Cycling Collection by Fred Urrutia
A gentle walk through the Ardèche — La Dolce Via by bike
3 days
3-3 h/day
114km
1,800m
840m
Today, the Dolce Via allows you to travel through space and time to discover this collection of bridges, viaducts and tunnels that climb the Parc Naturel des Monts d'Ardèche and criss-cross the gorges of the Eyrieux and the Boutières. On the program, fruit trees, majestic engineering works, old spinning mills and several swimming spots.
In this Collection, I invite you to do the Dolce Via by bike, a green way that crosses the preserved landscapes of the Ardèche. In three stages, you cover 115 kilometres that present few difficulties and that adapt to families. This green way evolves gently, so don't hesitate to do the journey in reverse to save your strength.
If necessary, you can divide each stage in two. Moreover, all the villages that line this old railway offer accommodation possibilities. You can also skip the second stage, if you only have two days for this bike stay. But if you are sporty, you can integrate the central stage into the first and last stage and do only one night in Lamastre.
Any touring bike will do: MTB, VTC, gravel... It all depends if you want to prioritize speed or comfort! No need to overload yourself: you will always be a few hundred metres from the villages on the Via Dolce, where you will find shops selling regional products. Otherwise in Le Cheylard, you can buy everything you need for supplies.
The region enjoys an excellent climate all year round. The beginning of spring charms cyclists with its flowers and lush vegetation. The summer is perfect for enjoying swimming, even if the heat makes pedalling more difficult. The beginning of autumn seems to be a good compromise!
To get to the starting line, you will have to take the TGV to Valence. Then, the TER Auvergne Rhône-Alpes X73 bus takes you to La Voulte-sur-Rhône (get off at the Town Hall stop). Remember to book 48 hours in advance the place in the hold for your bike. To return from Saint-Agrève, you can take line 5 bus to Tournon, and then line 3 which drops you off in Valence.
All I have left is to wish you a good bike ride on the Dolce Via, a green way that will allow you to discover the agricultural and industrial past of the region.
Visibility:
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La Dolce Via - Full Tour
110km
1,730m
770m
Last updated: June 5, 2024
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Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
Activities
47.7km
03:59
520m
180m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
40.0km
03:42
530m
530m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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26.8km
03:29
750m
130m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Collection Stats
Activities
3
Distance
114 km
Duration
11:09 h
Elevation
1,800 m
840 m
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