EuroVelo 8 (France) - Mediterranean

France’s contribution to the epic Mediterranean EuroVelo route is more varied than you’d expect.

Sure, there are miles upon miles of predictably wonderful (and wonderfully predictable) coastal path, from the windswept miles of sand after Perpignan to the opulent promenades of Nice. You won’t go home feeling short-changed for the amount of Med you’ve ridden.

But there’s so much more. An unforgettable inland detour into the Camargue, flirting with the Petite Rhône before crossing the main river at Beaucaire. A beguiling slow climb on a railway path takes you out of the valley, before the gradients ramp up through the “perched villages” of Provence – medieval settlements clinging to the hillsides, with commanding views over the landscape. Eventually, you descend to the coast for 40km of blissful Mediterranean riding.

The inland sections are steep in places, though not prohibitively so. A few early sections of towpath are unpaved, but generally this is a very suitable route for a road bike.

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