This will be a full day, traversing multiple spectacular balcony and gorge roads including the well-known Verdon Gorge, before heading up Mont Ventoux for the highest view in Vaucluse and then into Avignon in the Rhone Valley. There are a couple of medieval cities along the way also.
Daily Highlights
- St Paul de Vence Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. One of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera, it is well known for its modern and contemporary art museums and galleries such as Fondation Maeght which is located nearby.
- Clue de Gréolières Pas de Tous Vents is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1052m(3,451 ft) above the sea level, located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. It’s one of the French balcony roads. It runs as a single track road along the mountainside for some distance with nowhere to pass another vehicle. The road to the summit is stunning and dramatic. It’s called D2 (Route de Thorenc or Route de Gentelly) and goes within the Clue de Gréolières, a collection of tunnels and cliffs perched on a road carved into the rocks. The drive is worth it. The road is asphalted, very narrow, includes a lot of turns and ends in Gréolières, a pretty Medieval village perched on a ridge against the southern flank of the Cheiron mountain, in the hills 25 km north of Grasse.
- Clue d’Aiglun The road along the Clue d’Aiglun is a very scenic drive following a narrow ledge cut into the rock. It’s one of the French balcony roads. The road (D10) runs as a single track road along the mountainside for some distance with nowhere to pass another vehicle. The road within the gorges (2km. long, 200 to 400 m. high) is continually featured in magazine and television programs internationally linked to driving in Les Alpes Maritimes. The road runs deep into the pine-covered mountainsides around where water flowing down from the Alpes-Maritimes has sculpted countless grottoes and rock passages in the white limestone.
- Clue du Riolan The Clue de Riolan is one of France’s most beautiful canyons. Located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France, the canyon is carved by the Le Riolan river. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads. This real gem of a discovery is traversed by the D17, a small asphalted narrow road which enters the sunless trench of the Clue du Riolan. It’s 11.4 km long and links the towns of La Combe and Roquesteron. This amazing road, located in the Vallée de l’Esteron(Esteron River Valley), is carved into the mountainside. There are several unlit tunnels along the road. It runs as a single track road along the mountainside for some distance with nowhere to pass another vehicle.
- Clue de Saint-Auban Clue de Saint Auban is a spectacular gorge which links St Auban and Brianconnet (France) and has the Esteron River flowing through it. It is situated in Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur and belongs to the Alpes Maritimes .It’s one of the French balcony roads. The D2211 snakes its way through the clue on a ledge and passes a chapel cut out in the rock where a service is held every September. St. Auban is one of the deepest, steepest and most spectacular clues in Provence. For two kilometers, the narrow one-lane road contours up the sheer ravine wall with a roof of rock overhead much of the way. It runs as a single track road along the mountainside for some distance with nowhere to pass another vehicle .For several years this road was included in the famous Rally Monte-Carlo.
- Castellane Castellane is a very old city located upstream of the Gorges du Verdon. The city is 724 metres(2,375 feet) above sea level. The Roc, or the Roc of Notre-Dame, overlooks the city from 184 m(604 ft) above. It has been occupied since the High Middle Ages and is a registered historical site. It can be accessed from the centre of town behind the old Church of St. Andrew. The walk takes about 25minutes.
- Clue de Chasteuil Clue de Chasteuil is a very scenic drive located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. It’s also one of the famous French balcony roads. Driving on this narrow road between walls of cliffs and gorges is a delight. The road to the clue, a place where the river breaks through a band of limestone and is pushed into a short canyon, is called Route Departementale D952 and links the villages of Castellane and Palud-sur-Verdon. The surface of the road, with the Verdon river sparkling deep below in the canyon, is asphalted. If youcan handle the height and the prospect of a very long freefall this road absolutely has to be on the list of any road connoisseur. The journey offers superb views. It’s definitely worth it.
- Verdon Gorge The Verdon Gorge in south-eastern France (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), is a river canyon that is often considered to be one of Europe’s most beautiful. It is about 25 kilometres long and up to 700meters deep. It was formed by the Verdon River, which is named for its startling turquoise-green colour, one of the location’ s distinguishing characteristics. The most impressive part lies between the towns of Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, where the river has cut a ravine to a depth of 700 metres through the limestone mass. At the end of the canyon, the Verdon River flows into the artificial lake of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon. Because of its proximity to the French Riviera, the gorge is very popular with tourists, who can drive around its rim, rent kayaks to travel on the river, or hike.
- Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, or simply Moustiers, is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France, a part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region and considered one of the “most beautiful villages of France”. It lies at the western entrance to the Gorges du Verdon.
- Mont Ventoux Emblem of Vaucluse, it is a must visit in the region, and a goal for any cyclist and biker eager to realize a dream by climbing this mythical road. Top of 1911 meters , it is about 25 km long and an east-west and 15 kilometers wide on a north-south axis. Nicknamed the Giant of Provence or Bald Mountain , it is the highest point of the Vaucluse.
- Avignon Avignon, a city in southeastern France’s Provence region, is set on the Rhône River. From 1309 to 1377, it was the seat of the Catholic popes. It remained under papal rule until becoming part of France in1791. This legacy can be seen in the massive Palais des Papes (Popes’Palace) in the city center, which is surrounded by medieval stone ramparts.
Daily Video Highlights
Daily Blog
We left Avignon early to beat the traffic. Up into the hills to St Paul de Vence, a medieval town, for breakfast.
Highlights today were:*Gorges du Verdon: a gratuitously curvaceous run through the gorge, by a river with steep rock sides. The river is an amazing aqua colour. Hydro stripped off for a swim. Fatigue is starting to effect the group. You can tell by the number of times the question is asked, “so Hydro, what is the plan this afternoon.” The standard answer is “it should be pretty straightforward from here.” It tends not to work out that way. Boxy has appointed himself as Chief TFC (Tour Fact Checker). He will be busy.
This afternoon we raced up Mont Ventoux. This was arguably the best ride of the tour. Long sweeping roads climbing through barren territory. Time to get to Avignon. It’s very hot & Boxy & Russ have been attacked by wasps. Our hotel is inside the town walls & the city is busy with a festival on. Dinner & drinks at an outdoor restaurant tonight near the hotel.
Silver Foxes Motorcycle Club Australia 