The way points of this bicycle route:
Leave Bonnieux on the Chemin de Lacoste e Bonnieux
R onto the D109 towards Lacoste.
Possible coffee stop (Cafe de Sade or, for better views, Bar/Restaurant de France). Little remains of the Marquis de Sade's castle, but but there's a great view of Bonnieux from the base of the castle ruins. Leave town on the westbound D106 towards Menerbes.
Continue on the D109 to Menerbes.
Peter Mayles lived just outside of town to the south. (He has since moved to Lourmarin.) Menerbes also boasts a corkscrew museum in the chateau of the Domaine de la Citadelle (on the D3 to Cavaillon). Possible coffee stop at Cafe du Progres ("time-warp, pre-tourism interior").
Scenic viewpoint. Leave town on the westbound D188 towards Oppede.
Optional climb up to the ruined castle at Oppede le Vieux, where there's a nice view back towards Bonnieux and also Le Petit Cafe. Otherwise, R at roundabout onto Place Felix Autard (D29 or D178) into tiny Les Poulivets.
L onto D178 towards La Royere, Coustellet, Les Imberts.
BR (northbound D178) towards the N100 highway and Les Imberts.
R on N100 (to be followed by immediate L)
L on D148 towards Les Imberts.
BL at the D211 and again BL onto D148 toward Lagnes, Cabrieres.
Cross over the D2, continuing on the D148 towards Cabrieres d'Avignon.
Possible lunch stop at Le Bistrot a Michel, where Peter Mayle sampled Pastis in Toujour Provence. Leave town on the westbound D100 towards Lagnes.
R onto northbound D100A towards Fontaine de la Vaucluse.
R onto D100A northbound towards Fontaine de la Vaucluse
Touristy town, but it contains one of the world's most powerful springs (up to 200 cubic meters per hour when the water's high. Possible lunch stop or press on to L'Isle sur la Sorge by going westbound on the D25.
At roundabout, take Cours Fernande Peyre (aka D938, at 9 o'oclock) into center of L'Isle sur the Sorge.
At roundabout, continue (1 o'clock) into center.
Continue at 1 o'clock at roundabout to enter center of town (Not shown on route). Possible lunch stop. Market days on Sunday and Thursday(?).
Leave the center of town by cross the N100 onto Route de Roblon, which run parallel to the train tracks.
L onto Route des Courses.
L onto Chemin de Velorgues a Sorguettes.
R onto Chemin de Margoye.
Cross the N100 and continue toward Lagne
BR onto Route de Lagnes (D99).
Leave the center of town on Rue Montante towards Cabrieres
BR at Y.
L onto Cours Jean Giono
Continue on Cours Jean Giono
Continue on Chemin des Estelles.
BR
Continue straight to avoid the busy D2 for as long as possible.
L onto D2.
Optional sidetrip to Village des Bories (ancient dwellings made from limstone slabs) here to the left (about 2km RT).
Per Rick Steves, this tres chic town is mainly worthwhile for its dramatic location, which can be appreciated from here. No need to explore the town extensively if time is limited. Optional side trip up to Abbey de Senaque (tours in French only) by going about 2 km northbound on the D117. Leave Gordes on the southbound D104 towards Goult.
Leave town on the D145 to Bonnieux. For a harder, but less busy road, take the D105 and D106 to Lacoste and return to Bonnieux the reverse of the morning's route.
Take the D36 to Bonnieux at roundabout
End of route
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Tagged with: Recreational, Onroad, Intermediate, Difficult, Rural, Scenic
