Lapalud ViaRhôna

Description Reviews

Canals & intimate rivers

32,27 Km

2 h 07 min

I cycle often

Viviers

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Lapalud

32,27 km cycling route from Viviers to Lapalud

Leaving Châteauneuf-du-Rhône, cycle beside branches of the Rhône and pass through historic towns: Viviers, with its medieval spirit; Bourg-Saint-Andéol, its treasures including a rare sculpture of a Mithraic deity; and Pont-Saint-Esprit. This ViaRhôna stage is packed with heritage treasures, especially religious ones, including cathedrals, chapels and grand clerical residences. Those who love history as well as nature can enjoy their fill. The route takes you along portions of greenway and of quiet roads.

Elevation of the stage

Waytypes of the stage

Cycle path: 13,83 km By road: 18,43 km

Surface of the stage

Smooth: 31,02 km Unknown: 1,25 km

The route

Cross the bridge towards Viviers, and take immediately right at the end of the bridge to pass underneath. Take 3km to reach the bridge of the Robinet and take a greenway through the quiet branches of the Rhône in these parts. Pass through the Iles des Dames islands to reach Bourg-Saint-Andéol. Cross the bridge carrying the RD 59 road and after 500m, take the road to the right to get to Lapalud, followed by Pont-Saint-Esprit.

Railway station (SNCF) :

Pierrelatte and Bollène railway stations:

Local services (TER) Line 10 : Lyon > Vienne > Montélimar > Pierrelatte > Bollène > Avignon

Tourist Information Centres :

Gorges de l'Ardèche Tourist Office
Viviers 04 75 49 86 61
Bourg St Andeol 04 75 54 54 20
Pierrelatte Tourist Office Ph. : 04 75 04 07 98

Don't miss :

Viviers: from Roman times, this little city attracted lords and merchants. A bishopric from the 5th century. Viviers’s historic character has been well preserved. Visit the cathedral, partly 11th century; the 16th-century Maison des Chevaliers; the old town; the belvedere; and the outdoor sports and recreation centre.

Donzère: for its traditional museums, the Musée Provençal des Arts et Traditions Populaires and Musée des Amis du Vieux Donzère.

Pierrelatte: for its crocodile farm.

Bourg-Saint-Andéol: for its rich legacy, including a Romanesque church and a rare carving of the Persian bull-slaying god Mithra.

Pont-Saint-Esprit: a medieval halt with a 13th-century bridge.

Close by: the Gorges de l’Ardèche, for dramatic views, caves and the stunning natural bridge of Le Pont d’Arc, plus, opening soon, a reconstruction of the Grotte Chauvet, a cave filled with prehistoric paintings.

The southern Drôme, or Drôme Provençale, with glorious villages like La Garde Adhémar and Grignan, the latter with its castle, and Grignan-les-Adhémar wines.