Cycling Perched Villages Verdon Provence Lubéron Ventoux South Alps


L'OUSTAOU D'AQUI is also a place where you can hire a bicycle. This option is available for our guests but also for anybody else !

Cycling the mountain : quality and diversity

Cycling the Mountain Cycling the Mountain

Close hinterland with its Villages Perchés (hilltop villages), Les Gorges du Verdon (Verdon Grand Canyon), le Massif du Lubéron (Lubéron hills), Le Mont Ventoux and finally les Alpes du Sud (Southern Alps) is an amazing area of quality and diversity.

Whether you are a long-distance touring cyclist or a seasoned enthusiast of cyclosportive, just select the route according to the area you wish to ride and the time you have in front of you.
Moreover, if you haven't got enough time, the TER (Trains Express Régionaux - Regional Express Trains) - bicycle are welcome on board free of charge; no booking required - is very convenient and expand de facto dramatically the routes opportunities.

When train can be combined with bicycle, a section « Train + Bicycle possible Â» provides further details with Departure point at Les Arcs - Draguignan railway station situated very close to l'Oustaou d'Aqui !

Close countryside with its villages perchés (perched villages)

Villages Perchés - Bargemon Villages Perchés - Bargemon - Couchoire Villages Perchés - Callas
Riding time : from a few hours to a day
Some possible way points : Ampus, Bargemon, Callas, Flayosc, Tourtour ...
Some possible climbing : Col du Bel Homme (alt. 915 m), Col de Boussague (alt. 431 m), Col de Clavel (alt. 1063 m), Col de la Grange (alt. 616 m), Col de Saint-Arnoult (alt. 631 m) ...

Les Gorges du Verdon (Verdon Grand Canyon)

Gorges du Verdon - Lac de Sainte-Croix Gorges du Verdon - Point Sublime Gorges du Verdon - Trigance
Riding time : from a day to several days
Some possible way points : Aiguines, Castellane, Comps, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Trigance  ...
Some possible climbing : Col du Bel Homme (alt. 915 m), Col d'Illoire (alt. 964 m) ...

Provence - Massif du Lubéron - Monts de Vaucluse


Riding time : Several days
Some possible way points : Bonnieux, Forcalquier, Roussillon, Véloroute du Calavon  ...
Some possible climbing : le Mont Ventoux (alt. 1911 m) le Signal de Lure (alt. 1826 m) ...
Cycling Provence Cycling Provence - Gare de Manosque

Train + Bicycle possible :

Departure: Les Arcs
Direction: Marseille
Line: | Ligne 02 Marseille - Toulon - Les Arcs Draguignan | operated by Regional Express Trains (TER)
Stop at Marseille to take onother line
Direction: Avignon
Line: | Ligne 09 Marseille - Salon - Cavaillon - Avignon | operated by Regional Express Trains (TER)
Stop at Cavaillon or L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Les Alpes du Sud (southern Alps)

Cycling Southern Alps Cycling Southern Alps

Warning : ensure that you read the following articles before you hit the road towards the mountain :

- Tipps für Radfahrer unterwegs die Côte d'Azur und das Hinterland
- traffic restrictions
- Checklist to plan your route
Col des Champs Barcelonette Riding time : A day (Train + Bicycle included) to several days
Some possible way points : Andon, Barcelonette, Beuil, Colmars-les-Alpes, Demonte (Italia), Guillaumes, Sospel  ...
Some possible climbing :
Col d'Allos (alt. 2250 m), Route de la Bonette - la plus haute route d'Europe (alt. 2802 m), Col de la Cayolle (alt. 2326 m), Col de la Couillole (alt. 1678 m), Col des Champs (alt. 2080 m), Col de Larche (alt. 1991 m), Col de la Lombarde (alt. 2350 m), Col de Turini (alt. 1607 m), Col de Vence (alt. 963 m) ...

Train + Bicycle possible :

1. For the area Préalpes de Grasse

Cycling Grasse Pre-Alps Cycling Grasse Pre-Alps
Departure: Les Arcs
Direction: Nice
Line: | Ligne 03 Les Arcs Draguignan - Frejus - Saint Raphaël - Cannes - Nice | operated by Regional Express Trains (TER)
  • For the area Plateaux de Caussols / Calern - Vallée du Loup -
    • Stop at Biot or Cagnes-sur-Mer
  • For the area Col de Vence :
    • Stop at Cagnes-sur-Mer or Cros-de-Cagnes
  • For the area Vallée du Var - Vallée de la Tinée - Vallée de l’Estéron riding the bicycle (Train + Bicycle possible - see below) :
    • Stop at Cagnes-sur-Mer , Cros-de-Cagnes or Saint-Laurent-du-Var then take the bicycle path | Saint-Laurent-du-Var - Carros - Gilettes |

