Via Venaissia

The Via Venaissia is a delightful cycle route, set up by the département (French county) of Vaucluse in northwest Provence. This route creates a splendid link between the ViaRhôna (from either Piolenc or Caderousse) and Méditerranée à Vélo (at Robion), two much longer cycle routes. Taking you meandering through vineyards and orchards, the Via Venaissia also leads you on a journey through the history of Vaucluse. This cycle route’s name derives more specifically from an historic papal territory, or county it crosses – the Comtat Venaissin. Covering a total of 63km (including the provisional link from L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue to Robion), it guides you via Orange, a town with extraordinary Roman vestiges, Carpentras, an historic town located at the foot of the mighty Mont Ventoux, and L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a provençal Little Venice renowned for its antiques shops, before taking you on to the foothills of the Luberon Range. You cross traditional provençal villages too. As you ride along, enjoy tremendous views over the local vineyards, the dramatic jagged peaks of the Dentelles de Montmirail (a small range), and the great mountain of northwest Provence, the Mont Ventoux. At many a stop, savour local specialities linked to local history, with the likes of fine Côtes du Rhône wines, garlic, strawberries, figs and olive oil to try. Connected to the Rhône, the Via Venaissia can offer a fine cycling adventure to join the Méditerranée à Vélo cycle route. Or, otherwise, there’s a 120km-long cycling circuit you can take going via Orange – L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue – Robion – Cavaillon – Beaucaire – Avignon – Orange. Welcome to an intense cycling tour around northwest Provence!