avignon to nice - any advice

... I backpacked across europe in 2000. We rented a car. When I go back, the trip will be more intensive and less extensive (will focus on one region/country and stay for a while).

Pack light. Be practical with what you need and what you think you need. Be independent and adventuresome. When people are not nice/polite/respectful to you don't let it bother you. You are there to enjoy the culture and scenery. Being rude to foreigners is apparently part of French culture.

Stay in hostels or camp if you can. Hostels provide a great atmosphere in which you can fraternize with other travelers from around the world. You will enjoy sharing stories and living vicariously through the stories of others. It also provides a therapeutic outlet in which you can address any anxieties or concerns you have about your traveling.

I found the following website useful for putting together an itinerary. It provides route suggestions and rankings for sites.

http://www.mayq.com/Best_european_trips/Provence/Provence.htm

Quoted post said:

Being rude to foreigners is apparently part of French culture.

I completely disagree with this. I found the French to be very polite and accommodating esp. with my bike - its no big deal to them. The French are not as outgoing and friendly as the Italians for example, but I never found them rude. And many tried to strike up a conversation but due to my poor French skills, it never lasted long. French people have a healthy respect for cyclists so that also helps.

As far as where to go etc. , it all depends on your interests and travelling style. Almost all guide material suggests to not take a coastal route as it becomes highly congested with traffic, especially in summer.

Make sure to visit Arles, although I hear there was some flooding last fall so you should check to see if its in good condition to visit. Aix en Provence is also worth checking out. The Luberon area is famed for its beautiful hilltop villages. It also has a special cycling path (see the above link) that you can follow but this doesn't necessarily go through all the top villages. The Gorges du Verdon is supposed to be lovely (I didn't see it so can't give any advice on that).

I also suggest looking at the Lonely Planet cycling guide. It has some shorter 1-2-3 day trips. I did a couple around Nice and recommend that also.

Also, if you are arriving/departing to/from the Nice airport, I recommend riding your bike to the hotel as the taxicabs are notorious for ripping people off. Yes, Saucy was ripped off!! And I am bitter!! The airport is only a 15min ride to the center.

I have done Avignon to Nice a number of times. It's a wonderful route. I would suggest touring the Avignon area for a few days, visiting Arles, the Pont du Gard, lex Baux and St. Remy. To head for Nice go out the south part of Avignon,corss the Durance and turn left. Follow the Durance until you reach the Verdon. Turn right onto it and follow to Moustiers and through the Verdon Gorge. The Gorge isw stupendous. Check my website www.TodMoore.net to get a preview. You could also continue along the Durance and right on the Bleone to reach Digne, Barreme, and St. Andre les Alpes. Either way you come to Castellane, a wonderful town. Leave Castellane on D52 ( map is old, but it's the red road going past the rocher. This will take you to Cannes through Grasse. If you want a really wonderful quiet ride turn left on D21 and right shortly after on D2. On this road after a few K's you go through a "clue" and the world seems to drop away in front of you. From here on in it's downhill all the way to the coast, all the reast of the day. You go along an incredible cliff face to reach Greolieres. Right after the town and down the Loup river gorge. More stunning scenery and not a very busy road, we"re talking. hanging cliffs and incredibled waterfalls. A nearby Autoroute takes the traffic and leaves this road to us. Follow the road straight down. Don't take any turnoffs to the left for Nice, they're too busy. Continue on straight until you come to a "T" which is the railway. Jog 100 yds or so to the left and go under it, keeping up you speed as it's steep down and steep up. Five minutes later youre on the sand at Cagnes sur Mer. Left along the main route where it's pretty busy for a couple of miles and then not too long after the airport a bikeway begins. You come into nice rolling along the Promenade des Anglais, the best introduction to Nice you could possibly have. You're going to love this route. there are camps all along the route and as a single (I presume) you can almost always find a spot. Let me know how it goes.

Thanks for the help. I really can't wait! I'll let you know howit goes when I return.
Cheeers,
Carolyn

I did that route 4 years ago. Be very careful along the French Riviera - extremely dangerous. Find my factual info on the route at www.homestead.com/travelinhobo

Two years ago I was travelling in France, alone, for 4 weeks.

Three days into the trip I bought a used city-bike, loaded my small pack on to the rack, and toured the rest of the trip. It was complete dork-touring: running shoes, street shorts, no toeclips, slightly large used helmet. It was great fun. I would ride for three days, then stay in a city for a couple nights, then take a train, with the bike, into another region.

