Biking in Provence 2007-09

In 2007 I decided to take my new motorcycle and move around, exploring some nice scenery here in Europe. After some investigation I settled for France' Provence - just because I newer was there and got some recommondations about it. To evade holiday season (and the hottest time) I went in September, which is said to be a good traveling time.

My tour took me by Car Train to Avignon, from there eastwards through the Provence, and then via the Alps to Torino in Italy. And to put first thing first: The Trip was really worth taking. You're welcome to enjoy the pictures and my trip information. On questions, inquiries or anything else you can contact me.
For your information, the whole trip (Transport by Train, Gasoline, Accomodation in Hotels, Food, etc.) did cost me about 414€ (Car Train) + 550 € (Others).

Have fun! Robert Lange, robert.lange@s1999.tu-chemnitz.de, 2007-12-30

The Route

Day 1: Avignon - Simiane-La-Rotonde

I arrived in the morning via Car Train and right ahead started my tour.
Pictures Boarding in Düsseldorf

Distance	190 km
Route	Google Maps
Pictures	Day 1
Accomodation	Les Coustetes, A very nice and remote place (but not among the cheapest) You can enjoy the quiteness and vastness of the Provence at it's best
Highlights	Gorges de Nesque

Day 2: Simiane-La-Rotonde - La Palud sur Verdon

Distance	200 km
Route	Google Maps
Pictures	Day 2
Accomodation	I just took the next one in Palud sur Verdon, so no assessment this time
Highlights	Signal de Lure (Montage de Lure), From Malijai to Bras d'Asse, Way to and around Grand Canyon du Verdon

Day 3: La Palud sur Verdon - Saint Etienne de Tinee

Distance	180 km
Route	Google Maps
Pictures	Day 3
Accomodation	Hotel Amis (les), I took the cheapest room with shared facilities, and it just proved to be cheap in all aspects (next time I will gladly pay a little more to get a better room)
Highlights	From Grand Canyon du Verdon to Castellane, Gorges de Daluis

Day 4: Saint Etienne de Tinee - Bardonecchia (Italien)

Distance	170 km
Route	Google Maps
Pictures	Day 4
Accomodation	Residence La Tana del Ghiro, Giolitti 12, 10052 Bardonecchia, A big place which can host whole families during winter season all for myself, and for budget price. Thumbs up (even when I had some trouble to get into, because the manager had left already when I arrived - this was not so nice)
Highlights	Col de Granges/Col de Restefond, Col de Vars, Col d'Iozard

Day 5: Bardonecchia (Italien) - Torino

Distance	160 km
Route	Google Maps
Pictures	Day 5
Accomodation	B&B Al Porta Susa, A private run accomodation in the patron's (huge) flat. Central in Torino and very comfortable.
Highlights	Tasting dust in the skiing area sidetrip (next time I will rent an enduro bike for this!)

Return to Germany

I spend some days in Torino, and then returned by Car Train from Verona, back to Germany.
Pictures Return to Germany

Additional Information

Source material for planning

This are the books I used for planning my trip. I highly recommend you to get them when you want to follow my track, because it will enable you to change the itineracy to your needs.

Sylva Harasim, Martin Schempp: Lust auf . . ., Provence, Highlights-Verlag (Dezember 2001), ISBN-10 393338513X, German
Really the Book to follow in the Provence. All of the tours are perfect for riding: Curved side streets with good surface but few traffic, passing through great scenery. Kudos to the Author. I definitely plan to come back and follow some of his other suggested tracks.
Markus Golletz: Westalpen mit dem Motorrad, Bruckmann-Verlag, ISBN-10: 3765444316, German
The author is a big enduro fan, thus please take a little bit of caution with the tracks in here. When you own a street bike (like me) a lot of the side streets labeled as "free for all" by the author you should skip. For enduro drivers, I bet this is the book you want to follow.
Frankreich: Marco Polo Regionalkarte Frankreich. Provence, Cote d'Azur, Rhones-Alpes 1 : 300 000: Tl 8 (Landkarte), Mairdumont-Verlag, ISBN-10 3829737580
Very handy to add the suggested tours from the previous books and then build your custom route
Rudolf Geser: Die schönsten Alpenpässe. 50 Motorradtouren J. Berg Verlag, ISBN 3-7658-4169-2, German
Good overview about alpine passings

And last but definitely not least, not to forgot my TomTom Rider
I won't had as much fun without a navigation system. Just plan/program your route the evening before - and then just follow it!

Improvements

Add an relaxing day inbetween or cut down the daily kilometer count.
For me it was hard to keep up running all the days from 10am to 5pm. And it really was sad that I did not managed any sightseeing in this great landscape.

Links

http://www.dbautozug.de - Deutsche Bahn Car Train
http://www.cote.azur.fr - Information about Cote d'Azur

licensed under a Creative Commons license (Deutsch)