Cycling Mont Ventoux, France is top of many people’s must-do list of rides. It’s a giant of a mountain that’s steeped in cycling legend.
If you’re wondering where to base yourself for a Mont Ventoux cycling holiday, we’d suggest either:
Bédoin is a small, charming town at the base of Mont Ventoux. It has a strong cycling pedigree and lives and breathes cycling during the summer months.
Alternatively, base yourself in the Luberon. We think it’s one of the best places to cycle in France. It offers fabulous riding on quiet roads to ancient perched villages, abbeys, castles, lavender fields and vineyards. The terrain is varied, and there are routes that will appeal to all: from flat valley riding to rolling hills. And, for those targeting Mont Ventoux, it’s just around the corner.
want to cycle mont ventoux?
In this guide, you’ll find detailed information on the routes up Ventoux as well as some awesome rides in the Luberon.
We also give accommodation suggestions and bike hire options for Bédoin and the Luberon. Read on for all you need to plan your next cycling adventure.
Routes: Cycling Mont Ventoux and beyond
Mont Ventoux routes
For many cyclists visiting the Luberon and Provence, it’s all about the Mont Ventoux climb.
The Giant of Provence, the Bald Mountain, the Lonely Mountain. Whatever you choose to call it, it towers above the Provençal countryside and is one of the world’s most iconic rides. It’s a big part of Tour de France history, books have been written on it, Tom Simpson died cycling it. The weather can be extreme. It is a dangerous, mythical, semi-religious place. It’s a ride every serious road cyclist should do at least once in their life.
There are three different Mont Ventoux cycle routes: check out our three guides below. They include Ventoux route maps, gradient profiles and GPX downloads
Cycling Mont Ventoux:
Bédoin route
- Distance: 21km
- Elevation: 1,580m
- Difficulty:
- Epic rating:
Cycling Mont Ventoux:
Sault route
- Distance: 26km
- Elevation: 1,250m
- Difficulty:
- Epic rating:
Cycling Mont Ventoux:
Malaucène route
- Distance: 21km
- Elevation: 1,570m
- Difficulty:
- Epic rating:
If once up Mont Ventoux isn't enough...
If you think you’ve got what it takes, here are some more Mont Ventoux challenges - in ascending order of craziness:
- Granfondo Mont Ventoux. In 2016, the 130km route had an elevation gain of 3,600m. The 78km route had an elevation gain of 2,390m.
- Les Cinglés du Ventoux. You’ll need to cycle all three routes (up and down) in a day, in whichever order you like. If you complete this, you’ll be doing 72 km of climbing with 4300 meters of vertical gain.
- Bicinglette - double the Cingles! It requires six ascents and six descents within 24 hours.
Are you a member of the Club des Cingles du Mont Ventoux? Let us know in the comments below if you have attempted any of these Mont Ventoux cycling challenges - or if you plan to. We’d love to hear from you.
Other top rides in the Luberon, Provence
There is another side to cycling in Provence, far away from Mont Ventoux: the less famous, easier going rides through bucolic countryside. The region is a wonderful place to cycle even if you (or someone you’re travelling with) doesn’t want to cycle Mont Ventoux itself. Creamy stone pool villas dot the countryside, there are markets to explore, superb restaurants in quiet villages, excellent little known wine producers, swimming lakes and bike paths for the kids too.
Two of our favourite Provence cycling routes are below.
1. Highlights of the Northern Luberon
Distance: 65.9km
Elevation gain 1,185m
If you’ve only got time for one ride in the Luberon, make it this one; the showcase for Luberon cycling.
The route takes you past lavender fields, perched villages and some of the region’s most iconic sites, including Chateau de Lacoste, Abbey de Sénanque, Village des Bories and Le Sentier des Ocres in Roussillon.
The real difficulty will be resisting the urge to stop all the time to take photos and visit these amazing places.
Abbey de Sénanque, near Gordes
Village des Bories, also near Gordes
Roussillon village
2. highlights of the southern luberon
Distance: 58.2km
Elevation gain: 833m
This fabulous loop gives you a taste of the Luberon on the south side of the Luberon Mountains.
The ride starts with the unforgettable twisting and turning descent of the D943 gorge road, surrounded by immense grey stone walls.
Once you’re out of the gorge, the riding is more mellow through vineyards, past castles and through ancient villages. The small lake surrounded by 200-year-old plane trees at Cucuron is a particular highlight.
If you’ve got time, we’d also recommend a stop in beautiful Lourmarin.
