From the Occitan coast to Italy — exploring the Mediterranean by bike

The EuroVelo 8 follows the Mediterranean Sea from Spain to Cyprus for 7,500 kilometres (4,660 mi) and is a superb route that crosses 10 countries.

This Collection follows one of the French sections, the Mediterranean Bike Route. Starting in Argelès in Occitania near the Spanish border, after nine stages the route ends 750 kilometres (466 mi) further in Menton, on the border with Italy. You’ll explore much of France’s Mediterranean coastline and discover how diverse Provençe is.

This itinerary is a slightly alternative route as I’ve added in several deviations from the official EuroVelo 8 so you can discover even more beautiful landscapes and places of interest. If you want to follow the official route in its entirety, head to the following link: komoot.com/tour/572841361

The origin of the word ‘Provençe’ goes back to the Roman conquest around 300 BC, when the Roman legions invaded and named this new territory the ‘Province of Rome’. Narbonne, Arles, Orange, Nîmes, Vaison, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and so many others: practically all the cities of Provence have a Roman or Greek origin.

You’ll find very good wines as well as an olive culture here, predominantly in the Alpilles and the Lubéron. The region has a wonderful balance between beautiful landscapes and exciting cities. I recommend that you linger particularly in Narbonne, Sète and Menton.

This itinerary is balanced, with very little difference in altitude during the first stages. It is not until stage 6 and the departments of Haute-Provence, Var and Alpes-Maritimes that you start to face serious climbs. This gradual progress allows you to get into the swing of things. On rare occasions you may have to walk beside your bike although gravel riders won’t have to worry about this. This Collection can be used by both hikers and gravel or touring cyclists.

There’s a good chance that wind will feature highly in some stages, particularly in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône, where the Mistral wind can blow strongly. This Collection is suitable for any cyclist of reasonable fitness. Most days are not very challenging and you can easily split the stages further.

This is a popular region for visitors, so you’ll have no trouble finding accommodation and food. It’s important to book your accommodation well in advance if you travel during the summer months.

To get to the beginning of the route, I recommend travelling by train. Argelès has many daily connections to Perpignan and Menton is also well served by rail. Taking a sleeper train is a great way to arrive too. You’ll find all the necessary information on the SNCF website: sncf.com/en

A final tip: if you have the time, the beautiful Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations in Marseille is worth a visit. It’s the first large national museum dedicated to the Mediterranean. For more information, head to: mucem.org/en