The Viarhôna: A Bicycle Route From The Alps To The Mediterranean
Since 2020, bicycle tourism is on the rise. If you're looking for an idea for a cycling itinerary for your next cycling vacation, you should know that the ViaRhôna allows you to go from the alpine landscapes of Lake Geneva to the beaches of the Mediterranean by crossing the Rhone valley. Here are 5 things you should know about this unmissable cycle touring route.
1- It follows the Rhône
As its name suggests, the ViaRhôna follows the Rhône River for 815 km.
It starts from the shores of Lake Geneva at Saint-Gingolph in the Alps and takes you to the beaches of the Mediterranean. In fact, you can end your trip near Arles in Port Saint Louis du Rhône or in Sète in the Hérault.
This bike route is a portion of the European route EuroVelo 17 which starts in Switzerland and has a total length of 1100 km over the two countries.
In addition, this route is interconnected with other cycling routes:
- the Voie Bleue (connection to Lyon)
- the Grande Traversée de l'Ardèche VTT (connection to Bourg-Saint-Andéol)
- the Mediterranean by bike (connection to Beaucaire).
2- It crosses 12 departments
The ViaRhôna allows you to cycle through very varied landscapes, from the mountains to the seaside, passing through vineyards, towns and villages...
It is probably the best option for all those who wish to discover the southeastern quarter of France by bike.
Indeed, this cycle route crosses no less than 12 departments :
- in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, it crosses the 8 departments that make up the region, that is, Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Ain, Isère, Rhône, Loire, Ardèche and Drôme
- it then passes through two departments of the PACA region, the Vaucluse and the Bouches-du-Rhône
- in the north-south direction, it ends in two departments of the Occitanie region, the Gard and the Hérault.
3- It is well marked and equipped
For all those who want to experience bicycle touring in the best safety conditions, the ViaRhôna has the advantage of being well marked and equipped.
Indeed, this cycling route is 96% marked. On the signs, the Viarhôna logo is accompanied by its EuroVelo 17 identifier.
This bike route is 56% bike lanes and the remaining 44% are small, low traffic roads.
4- It offers stages for all tastes
If some seasoned cyclists take up the challenge of riding the entire ViaRhôna, most tourists only ride a few stages.
Indeed, thanks to the interactive maps offered on the official website (link below), you can compose your itinerary among the 25 stages that this route has.
Cycle tourism allows you to discover the territories crossed at your own pace and to practice a friendly and non-polluting slow tourism. So why not try a route from Lake Geneva to Lyon, or from Lyon to Avignon or from Avignon to the Mediterranean Sea?
Tourist guides such as the guide du routard de la Viarhôna or the vélo guide Ouest-France can help you prepare your itinerary and visit the surroundings of this cycle route.
You should also know that many accommodations such as campsites, gites, bed and breakfasts and hotels are available along this route, most often less than 5 km from the cycling route.
Some of these accommodations carry the Accueil Vélo label, which guarantees a quality welcome for cyclists on their journey.
5- It is possible to book a turnkey stay
Finally, for those who have never cycletouristed before and are afraid of not being well enough organized, know that many tour operators offer turnkey stays on the ViaRhôna.
The tour operator takes care of everything: it takes care of booking accommodation, transporting your luggage and can even provide you with a rental bike! All you have to do is pedal and enjoy the landscape.
You can find many turnkey offers for a day, weekend or longer stay (from 5 to 8 days) on the official website below.
TER makes it easy for you to travel by bike.
Travel for free with your bikes on board TER trains, using the spaces reserved for this purpose, subject to availability. Enjoy a peaceful journey with your bike on TER trains in the Rhône Valley during the summer season, thanks to our additional services:
Bike access guarantee on certain trains
With more than 20 daily Cyclo TER trains, reserve a free and mandatory space for your bike. This service is offered on trains running between Lyon and Marseille or Lyon and Avignon, in both directions, on May 18, 20, 21, 27, 28 and 29, as well as on weekends and public holidays from June 17 to September 10, 2023. Don't forget to book on https://www.resatercyclo.fr/
Staff assistance
In the busiest Cyclo TER trains, dedicated staff are available to assist you during boarding and throughout your journey.
Additional spaces
More than 13,500 bike spaces are available, including 6,000 additional spaces, thanks to interior design and capacity reinforcements of TER Cyclo trains.
