Condition of the Passa Pais cycle path

I'm planning a 3-day weekend with my wife on this cycle path. The articles about this route are old, so if anyone has traveled it recently and can give me an update on its condition, that'd be great. We're riding 1994 ROCKRIDER 340 mountain bikes but with 1.5-inch tires suited for road touring—will that work, or should I switch back to MTB tires? Thanks for your replies!

A bit disappointed with the forum's revival—there isn’t much activity or shared travel stories anymore.

Hi Serge, I rode this path in June 2024 with a gravel bike equipped with 35mm tires (with panniers, tent, etc.). It’s smooth sailing—I’d even say a road bike with 25mm tires would handle it fine! From Mazamet up to the high point, it’s either paved or well-packed gravel; in both cases, it’s smooth. In the second half down to Bédarieux, there are a few spots where you might need to walk your bike. Anyway, a mountain bike isn’t necessary at all for this cycle route.

Thanks so much Nomade743, and happy travels for you!

Hello young lad, in fact, traditional forums are fading away, thanks to Facebook.

Claudio took this so-called greenway on a hybrid bike with 1.5-inch tires— gravel riding, and it works. A bit "bpring" as they say (boring + springy, I guess!).

http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/2018-lot/e11.php

Excerpt from Mazamet:

Breakfast served on Limoges porcelain: we leave this charming "tôle" (sheet metal shack) and its posh-ish owner. Weaving through the Mazamet market without even spotting Jaja, we find the famous greenway known as Passapais in the Haut-Languedoc near the old train station (yep, another old one...).

Peaceful but: "a bit boring" over 80 km... Deserted in the morning but packed with friendly Dutch cyclists on e-bikes in the afternoon, perched on their rides like seagulls on dock railings. This bike route is *so* nice. Rural and wooded, offering endorphin-boosting and sometimes surreal landscapes, a little timeless, but it lacks signs and shops—better pack a good snack bag. We exit the so-called greenway at Lamalou-les-Bains for a wide, dull road toward Pézenas... where we struggle to find our lodging in the industrial zone, far from Boby la Pointe. claudio

Thanks for the info, Claudio!

Looking forward to hitting the road again for a little trip, like we did—I don’t even remember—7 or 8 years ago. In just 2 weeks and 3 days, I’ll finally be retired!

See you soon,

Serge

I just finished a ride not far from your area in Cavaillon on the Via Venaissia—historic to see it almost between the raindrops.

Report coming soon.

Story and photos in progress.

Big job ahead!

http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/2026-venaissia/

Claudio

You must have gotten soaked with all that rain! Okay, send the photos and comments. I know the Via Venaissia a bit—those long straight stretches can feel a bit tedious. I left from home and stayed at the Entrechaux campsite, planning a tour of Mont Ventoux. I discovered this bike path just outside Velleron. Cavaillon is a cycling paradise: routes in every direction—the bike path to Apt, the one to the Pont du Gard, and the one toward Rognonas. Not sure if you know the road up to the Cedar Forest, but last year I discovered the Carpentras Canal—it’s amazing how it winds! We left from Pont Royal, took the EuroVelo 8, and followed the canal to Cheval Blanc, then to Pernes (the hometown of my idol, JEAN RAGNOTTI). There’s a stretch over the Galas Aqueduct—the view from above is stunning! My buddy (84 years old!) and I are planning to start from Robion, take the Via Venaissia, then pick up the canal at Pernes all the way to Travaillan, and return via the Via Venaissia. We also did the Northern Alpines Canal from Pont Royal to Saint-Rémy—it’s not bad, but the section after Saint-Rémy is the prettiest. I’m heading out for a weekend soon: taking the Via Venaissia, staying at the Beaume de Venise campsite, and the next day, returning via Avignon to see the Pont Saint-Bénézet. My wife and I are also planning a weekend: leaving the car in Calvisson, cycling to Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone via the bike paths, and returning the next day via Aigues-Mortes. Oh, and we’re doing 3 days on the Passa Pais!

Sorry, I just saw your post now... We’ve done this route several times with our tandem and its trailer. At one point, you pass through a fertilizer factory—it’s weird but no issues, and there are campgrounds open in the summer. There’s also a stretch where you have to go on the road because the bridge hasn’t been adapted; the detour is very steep but not long. Hope it’s not too much for you—have a great trip!

Thanks a lot, Enart13, for the info. No worries, I’m pretty used to cycling and running. I suppose you’re with your wife on the tandem—somehow, we’re on a tandem too, but figuratively! Actually, to save energy (and it happens *very* often, especially on cycle paths), it’s the stroller on my back. It often gets smiles and kind comments, but the main thing is sharing the journey

I forgot to mention that if you have a wheel problem, in Saint-Amans-Valtoret there’s “VDZ WEELS.” Loïc will be happy to help you out, and he’s really skilled on top of that. Safe travels! 😎

Good note, thanks again, have a good evening

Thanks to this conversation, I discovered my next ride: "la Véloccitanie".

Thanks

I’m revisiting the topic since I found my photos again. It’s a bit old (2018), but time flies—8 years have passed since then! http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/2018-lot/F/136.html

You're welcome, Vfpromeneur! Voyage Forum vélo is here for that—sharing ideas with others. I don’t think you’ll be the last to take the time to send messages.

So enjoy your ride, and I’m sure we’ll get your trip report!

Serge

thanks Claudio