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Best of Southern France (RNN2302)

Thursday, September 21, 2023 | Daniel Neuner / Paul von Wahlert | Europe

Arrival in Saint Paul de Vence

Welcome

 

Welcome to our tour of southern France and the beautiful town of Saint Paul de Vence where we stay in a wonderfull hotel. On the next 9 riding days Uwe from Germany, Beat and Regula from Switzerland and Horacia from Argentina will tour with us on some of the best roads the southern part of France has to offer. An to top things off, we will also do a little stretch in Italy and go over some of the highest and best mountain passes there.

Our hotel in Saint Paul de Vence.

Nice looking car, but i think we will still stick with our motorcycles.

Ready for our briefing.

Happy group with our motorcyles.

Day 1: From Saint Paul de Vence to Forcalquier

What a great first day

 

What makes this tour in southern france so special is the amazing combination of great motorcycles roads with little traffic, the stunning scenery and some nice little medieval towns for coffee stops. On our first day of riding we already had alot of this incredible tour ingrediants and everyone enjoyed their first day on our motorcycles, riding through the beautiful scenery.

Horacio, our rider from Argentina enjoying a little break in the town of Gourdon.
These little french towns are just lovely.
Quite a view.
Beat and Regula from Switzerland, probably looking for an ice cream parlor.
Uwe from Germany, our tour photographer.
The Gorge du Verdon, probably the most stunning canyon in all of europe.
Regula always finds the nicest spots.
The lake at the end of the George du Verdon.
Moustiers, another beautiful little town on our route.

Day 2: From Forcalquier to Villeneuve-les-Avignon

Getting even better

 

Hard to imagine but our second riding day was even better than the first. Not only did we have amazing roads, but also the scenery was just stunning for pretty much the whole day. And to top it all off, we got to ride the famous Mont Ventoux, fans of the Tour the France will know what we talk about here.

As long as there is coffee Beat and Horacio are happy.
The Mont Ventoux looks really close, but due to the tiny winding roads it still takes us hours to get there.
Who needs lunch when you can have Icecream.
The little town of Gordes, worth a pictures.
The Gorges de la Nesque, maybe not quite as famous as the Gorge du Verdon, but an even better ride.
The way up the Mont Venteux, what a spectacular mountain.
If you look closely enough you can see us riding down there.

Day 3: From Villeneuve-les-Avignon to La Muse

Into the Cevennes

 

 

Another great day of riding lies behind us. Today we went from Villeneuve les Avignon to La Muse were we will stay for two nights. To get there we rode through the Cevennen, a mountain range in the middle of France that is not so well known yet, but already impressed Robert Louis Stevenson, the famous author of The Treasure Island, who wandered through them with a donkey and later wrote a book about his journey.

Delicious breakfast in our lovely little hotel.
Its still pretty warm here in september, so Uwe found a nice spot in the shadow.
Tastes as good as it looks.
The view over the cevennes.
Beat with his bike.
Uwe seems happy with his GS.
Horacio on top of the Mont Aigual.

Day 4: Restday

Going underground

 

Today we had our restday on this trip, which means we stay for two nights in our cozy hotel in La Muse. To relax a little bit from our last few riding days, we took it easy today and only went for a shorter ride and did some more sightseeing today instead. 

Overlooking the Gorges du Tarn.
Beat taking our "Rest" day literally.
Our highlight today was a visit to "Aven Armand" an impressive cave full of stalagmites, some of them among the highest in the world.
We also came by the Viaduc de Millau today, somehow you feel very small under this 2.460m long and 343m high structure.

Day 5: From La Muse to Livron-sur-Drome

Canyon Rollercoaster

 

So far we have only been going west on our tour. Today was the first day where we changed direction and started to slowly make our way back to our starting point in Vence. And it was another great day of riding. First we rode through the more than 50 kilometer long Gorges du Tarn, and the ride there is really spectacular. After lunch we rode along the Ardeche, and visited the famous stone arch there.

 

Along the Gorges du Tarn.
There is grafity in France, but so far we didn`t see alot.
Free coffee along the road, count us in.
The famous arch at the ardeche, great spot for a couples pictures.
Overlooking the Ardeche, what a view.

