Route Napoléon, Provence, Verdon, Lubéron

Total Distance: 1257 km

Estimated total journey time : 26h06

Recommended Period: Mai to November. (Watch the opening of the Col de la Cayolle)

View on google map here.

Day 1 :

Distance : 222 km

Riding time : 5h14

We take the bikes in Ville-la-Grand and we climb on the Salève. We cross Frangy to ride along the lac du Bourget on the west side. We avoid Chambery climbing on the Mont du Chat, and we ride along the Aiguebelette lake.

We cross the Chartreuse mountain on the east. We reach Eybens for the first stage to spend the night at the Chateau de la Commanderie.

http://www.commanderie.fr/ Tel : +33 4.76.25.34.58

Day 2 :

Distance : 236 km

Riding time : 4h23

We leave the castle to reach the route Napoléon, which is named N85 down to Gap. A road famous for its curves and its mid-mountains scenery.

After Gap we go east towards the Lac de Serre-Ponçon and Barcelonnette. We go across the Bachelard canyon to the Cal de la Cayolle (2296 m) in the Mercantour National Parc. After Guillaumes we stop at Valberg for the night at the logis l'Adrech de Lagas.

http://www.adrech-hotel.com/ Tel : +33 4.93.02.51.64

Day 3 :

Distance : 286 km

Riding time : 5h22

We head up soth though the Cians canyon, with its red cliffs, to reach Castellane on the shores of the Verdon, and shortly after the famous Verdon canyon.

After Moustiers-Ste-Marie and Riez we enter into Provence and its lavender fields.

After Manosque, you are in the Natural Regional park of Lubéron. We reach the Carpentras neighbourhood crossing the Vaucluse, and we stop for the night at the Chateau de Mazan, at the bottom of the Mont-Ventoux. http://www.chateaudemazan.com/ Tel : +33 4.90.69.62.61

Day 4 :

Distance : 249 km

Riding time : 5h34

We start with the climb of the Mont-Ventoux (1912 m), named "Provence's Giant". It is the highest summit around, it offers a 360° view around. Beware of the Mistral wind, which blows there 50% of the year.

We head up north to the Drôme, through Nyons, Dieulefit, Crest.

After Die we enter the Natural Regional park of the Vercors.

After the Col de Rousset, we take the breathtaking roads of Combe Laval and the Grand Goulets.

We reach the Hotel-Spa Les Clarines for the night.

http://www.lesclarines.com/ Tel : +33 4.76.95.81.81

Day 5 :

Distance : 228  km

Riding time : 5h17

We continue towards the north avoiding Grenoble on the west to reach the Chartreuse mountain. We cross the col de Cucheron and the Col du Granier.

We pass Chambery on south-east side to cross the Bauges mountains. We ride along the Semnoz to reach the shores of the lac d'Annecy.

We return on Ville-la-Grand.

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