C (32°F) one enough?
And one last question: white gas stove or can I get by with my gas stove?
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
hello fellow cycling enthusiasts
here’s a travel journal of the cycling tour through the Rhône-Alpes Auvergne region by Claudio
zouli
it was the plan
http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/auvergne-Ralpes/
the trip was completed
story being posted online soon
1100 km in 11 days
beautiful and varied regions
Hello,
We’d like to go on a 3- to 4-month bike trip starting in December, crossing from Assam (northeast India) to New Delhi via Nepal.
Are there routes with light traffic along the Brahmaputra and through Nepal?
We’re also looking for any info on accommodations, wild camping, local interactions, etc.
Thanks,
Michel
I’m planning to cycle from Morlaix to Brest (via Roscoff and the V45 coastal route). We’ll start riding on August 16th for 13 days (with stops for island visits, surfing, etc.). Is there a lot of traffic at this time of year? I’ve got two kids, 11 and 13, and we don’t like riding in the middle of cars (we’ve already done the Vélomaritime—Caen to Cherbourg—the Loire route from Orléans to Saumur, the Vélodyssée from Nantes to Royans, and the canals like the Nivernais and Bourgogne, where there were plenty of bike-only lanes, which isn’t the case on this route).
Thanks for your help if you’ve already done this route in late August!
Virginie
Hi there,
I’ve been road cycling for several years, and I’m about to switch to gravel in the next few days—I’m waiting for my bike, which should arrive this week.
I’m planning a bikepacking trip in a few weeks along the Véloroute V81, also known as the Vélosud, from Biarritz to Le Barcarès.
Has anyone here already done this route? Any info is welcome, whether it’s about the route itself, gear, or accommodation. I’ll prioritize staying with locals as much as possible. On that note, I just signed up for the brand-new site *Guidon et Couette* ((www.guidon-et-couette.fr)), which offers free accommodation between cyclists across the country, but there’s almost no one listed along my route!
Thanks in advance.
Laurent.
Hi there, I’m planning a cross-Canada bike trip, and I’ve got a question that might seem silly, but could someone tell me how to pack a bike (in a box, with a fragile sticker... I don’t know) for a flight? Thanks in advance!
This summer, we’re planning to cycle along the EV 19 that follows the Meuse River from Langres all the way to Rotterdam.
My question is about getting back to Nantes.
Do any of you know what the best return option might be? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
I saw that FlixBus doesn’t take bikes.
By train, I think it’s possible but would involve multiple local trains.
We were also wondering if there’s a boat from Rotterdam to Saint-Nazaire that could take passengers with bikes.
Any tips or experiences you can share would be really helpful—thanks in advance!
Have a great evening
I’ve gotten used to crossing Europe by bus to return by bike.
It was really convenient to take the bike without having to disassemble it.
But FlixBus no longer accepts bikes...
What alternatives do you know about?
Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m planning to ride the Dutch section of the EuroVelo 19, from Maastricht to Rotterdam.
Since it’s too complicated to bring my bike on the train, I’m looking to rent one locally.
I’d love any tips or bike rental shop recommendations—I’m struggling to find options even in Rotterdam.
The plan is to rent in Rotterdam, take the train to Maastricht with the bike, then cycle back to Rotterdam.
Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!
Nath
I’m planning to build a new touring bike.
I want to prioritize lightness.
That said, I’m tempted by a suspension fork that could offer some comfort on rougher roads.
The recent appearance of gravel suspension forks on the market might meet my needs—at least on paper.
I’m particularly considering the RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR fork.
Unlike MTB forks, its travel is short: either 30 mm or 40 mm.
It weighs 1400 g, which is 400/500 g more than a steel fork.
Any thoughts or real-world feedback on this?
I’m also wondering about the durability of magnesium (lower leg) for long-distance bike touring.
And what’s the impact of skipping the manufacturer-recommended maintenance every 50 and 200 hours? That’s bound to happen on a long trip unless you carry extra gear.
More generally, how reliable are these kinds of forks?
I’m making an exception and creating a separate post this time, since it’s all about France. In May, we spent a week in Provence, specifically in the Luberon, exploring the cycling routes *Autour du Luberon à Vélo*, the *Véloroute du Calavon* (part of EuroVelo 8), and the shorter *Les Ocres à Vélo* route. Together, they gave us an amazing journey through rolling hills, vineyards, lavender fields still green in spring, and some of the most stunning landscapes in southern France.
It was, of course, the perched villages that impressed us the most. We visited Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux, Cucuron, and Lauris. Many of them are among the most beautiful villages in Provence, and it’s hard not to agree with that reputation.
One interesting point is the route of EuroVelo 8 in this part of the region. The official path mainly follows the old railway line of the *Véloroute du Calavon*, which is very comfortable and safe. But in our opinion, cyclists traveling EuroVelo 8 around the Mediterranean would discover even more treasures if the route passed through villages like Bonnieux, Lacoste, or Oppède-le-Vieux.
We were also pleasantly surprised by how safe cycling felt. Most of the route takes small local roads, but traffic is light, drivers are respectful, and road design really takes cyclists into account. It’s one of those places where you can ride peacefully even without separated bike lanes.
Our full story:
Around Luberon by bicycle - the most beautiful villages of Provence
You can also find all our cycling travel stories on the forum:
Cycling Thread - Europe’s most beautiful bike routes
