Biketour in Ardèche

Your bike tour in the Ardèche begins in Tournon, idyllically situated on the banks of the Rhône. The town is known for its traditional wine culture, as the vineyards of the famous Saint-Joseph appellation dominate the slopes above the Rhône valley. Settle down and take a first stroll through the town to enjoy the flair of southern France with a glass of Côte du Rhône. Everything is already organized for you - so take the time to relax and look forward to the upcoming stages.

Today's stage of your bike tour begins with the transfer to Lamastre. Depending on the timetable, you will first cycle to Saint-Jean-de-Muzols station and then take the historic Vivarais steam train to Lamastre. Alternatively, there is a cab transfer from Tournon to Lamastre on selected days. From Lamastre, your first cycling stage begins on the Dolce Via, a cycle and hiking trail laid out on a former railroad line. For around 20 kilometers, you cycle at a relaxed pace through the typical Ardèche landscape with its old farms and impressive evidence of historic railroad technology. An enjoyable start to this varied cycle tour.

On your bike tour in the Ardèche, a particularly scenic stage around St Cierge sous le Cheylard awaits you today. First, you follow the former railroad line along the banks of the river Eyrieux. The path climbs steadily and takes you through a charming cultural landscape of small fields and orchards. Between Saint-Agrève and Saint-Jean-de-Roure, an impressive panorama finally opens up: the view extends over the Massif Central with its characteristic, conical peaks - relics of long-extinct volcanoes. Today your'll experience a varied scenic stage a ture highlight of your bike tour.

Today you have the morning in Le Cheylard at your leisure. A stroll through the town is worthwhile: the church, castle and the weekly market on Wednesdays provide an insight into local life. Those interested can also visit the "Arche des Métiers", an extraordinary center for crafts, industry, science and technology. In the afternoon, you continue your cycling stage and follow the course of the river out of the valley to your accommodation, which is situated in a particularly beautiful location in the Ardèche mountains. Along the way, you will discover several historic watermills with their river-fed millraces - silent testimonies to the region's history in the middle of a pristine landscape.

A scenic highlight of your bike tour in the Ardèche awaits today with the ascent to the Plateau de Mézilhac. At its the top, you can enjoy impressive views of the extinct volcanoes of the Massif Central, including Mont Mézenc and Le Gerbier des Joncs. On a clear day, you can even see as far as Mont Ventoux and - with a bit of luck - as far as the distant Mont Blanc. The route today mainly follows quite asphalt roads. In the quiet expanse of the high plateau, you are more likely to encounter sheep and goats than cars, as well as small hamlets with only a few inhabitants. A quiet, impressive stage displaying the primordial face of the Ardèche.

Today you cycle from the heights of the Ardèche down to the Rhône valley. You'll leave the tranquil high plateaus behind following the Dolce Via once again. You'll follow its gentle course and along the river it is a relaxed cycling route which through varied landscapes and tranquil valleys. With every kilometer, the views open up, small villages appear between the trees and the route gradually glides down into the light-flooded Rhône valley. You'll turn to the ViaRhôna, in order to reach Valence, a lively village and the today's destination on your cycle tour in the Ardèche. It is an atmospheric end to this day of cycling.

The last stage of your bike tour in the Ardèche takes you from Valence back to Tournon. Relax and follow the ViaRhôna along the river, past green banks, vineyards and orchards. You cycle at a leisurely pace through the varied river landscape until you reach Tournon with its historic old town and striking bridges. Alternatively, active cyclists can choose a more challenging option: the Via Saint-Péray. Here the route climbs up to the heights of Saint-Romain-de-Lerps and Plats. Once at the top, there are sweeping views over the Ardèche landscape - even as far as the Alps on a clear day. The subsequent descent to Tournon is an impressive end to your last cycling stage in the Ardèche.

After breakfast your cycling holiday in the Ardèche ends with your individual return journey home. If you wish we can extend your stay in Tournon.