Provence by bike along EuroVelo 8

Our route starts in Béziers, and it's off to a great start with over 50 kilometres to cover today!

The Canal du Midi guides us all the way to the sea. It's a great way to take a well-deserved dip in the sea after this cycling stage, before heading off to our destination for the day: Sète. When you look left or right, you can't tell whether you're admiring the Etang de Thau or the Mediterranean Sea. It doesn't matter, both are sumptuously blue. We treat ourselves to a final splash at Marseillan-Plage, then head to Sète via the Lido greenway that runs alongside the Mediterranean.

⭐ Where to stay in Sète?

We're not slowing the pace on this second day, as we're about to cover almost 60 kilometres! Even so, it's a stage that should appeal to as many people as possible. In fact, between Sète andLe Grau-du-Roi, it's possible to take a fork in the road via Montpellier. The city of a thousand fountains, as it is known, is bathed in light and a lightness of life typical of the south of ** France**. You won't want to miss the famous Place de la Comédie or the city centre with its medieval streets.

After this urban escapade, let's get back in the saddle and wind our way through the lagoons and beaches of the Mediterranean. On the way, you'll pass the Palavas-les-Flots lighthouse, then catch a glimpse of the distinctive pyramids of La Grande-Motte. A few more pedal strokes and you'll be on your way to Le Grau-du-Roi. Once we're there, we can enjoy the sea, which we won't reach for another week.

⭐ Where to stay in Grau-du-Roi?

After discovering the seaside town of Le Grau-du-Roi, the journey continues along the shipping channel. The previous two days were really just a warm-up, but today we're off for almost 70 kilometres in the heart of the Camargue!

Before arriving at your destination, and after having criss-crossed some magnificent plains, make a loop through Roman Arles if you have any energy left. You'll discover an impressive heritage. Back on the Mediterranean cycle route, continue to Beaucaire and its charming river port, then Tarascon-sur-Rhône dominated by an imposing fortified castle...

⭐ Where to stay in Beaucaire and Tarascon?

We're slowing the pace a little for this fourth stage, which isn't even 40 kilometres long. This section of the route could be nicknamed "in the footsteps of Van Gogh". This world-famous painter was madly in love with Provence and the Camargue, with their colours, their light and the dolce vita that reigns there. You only have to go through the artist's works to realise the large number of canvases depicting Provençal or Camargue landscapes.

The cycle path is particularly well laid out and the journey is trouble-free. A real pleasure! On the way to Cavaillon, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a must-stop for soaking up the aromas of Provence.

⭐ Where to stay in Cavaillon?

For this half-way stage, the Mediterranean cycle route heads straight into the Luberon for around 35 kilometres. The blazing light of the hot sun, fields of lavender in bloom and avenues of plane trees guide you to Apt, the finish line for the day.

Here you can explore the town, its pedestrianised streets and shady squares where local children play in the fountains. Don't forget to try the candied fruit, Apt's speciality.

⭐ Where to stay in Apt?

Be careful, we hope you have a bit of energy left, as this stage climbs over 80 kilometres! But the effort is justified by the magnificent scenery that unfolds as the kilometres go by. Its length shouldn't prevent you from taking some well-deserved breaks along the way. In fact, the first recommended stop-off is the village of Roussillon, the Sentier des Ocres and the Colorado Provençal, with its red and orange rocks. These ochre peaks reaching for the sky transport us to the American West.

As you move away from the Vaucluse and into the Alpes de Haute-Provence, the path starts to climb, and you can feel it in your thighs. This is to be expected, given that we're aiming for the Alps. The road becomes winding, but each bend reveals a new landscape: Roman bridges, verdant valleys or villages clinging to the mountainside, will guide you to Manosque, a typically Provençal town.

⭐ Where to stay in Manosque?

The only slight deviation from the trip is that the official France Vélo Tourisme and Route de la Méditerranée website recommends taking the train from Manosque to Meyrargues. There is currently no safe route, and we still have to wait a few months for the cycle route to be properly developed.

Fortunately, taking the train is very easy. Line 13: Marseille - Manosque - Meyrargue - Briançon runs six times a day. So all you need to do is book your ticket to get to both stops. In just 20 minutes or so, you can complete a journey that would have taken several hours by bike. This allows you to take a short break and leaves you plenty of time, on the spot, to visit the Château de Meyrargues, or the Notre Dame d'Astors chapel.

⭐ Where to stay in Meyrargues?

Here we are on the longest stage of our journey: almost 110 kilometres between Meyrargues and Draguignan. And what's more, it's uphill! The Haut Var offers landscapes that are still unspoilt and well worth the effort.

Fortunately, along the way, the Sillans waterfall offers some refreshing moments. Once you've reached Le Flayosquet, all that's left to do is roll on down to Draguignan. Carefully, of course, as the descent can be fast.

⭐ Where to stay in Draguignan?

A few more pedal strokes in theMediterranean hinterland before returning to the coast and the famous seaside town of Cannes. The 90-odd kilometres of the stage give us the opportunity to discover a few more villages in the hills, such as Callas and Fayence, a Mecca for hang-gliding.

The atmosphere of the trip changes radically when you arrive in Cannes. Extreme sports and rugged nature give way to urban opulence. It's also an opportunity to do a bit of shopping.

⭐ Where to stay in Cannes?

That's it, it's our last day, and certainly thequietest stage of the trip. Just like the famous Cannes Film Festival, the 35-kilometre cycle route to Nice is a veritable red carpet. It's a real pleasure for cyclists!

On the way, you can enjoy the palm trees lining the Mediterranean and the comings and goings of the ferries crossing to Corsica. This may give some people ideas.... For those of you still cycling, the Croisette in Cannes gives way to the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, where our itinerary comes to an end. Our thighs are on fire and our heads are full of wonderful memories.

⭐ Where to stay in Nice?