Читать книгу Cycle Touring in France. Eight tours in Brittany, Picardy, Alsace, Auvergne/Languedoc, Provence, Dordogne/Lot, the Alps and the Pyrenees онлайн

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Best time to visit

Summer.

Snow lingers above 3000m throughout the year, and late snowfalls often block high mountain passes well into June. If attempting this route in June, find out whether the passes are open by visiting the local information offices. The valleys are often hot in July and August, while up in the mountains it is noticeably cooler. As with all high mountain ranges the weather in the French Alps can be quite changeable in summer, so be prepared for the occasional thunderstorm. September is normally drier than June, July or August.

Route 5 The Land of Lavender: Provence

Character and terrain

Provence is a colourful patchwork of lavender fields, olive groves, cherry orchards and vineyards, a fabulous part of France for cycle touring. Starting in the historic city of Arles this route visits Alphonse Daudet's windmill and Les Baux-de-Provence before heading east to the spectacular hill village of Gordes and the Abbaye de Sénanque. A tour around Mont Ventoux and the option of cycling up to its summit follows, then a scenic 20km descent down the Gorges de la Nesque to Villes-sur-Auzon and thereafter to L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.