Camping was not an option for me, as I hadn't planned a bike tour. But, I had excellent luck getting myself hotel rooms in the larger towns and cities. I'd pick something cheap from the Lonely Planet book if I could, usually no more than $18 per night (more now with the weak dollar.) They were sometimes shabby, but always clean, safe, and centrally located. Then I could just cruise around town on the bike and see everything.

I met lots of friendly people in France, especially the guy who bought my bike in Quimper, and his friends. I was wandering the city the night before leaving for Paris on a no-bike TGV, announcing to everyone "voulez-vous achetez un velo, ce soir?" and pointing to my bike. (I think I said it correctly at the time.)

I did meet two slightly rude people in Paris; I remember both of them. I was hoping Paris might be the first city without a rude person. No luck. But I did meet some very friendly and uncommonly helpful people while I was there.

Have a good trip!

Oh yeah.... food. I alternated between store-bought dinner in my hotel room, and finding a really nice restaurant with a 4 course prix-fix menu. Once again, the LP guide helped me find good restaurants that weren't too pricy. My hotel room dinners always went like this: baguette, mayonaisse, a few slices of good meat, fresh tomato, cheese, a carrot, an apple, a couple pastries for dessert, and a half bottle of wine. It was always satisfying.

Oh, by the way....

My Lonely Planet guide was the regular (non cycling specific) one.

And... don't be afraid to catch a train to bail yourself out. I had planned a big ride into Bordeaux, but by mid afternoon I found myself in St Emillion, cooked from the distance and heat, with 30 or 40 miles to go. Solution? Check the train schedule, one leaves for Bordeaux in 2 hours. Time to relax with a beer (yes, in the wine country,) and look around. And most of all, I avoid the hot, tedious ride through the heavily trafficked suburb-o-dustrial outer-craplands that surround the big city. (sorry to be so un-romantic about that one particular aspect of our modern world.)

Hi Carolyn, will be going there in september too! I have been riding there a few days in the Nice area and it is a beautiful region to ride. I remember a town called Mons up on the hills inland a stunning old medieval village surrounded by walls etc. Be prepared as it can be pretty hilly.
As usual the best is to read other's trips you can find some here
http://www.cyclingtheworld.org/tours/searchtours.php?continent=any&country=any&region=provence&Submit=search&submitted=TRUE

Carolyn, I didn't folllow the whole thread, but I am quickly planning my trip from Nice to Avignon Sept 3-14. I plan to cycle to Avignon, spend some time with friends in Provence and train back to Nice for my flight.
Any key information about route/stops / campsites would be great.
I guess I should bring a tent, ya? I'll get the Lonely Planet guide right away.
Todd

cschaebe said:

Thanks for the help. I really can't wait! I'll let you know howit goes when I return.
Cheeers,
Carolyn

Greyfox10025 said:

I have done Avignon to Nice a number of times. It's a wonderful route. I would suggest touring the Avignon area for a few days, visiting Arles, the Pont du Gard, lex Baux and St. Remy. To head for Nice go out the south part of Avignon,corss the Durance and turn left. Follow the Durance until you reach the Verdon. Turn right onto it and follow to Moustiers and through the Verdon Gorge. The Gorge isw stupendous. Check my website www.TodMoore.net to get a preview. You could also continue along the Durance and right on the Bleone to reach Digne, Barreme, and St. Andre les Alpes. Either way you come to Castellane, a wonderful town. Leave Castellane on D52 ( map is old, but it's the red road going past the rocher. This will take you to Cannes through Grasse. If you want a really wonderful quiet ride turn left on D21 and right shortly after on D2. On this road after a few K's you go through a "clue" and the world seems to drop away in front of you. From here on in it's downhill all the way to the coast, all the reast of the day. You go along an incredible cliff face to reach Greolieres. Right after the town and down the Loup river gorge. More stunning scenery and not a very busy road, we"re talking. hanging cliffs and incredibled waterfalls. A nearby Autoroute takes the traffic and leaves this road to us. Follow the road straight down. Don't take any turnoffs to the left for Nice, they're too busy. Continue on straight until you come to a "T" which is the railway. Jog 100 yds or so to the left and go under it, keeping up you speed as it's steep down and steep up. Five minutes later youre on the sand at Cagnes sur Mer. Left along the main route where it's pretty busy for a couple of miles and then not too long after the airport a bikeway begins. You come into nice rolling along the Promenade des Anglais, the best introduction to Nice you could possibly have. You're going to love this route. there are camps all along the route and as a single (I presume) you can almost always find a spot. Let me know how it goes.

I've been looking for a route from Nice to Avignon, and wow, that route sounds detailed. As for elevation gain/loss, should I train it to Avignon and cycle back to Nice for my flight? I am wondering about campsites on the way also, but I am sure it will work out.
Todd