Occitanie by bike: a 4-day tour along the Mediterranean coast

The first French town to be crossed by the Eurovélo 8 cycle route is in the Pyrenees. The route takes you through a dense forest that winds like a toboggan until it reaches sea level. Along the way, you'll discover a host of cultural and historical wonders, including the cloister of Saint Génis des Fontaines, the abbey of Santa Maria de Vilabertran, and the charming Catalan villages of Sorède and Saint André.

The mountain landscapes give way to a seaside stage. It's a real pleasure to cycle with a view of the sea all the way. We pass through St-Cyprien and its harbour, where many visitors stroll with their noses to the wind, then head into the pine forests before reaching the shellfish village of Leucate and its oyster huts. It's well worth stopping off for a tasting session. If you still have some energy left, don't hesitate to wander down the narrow streets of Leucate to discover the magnificent colourful facades that are emblematic of the village.

The view of the sea changes over the kilometres to a view of the lakes. It's not something we don't enjoy, as we take advantage of the many pink flamingos taking a siesta on one leg, in groups, in the stretches of water. The cycle route continues through the vineyards, following the locks. A country interlude with a touch of retro about it, before returning to Narbonne and the famous Archbishop's Palace.

The journey continues inland, through pastoral landscapes. On the way to Béziers, be sure to make a diversion to Sallèles d'Aude and the hamlet of Le Somaille, two towns full of surprises. Like the funny and instructive hologram of Mrs Cradock, an 18th-century British tourist who tells the story of the canal that runs through the town.

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. It doesn't matter, both are sumptuously blue. We take one last dip at Marseillan-plage, then head back to Sète via the Lido greenway, which runs alongside the Mediterranean.

It's a stage that will appeal to the widest possible audience. In fact, between Sète and Le Grau-du-Roi, you can branch off via Montpellier, the city of 1,000 fountains - as it is known - bathed in light and with 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 discovering the seaside town of Le Grau-du-Roi, the journey continues along the shipping channel. Before arriving at your destination and after crossing some magnificent plains, if you still have some energy left, make a loop through Roman Arles to discover its impressive heritage. Back on the Mediterranean cycle route, you continue on to Beaucaire and its charming river port, the last town in Occitanie, before continuing on to the Bouches-du-Rhône.