Day 6: From Livron-sur-Drome to Chambery

Argentina Style

 

Today we were going to Chambery, which is the most northern point of our tour and brings us back to the alps and some higher mountains. The day already started cloudy and the weather forcast said, it should rain from nine to eleven and then clear up for the rest of the day. Of course things went differntly and we had no rain untill eleven, but then for the rest of the day. As soon as we arived at the hotel, the sun came back out .

1960`s smartphone.
We ended up in this amazing little french restaurant by sheer accident, because the road we were supposted to take was closed.
Who said you need raingear to ride. A garbage bag does the trick too.
In case someone didnt get wet enough today, our hotel has a nice pool.

Day 7: From Chambery to Arvieux

Mountains deluxe

 

Today we went back to the alps, and when i say Alps i mean high mountains, amazing landscape and some of the best roads you can find. We did  many passes today, including the famous Col du Galibier and the Col d`Agnel. All of them were differnt and its hard to say which one was the best. 

Our first pass today, the Col du Telegraphe.
Horacio on the Col du Galibier.
Some of the views today were just breathtaking.
A very important part of every motorcycle trip.

Day 8: From Arvieux to Barcelonnette

Big, bigger, Bonette

 

Another great day of riding lies behind us. Yesterday we already rode over some pretty high mountain passes, but today we went even higher to the Cime de la Bonette, with 2808 meters one of the highest paved roads in the alps. 

 

Hiding in the corner of our coffee stop today.
Paul had a little surprise for us today.
Very unusual church at the Santuario Sant Anna di Viandio, the floor is very steep.
Horacio on the Cime de la Bonette
Afterwork icecream is a must

Day 9: From Barcelonnette to Saint Paul du Vence

Every good thing has come to an end

 

No matter how long a tour is, it always feels to short when you beginn your last day of riding. Our last route took us today from the little town Barcelonnette back to Saint Paul du Vence where we started.

Soon after leaving our hotel in the morning we rode up the small and not very well known Col de la Cayolle that would be the last of the really high mountain passes on our trip. Although not the high alpine roads were the main highlight today, but the beautiful Gorge du Cians, which looks very unique with its red walls of stone.

Paul with the plan for today
Despite the rain, Horacio posed for a picture on the Col de la Cayolle
Nice little town for a coffee stop
There is always room for dessert
Uwe fully in his element
The Gorges du Cians was just spectacular

Many thanks to all the participants for this great tour, hopefully we see you on another one some day.

Cheers

Paul & Daniel

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Add a comment Rate this post
Regula
Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 22:31

Vielen Dank an Daniel und Paul, ihr habt diese Reise perfekt gemanaged. Weiter so, wir hatten viel Spass mit Euch.
Wir gehen mit vielen tollen Eindrücken Richtung Heimat.
Daniel Neuner
Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 22:41

Danke Regula, war toll euch wieder dabei zu haben. Hoffentlich bald mal wieder.
Jürg Glauner
Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 10:25

Na, ich seh' schon, eine kleine Gruppe Coffee und Glacé racern.
Uli Fischer
Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 18:04

Hallo Daniel Hallo Regula und Hallo Beat
Ich wünsche euch viel spaß gute fahrt und tolle
Erlebnisse ( und euch beiden viele feine Glaces )
Herzlichst Uli
Regula
Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 19:07

Vielen Dank
Martin Fischer
Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 17:52

Hallo Regula, Beat und Daniel
Habt viel Spass über die Hügel mit den zahlreichen Kurven bei hoffentlich besten Bedingungen!!
Erich
Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 09:09

Fantastische Gegend, coole Fotos, tolle Truppe. Viel Spass!

@Beat. Hadt du ein Gelati
Regula
Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 22:34

Erich, Du hast eine tolle Tour verpasst und auch feine Gelatis.
Wäre schön, dich das nächste Mal wieder dabei zu haben.
Regula
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 22:05

Ein toller erster Fahrtag liegt hinter uns und macht hungrig auf mehr. Freue mich auf die weiteren Tage.
Michaela Achatzi
Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 02:44

Hey Regula und Beat,
Schön euch wieder auf Tour zu sehn. Toller Auftakt viel Spaß
Liebe Grüße Michaela
Jürg Glauner
Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 10:27

Ein bisschen neidisch bin ich schon, aber wartet nur. Nächstes Mal bin ich dran!
Regula
Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 19:08


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