Roman Provence & Rhone Alpes: A Bicycle Your France E-Guide

Book excerpt: Geographically, this guidebook focuses on the Roman Provence Region of France of the northern Gard and western Vaucluse Departments, the Drôme Department north and east into the Rhône Alpes, and the southern Ardèche Department. The routes start from three locations: Crest in the Drôme, Vallon-Pont-d’Arc in the Ardèche and Pont du Gard west of Avignon. The Gorges de la Baume & Cirque de Combe Laval route is the outlier due to the staggering beauty of the area. Why this area of France? Not for the industrial Rhône Valley. But, if you wander 20 to 30 kilometers east or west of the Rhône Valley you will find the medieval hilltop villages, deep gorges with rushing rivers, Roman structures and very hospitable people that want to help. Fifteen routes are mapped in detailed color with elevation profiles and exacting, step-by-step directions (data gathered to the nearest 0.2 kilometer). There are 149 color photographs for these surroundings.