    Andon piste cyclable | Saint-Laurent-du-Var-Carros |

    2. For the area Préalpes de Castellane - Massif du Pelat - Massif du Mercantour-Argentera (FR)

    Route de la Bonette Cycling the highest road in Europe
    Route de la Bonette - Camp des Fourches piste cyclable | Vallée de la Tinée |
    Some possible way points : Vallée de l’Estéron, Haute Vallée de la Tinée, Haute Vallée du Var, Haute Vallée du Verdon, Vallée de la Vésubie  ...
    Some possible climbing : Col d' Allos, Route de la Bonette, Col de la Cayolle, Col de la Couillole, Col des Champs, Col de la Lombarde (FR -> IT)  ...

    Departure: Les Arcs
    Direction: Nice
    Line: | Ligne 03 Les Arcs Draguignan - Frejus - Saint Raphaël - Cannes - Nice | operated by Regional Express Trains (TER)
    Stop at Nice to take onother line
    Direction: Digne
    Line: | Nice-Digne (Train des Pignes) | operated by Chemins de Fer de Provence
  • For the area Vallée de l'Esteron :
    • Stop at Saint-Martin-du-Var
  • For the area Vallée de la Tinée - Route de la Bonette :
    • Stop at Plan-du-Var
  • For the area les Gorges du Cians, le Col de la Couillole :
    • Stop at Touët-sur-Var
  • For the area Haute Vallée du Var, , les Gorges du Daluis , le Col de la Cayolle , le Col des Champs (Saint-Martin-d'Entraunes) :
    • Stop at Entrevaux
  • For the area Haute Vallée du Verdon, , le Col d'Allos , le Col des Champs (Colmars-les-Alpes) :
    • Stop at Thorame-Haute

    A shuttle is in operation until Plan-du-Var with details here
    - Map of the line | Nice - Plan-du-Var |
    - Schedules of the line | Nice - Colomars - Plan-du-Var |
    Beyond Plan-du-Var and as far as Digne, details are here:
    - Interactive map of the line | Nice - Digne |
    - Schedules and fares of the line | Nice - Digne |

    3 . For the area Préalpes de Nice - Massif du Mercantour-Argentera (FR)


    Some possible way points : Vallée de la Roya, Vallée de la Bévéra, Sospel, La Bollène-Vésubie  ...
    Some possible climbing : Col de Brouis, Col de Braus, Col de Castillon, Col Saint-Jean, Col du Vescavo, Col de Turini  ... Train des Merveilles Departure: Les Arcs
    Direction: Nice
    Line: | Ligne 03 Les Arcs Draguignan - Frejus - Saint Raphaël - Cannes - Nice | operated by Regional Express Trains (TER)
    Stop at Nice to take onother line
    Line: | Ligne 05 Nice - Breil - Tende (Train des Merveilles - Train of Marvels) | operated by Regional Express Trains (TER)
    Stop at L'Escarène or Sospel

    4 . For the area Alpes Cottiennes (IT -> FR) - Alpes ligures (IT) - Alpi Marittime (IT) - Massif du Mercantour-Argentera (IT) - Piemonte (IT) - Massif de Chambeyron (IT -> FR)

    Cycling Cottian Alps Cycling Cottian Alps

    Some possible way points : Valle Stura di Demonte, Valle Grana, Valle Maira, Valle Varaita  ...
    Some possible climbing : Madonna Del Colletto (alt. 1304 m), Colle Fauniera or Colle dei Morti (alt. 2481 m), Col de Larche IT -> FR (alt. 1991 m), Col de la Lombarde IT -> FR (alt. 2351 m), Colle Valcavera (alt. 2421 m), Colle di Nava (alt. 941 m), Pian Pietro (alt. 1354 m), Piatta Soprana (alt. 1136 m) ... Colle Pantani Valle Stura - San Giacomo Cima Fauniera

    Departure: Les Arcs
    Direction: Ventimiglia
    Line: | Ligne 06 bis Marseille - Nice - Genova | Regional Express Trains (TER)
    Ligne 06 Marseille - Toulon - Nice - Ventimiglia | Regional Express Trains (TER)
    Stop at Ventimiglia to take onother line
    Direction: Cuneo
    Line: | Ventimiglia - Cuneo | Trenitalia
    Stop at Borgo San Dalmazzo

    more readings