Cycling holidays ViaRhona 2: Lyon - Orange

Since 1998 Lyon’s old part of town is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Mighty churches, about 30 museums and an excellent food serving industry guarantee a delightful stay. One overnight in Lyon.

Already after just a few kilometres the futuristic museum ‚des Confluences’ appears with its spectacular location on an island at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône. There is a lot of traffic in the cities as well as Lyon. We recommend to go by train to Givor (not incl.)You follow the course of your ‚companion’, the river Rhône and soon you reach Vienne where you will stay tonight with its many remains of an ancient Roman colony. You will be impressed by the temple of Augustus and Livia and by the biggest Roman theatre in Gaul. One overnight in Serrieres.

The beautifully designed cycle path takes you South again, directly along the Rhône riverbank. World renowned grapes are grown in the surroundings of Tournon sur Rhône. We recommend you have your lunch break in one of the charming villages with their medieval village centres and sample at least one glass of the famous ‚Hermitage’. After that you will soon reach the main town of the Drôme-region called Valence. Also called the ‚Northern Gate to Provence’, it will amaze you with its vibrant town centre full of cafés and restaurants. One overnight in Valence.

Effortlessly you cycle through the fertile Rhône-valley. The temptation for ‚petty larceny of food’ is especially high today, since there are peaches, apples and kiwis growing directly along the route. Nevertheless, make sure you also look up and do not miss high up a once proud castle which has sadly crumbled and turned into a ruin, but still keeps a watchful eye over the valley. In today’s Day Finish Montélimar it is all about ‚nougat’, which is produced here in special quality. Temptations from dawn to dusk... One overnight in Montélimar.

Today’s stage is very short and hence leaves you with lots of time to just enjoy! Several times you switch from one side of the river Rhône to the other side via impressive suspension bridges. Then onwards along the cycle path to the former diocesan town of Viviers. Behind the cathedral dating back to the 12th century you have an amazing view across the Rhône valley. Then it becomes very quiet in the alluvial forests except for the buzzing noise of your spokes. Vibrancy is back after that in Bourg St. Andéol. The old part of town is characterised by picturesque houses dating back to the 16th, 17th and 18th century, situated directly on the river Rhône. One overnight in Bourg-St. Andéol.

On your final stage you casually cycle through glowing yellow sunflower fields, apple orchards and peach plantations, past tomato- and basil fields. The route, you come across the little town of Pont St. Esprit, known for its 600-year old bridge, whose 25 arches stretch impressively across the river Rhône. You will be staying in the town of Orange with its well-known Roman theatre and the city founding arch, both part of the UNESCO-World Cultural Heritage. One overnight in Orange.

The tour ends after breakfast. Individual return journey.