Bonnieux (photo credit: Gordon Bell/Shutterstock.com)
Cucuron (photo credit: Marina VA/Shutterstock.com)
Lourmarin (photo credit: Gordon Bell/Shutterstock.com)
Signposted cycling routes in Provence
For those that don’t like following a Garmin, there is a range of excellent signposted routes:
Family rides around the Luberon, Provence
Here are some ideas for Provence cycling holidays with kids:
Veloroute - Voie Verte du Calavon
A superb bike path begins near the village of Coustellet and follows the Calavon valley for 37km. It’s almost flat (189m elevation gain over the whole ride), and much is well away from the road. One of the highlights is passing the Pont Julian Roman bridge.
Perched villages loop
This 38km loop takes in some of the Luberon’s most attractive perched villages:
Tip: with 634m climbing, this route is only suitable for older children that are keen cyclists.
Lacoste (photo credit: Gordon Bell/Shutterstock.com)
Oppède le Vieux
Menerbes village
Accommodation
This section includes details of hotels and villas we have either stayed in or which we think look great. Full disclosure: if you click on a link and make a booking, we may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. Please read our disclosure policy for further information.
We have included details of what hotels have told us about bike storage facilities. Please check that these policies haven’t changed when you book.
Mont Ventoux hotels and cycling accommodation
Tip: See below for our Luberon accommodation suggestions
If your sole focus is Ventoux and you want to ride it multiple times, you’ll want to consider hotels near Mont Ventoux. Staying in or around Bédoin will give you easy access.
We haven’t stayed in Bédoin ourselves, but we would consider:
Hotel Crillon Le Brave, Crillon le Brave
Chateau de Mazan, Mazan
Hotel des Pins, Bédoin
Hotel La Garance, La Colombe
Where to stay in The Luberon
If you’re looking for a more all-around holiday destination and are just planning to ride Ventoux as a one-off, we’d suggest staying in the wonderful Luberon National Park. We think it’s the best base for cycling in Provence and it gives easy access to Ventoux. Depending on where you stay, it’s around 35-40km south of Bédoin.
Our favourite town in the Luberon is Bonnieux, because of its commanding position, winding streets and superb restaurants.
It’s swiftly followed by:
Read on for Luberon villa and hotel suggestions!
Beautiful Bonnieux (photo credit: Gordon Bell/Shutterstock.com)
Bell tower in Roussillon
View from the ruined castle above Saint Saturnin-les-Apt
Our choice
We have stayed in three different villas in the Luberon. All were gorgeous, and we would happily recommend them to friends.
(If you’re after a hotel, check out our suggestion below.)
La Marachale, near Bonnieux
Pretty two bedroom, two bathroom first-floor apartment in an 18th century Provençal farmhouse, between Bonnieux and Lacoste.
What we loved
Things to know
Three bedroom townhouse in the centre of Roussillon
This beautifully furnished old house has a fabulous town centre location.
What we loved
Things to know
Les Genets near Lourmarin
A beautifully styled, three bedroom, two bedroom house in the village of Vaugines, 5km from Lourmarin
What we loved
Things to know
Hotels in the Luberon
Our next cycling trip to the Luberon will definitely incorporate a stay at the Coquillade Village in Gargas.
Bike hire
We have listed below some companies that should be able to help with bike rental for Mont Ventoux and the wider Luberon/Provence region. We have always taken our bikes with us, so haven’t tried these suggestions.
This information is offered as an indicative guide only: we periodically update it but prices, services and bike brands may change. Please let us know if you find anything that is incorrect.
Company | Notes |
|---|---|
Bédoin, Mont Ventoux bike hireIf you’re looking for Mont Ventoux bike hire, you’ll find lots of options in Bédoin for bike hire. We haven’t rented a bike in Bédoin, but we’ve heard good things about the following: | |
La Route du Ventoux 57 Route du Mont-Ventoux 84410 Bédoin +33 (0)4 90 67 07 40 | La Route du Ventoux is also known as France Bike Rentals as the owners of La Route du Ventoux are part owners of France Bike Rentals, a company which rents and delivers bikes all over France. |
Ventoux Bikes 1, Avenue de Verdun, 84340 Malaucène +33 (0)9 62 30 25 73 |
|
Albion Cycles Route de Saint Trinit, 84390 Sault +33 (0)4 90 64 09 32 |
|
Luberon bike hireThere are lots of places to rent bikes in the Luberon and Provence and we’ve listed some below. | |
Rent Bike Luberon 2, Rue Marceau, 84 480 Bonnieux +33 (0)7 78 68 34 94 |
|
Sun e bike 1 Avenue Clovis Hugues, 84480 Bonnieux +33 (0)4 90 74 09 96 | You need to contact them about road bike hire since they primarily rent electric bikes. |
BMC cycling centre Coquillade Village, Le Perrotet, 84400 Gargas +33 (0)4 90 74 71 71 | The cycle centre is part of the Coquillade Hotel. We contacted the hotel to check it is possible to hire bikes if you are not a guest and they told us: “You can hire our bikes if you do not stay at the hotel. However, the bike always must return in the evening at the Rental Shop.” |
Velo Luberon ZAC Saint Martin, 84120 Pertuis +33 (0)4 90 09 17 33 |
|
Luberon Biking Conservatoire des Ocres D104 84220 Roussillon +33 (0)4 90 90 14 62 |
|
Tips:
Undecided on whether to hire a bike or bring your own? Read this.
