The Drôme Provençale is a wonderful area for cycling. There are also many signposted cycling routes. One of those cycling routes is the Abricots et vignes or the Apricots and Vineyards cycling route. And the nice thing is that it runs right past Le Rêve Provençal. After exactly 275 meters of cycling you are already on this route.

An easy start

The Apricot and Vineyards cycle route starts very slightly uphill. Soon you will cycle past the first vineyards. The wine region in which Le Rêve Provençal is located is that of the Côtes-du-Rhône. You will soon pass through the beautiful Provençal village of Puymeras. By the way, you regularly see the Mont Ventoux at the beginning of this bike ride.

Soon after, the climb to the first col of the day begins; the Col de Propriac (526 m). An easy climb. The descent of this col starts with some tight hairpin bends. Via a beautiful valley you go up and down to the town of Buis-les-Baronnies.

Col d’Eye

After Buis-les-Baronnies you climb to the second col of the day; the Col d’Eye (718 m). This is also the highest point of the Apricot and Vineyards cycling route. When you leave Buis-les-Baronnies you will soon pass through the beautiful Gorges d’Ubrieux, where you can also enjoy paddling in the beautiful blue water. After leaving this stream the climb really starts.

Not just apricots and vineyards

After the Col d’Eye a lovely descent vollows to the valley of Ennuye. I cycled there at the end of June in exactly the right season to see lavender fields in bloom. I often smelled the fields before I saw them! You can also see many apricots and olive trees here. The olives that grow here are Nyons black olives, one of the specialities of the Drôme. The olive tree by the swimming pool of Le Rêve Provençale is also a real Nyons black olive tree. In Nyons, the Vignolis museum is entirely devoted to this olive variety.

During the descent you can enjoy beautiful views. You continue to descend until the village of Les Pilles. Here you can if needed fill your water bottle for the last col of the day.

Col de la Croix Rouge

The last col of the day is the Col de la Croix Rouge (513 m) and it is only 3.2% on average and therefore a great col to do at the end of this Apricot and Vineyards cycle route. A lovely climb through a wide valley. The descent along a stream takes you back to Mirabel-aux-Baronnies. You then have cycled 64.6 km with just over 1,000 meters of climbing.

This Apricot and Vineyard cycling route can also be found on our AllTrails page. Here you will also find information about, for example, the pleasant walk from the neighbouring village of Piègon. The map and elevation profile are at the bottom of this page. You can also find this route on Strava.

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