Carpentras / L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Via Venaissia

The route

You cross the town centre of Carpentras on roads shared with motorized traffic, so take good care. To reach the Via Venaissia, head for the railway station, the Gare TER de Carpentras, and the Boulevard Louis Pasteur, along which you continue in a straight line. From there, you get onto the greenway leading you across country directly to Pernes-les-Fontaines and on to Velleron. Do note: at Pernes, you need to enter the centre of town then leave the town going south (using the RD938 and RD26 roads, leaving in the direction of Avignon) to link up to the greenway leading on to Velleron. At Velleron, cycle up into the village, passing in front of the primary school, then go across the Rond-point de la Fraise (a round-about) for the Vieux Village (the historic centre). Leaving Velleron, your route continues straight on, but hasn’t yet been laid out at time of writing. Next, follow the signposting along a road shared with motorized traffic for L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, making sure to branch off to the left, close to a fountain, along the signposted Chemin des Nesquières. You enter the town of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue riding along cycle lanes and service lanes open to cyclists. 

Liaisons

• At L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, there are signposted links for cyclists to head on to Fontaine de Vaucluse and Saumane de Vaucluse. See details here.
• A bit before Carpentras, there’s a signposted link for cyclists to ride to the popular Lac de Monteux with its outdoor leisure centre.

Practical information

• Office de Tourisme de Carpentras Ventoux-Provence 97 Pl. du 25 Août, 84200 Carpentras, 04 90 63 00 78
• Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Tourisme 13 Place F. Buisson 84800 Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, 04 90 38 04 78
• Office de tourisme de Pernes les Fontaines -  Portes du Ventoux Tourisme - Place Gabriel Moutte, 84210 Pernes-les-Fontaines, 04 90 61 31 04
• Office de Tourisme du Grand Avignon Place Charles David 30400 Villeneuve lez Avignon, 04 90 03 70 60

SNCF

• Carpentras – Railway station on the Avignon – Carpentras line. Equipped with a secure bike shelter.
• TER rail trainstion of l'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Fontaine de Vaucluse

Don't miss 

• Carpentras: the historic synagogue https://synagoguedecarpentras.fr/ 
• Pernes les Fontaines: the Musée du Cycle https://www.museeducycle.fr/ - displaying the bike collections of major French cycling figure Paul de Vivie, nicknamed Vélocio 
• L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue : 
  • The Sentier du Partage des Eaux, a trail along the north bank of the Sorgue on which explanatory signs tell you a great deal about the clear turquoise waters of this exceptional river, along which you’ll find many terraces and locals seeking out its refreshing cool.
  • Musée Brun de Vian Tiran: la Filaventure - https://www.lafilaventure.com/ to learn all about the art of fabric-making, French style! 
  • The Village des Antiquaires on l'île aux Brocantes, for a whole variety of antiques stalls and art galleries: https://www.levillagedesantiquairesdelagare-nouvelvag.com/  -