When to go
Our favourite time to visit the Luberon and Ventoux is June when it’s hot, without being ridiculous, the lavender fields look and smell amazing, and the roads aren’t inundated with families on school holidays. That said, we’ve visited in July and (contrary to what most people say!) preferred it to September simply due to the lavender fields being in flower and the reliably hot days.
It comes down to your priorities. Hopefully, this chart will help you decide. The weather on Ventoux is changeable whatever the time of year and the Mistral may well be blowing hard - even in high summer.
If you want to cycle Ventoux, check the Mont Ventoux weather forecast before you set out.
January | Ventoux climb closed. | ||
February | |||
March | |||
April | Ventoux may be closed, depending on weather and which route you want to ride. | ||
May | May still be a bit of snow at the top of Ventoux and unlikely to see the lavender fields in bloom. But tourist numbers should be low, and the heat shouldn’t be too intense. | ||
June | Warm days for cycling, without the intense heat of July/August, fewer tourists and, in late June, the lavender fields should be in bloom. | ||
July | School holidays in France, UK (from mid-July) and US; Le Festival d’Avignon makes the area particularly busy; and it could be very hot. But you should see lavender and sunflowers in full bloom. | ||
August | School holidays in France, UK and US; intense heat will make Ventoux hard work. But you should see lavender and sunflowers (lavender is generally harvested from mid-July to late August). | ||
September | Can get some heavy rain/thunderstorms and the lavender will have been harvested but generally a good combination of lower temperature and fewer tourists. Great for foodies: markets packed with ripe produce, e.g. Cavaillon melons. | ||
October | Earlier on in October, you may well have good temperatures and clear roads for climbing Ventoux. Towards the middle and end of the month, the road may be shut depending on weather and route. | ||
November | Ventoux may well be closed, depending on weather and which route you want to ride. | ||
December | Ventoux climb closed. | ||
Tips and articles
This section includes details of products we have either used and liked or which we think look great. Full disclosure: if you click on a link and make a purchase, we will earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. Please read our disclosure policy (which includes our Amazon Associates disclosure) for further information.
Books and maps
Luberon and Mont Ventoux maps
If you like to look at bike routes on a physical map, consider this map of the Vaucluse department (which is where the Luberon and Ventoux are located). The IGN Ventoux map may also be useful.
Reference
Daniel Friebe’s coffee table sized Mountain High is an excellent addition to any cycling library. It covers a selection of Europe’s greatest climbs, including Mont Ventoux. It has four pages of the cycling history of Ventoux as well as good photos and profiles of the Bédoin and Malaucène routes.
Alternatively, Simon Warren’s (almost) pocket-sized 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs Tour de France gives a brief but practical description of Ventoux.
Ride a Stage of the Tour de France by Kristian Bauer is in a similar vein. It is a translation from the German original published in 2006, but don’t let that put you off. It’s in a slightly larger format than Warren’s book, and so has more room for detail. It includes ten pages on Ventoux, covering the Bédoin and Malaucène routes, and including maps, profiles, photos and history.
Biographies
Tom Simpson and Mont Ventoux are practically synonymous. His death on Ventoux is a prominent part of the mountain’s history. These books will fill you in.
If you would prefer something a bit lighter:
Films
DVDs of Tour de France highlights will of course feature Ventoux. There is also Virtual Rides Ventoux Cycling Training if you want to have Ventoux as your backdrop as you train for your ride.
Things to do in Provence (when you're not cycling)
If you're looking for inspiration for what to do when you're not cycling, this helpful article gives you 7 days of things to do and see in Provence.
Good to know
Mont Ventoux cycling jerseys
Want a jersey to commemorate (or motivate) your climb up Mont Ventoux? Check this out.
Mont Ventoux: Tour de France history
Interesting facts
over to you!
We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide to the Ventoux and Luberon/Provence region. Drop us a line or let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Want to check out some other destinations? Search for more amazing cycling destinations and if you know when you want to travel, speed up the decision process by filtering by the month you want to travel.
(Banner photo credit: visuall2/Shutterstock.com)
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Malaucène route
Sault route
Bédoin route
We visited the Luberon for the second time this summer and found the Epic Road Rides site very useful indeed. From the recommended rides, including GPX routes to download, places to stay and the useful packing list, an excellent one stop shop for planning your cycling holiday!
Thanks for your kind words and glad to hear you found the information useful. The Luberon is an amazing place to ride; hope you had a fantastic holiday!