Publisher's Synopsis
This is a guidebook for the inquisitive, bicycling tourist. Geographically, it concentrates on the Provence Region of France around the Grand and Petit Luberon, the Vaucluse Plateau and the adjacent valleys. Should you wish to probe a bit more; routes in the southern Côte du Rhône, Digne-les-Bains and Gorges du Verdon are included.A basic premise is to center your cycling in one community for five to seven days. Should you rent a gîte (vacation cottage) near a particular village for a week, then riding from there in the morning and returning that afternoon explains some of this premise. Since gîtes have kitchens, you may eat a breakfast suitable for moderate exercise. At the end of a daylong ride you may want to kick back with a beverage and contemplate the evening's activity.That activity may include staying put, nibbling olives (they all have pits), checking out the local Roman ruins (every village has some), reading that novel or engaging your companions in a board game. Whatever you choose, you will absorb a bit of the culture.Why Provence and the Luberon? For beauty, history and lifestyle, this area of France is high on all lists. Motorists are extraordinarily courteous towards cyclists. You can stop beside the narrow, paved roads in these routes for a break and not be concerned by traffic typical to the south along the Mediterranean coast. You may buy goat cheese from the farmer, a bottle of wine at a vineyard or sausage in a morning market. How about riding across a 2,000-year-old, dry-laid stone bridge closed to motor vehicles or photographing a château from the Middle Ages. The list is very long. You will want to return.The guide includes details necessary for travel to this area and arrive relaxed-well at least not stressed. Basic data are included on selecting a community, finding and renting a gîte, bringing your bike or renting a good one, having or renting a vehicle, driving in France, what to bring, buying groceries and something on restaurants.There are sixteen cycling routes mapped and profiled. Each itinerary discusses a few villages and points of interest along the route. All circuits are on paved roads, except for three kilometers on a cobbled section of the 1780 Royal Road. Motor vehicle traffic on these routes is light, but riding single file is encouraged. Three departments-Vaucluse, Drôme and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence-are covered by the routes.Details: 112 pages; 11" x 8.5"; English; 16 two-page color route maps; a single page overview map; 7 color town detail maps.Also available is a companion guide, PROVENCE: LUBERON & LAVENDER QUEUE SHEETS (3rd edition). It is 9" wide by 6" high for handlebar a mounted map case. Included are segment directions, elevation profiles, individual route maps and appropriate town detail maps for the 16 routes. These graphics are all included the guidebook.
