FR - An 815-km cycle route linking Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, ViaRhôna passes through varied landscapes and areas steeped in history.
In Terre d’Argence region, the bike route traces some 2,000 years of history in this area, situated between Nîmes, Arles and Avignon, allowing you to discover beautiful heritage gems such as Beaucaire, where ViaRhôna meets the Mediterranean by bike (La Méditerranée à vélo), Fourques…
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Cycle paths or greenways? Whilst the cycle path, which first appeared shortly after the end of the First World War,
is intended for non-motorised cycling, the greenway, created in 1994, aims to facilitate non-motorised travel,
for pedestrians, cyclists and roller skaters, and has been part of the European Green Network (Réseau vert européen) since the 2000s.
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Of the three regions it passes through, Occitanie offers excellent tourist opportunities, spanning Ardèche, Gard and Hérault, not to mention the Camargue Regional Nature Park.
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In figures, ViaRhôna covers 815 km from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, with 65% running in the immediate vicinity of the Rhône,
60% on greenways and 40% on shared paths. The route is flat, with no more than a 3% gradient (except for the first 120 km),
and over 30 stations along the way.
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A bit of history
ViaRhôna is a project that dates back to the late 1990s. Gradually established between 2004 and 2005, ViaRhôna relies on the support of many partners, both institutional and regional.
Promoting an ‘interconnected European route, linking the Route du Rhône (235 km in Switzerland) and ViaRhôna (815 km across France)’ and forming part of EuroVelo, ViaRhôna also gives the Véloroute du Rhône the opportunity to be recognised as ‘one of the main cycling tourist destinations in Europe’.
From historic towns to natural sites and gastronomic heritage, ViaRhôna has become a major asset for tourism development, as well as for the economic development of the regions it passes through.
Occitan treasures
From its rich wine heritage (exploring the many local vineyards) to immersing oneself in the wild or domesticated Camargue (visiting Camargue cattle herds)… ViaRhôna also joins the Pont du Gard greenway on a unique 31-kilometre route ‘that winds through vineyards and garrigue, at the heart of the Gard’s charming villages’.
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Argence… a word derived from the silvery reflections of the poplar leaves lining the river.
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Must-see events in Terre d’Argence
The Meetings of the Terre d'Argence (Les Rencontres de la Terre d’Argence) ‘offers a summer programme featuring unique activities off the beaten track, showcasing local traditions and producers: events, activities and workshop visits with tourism providers in the Terre d’Argence region, a programme coordinated and promoted by the Tourist Office from 15 June to mid-September’.
Among these activities, don’t miss the Apéros-panorama at Saint-Roman Abbey every Wednesday throughout the summer or in the heart of Beaucaire Fortress, ‘where you can enjoy splendid sunsets and breathtaking views’ whilst sampling local wines and produce… It’s hard to resist!
Traditional festivals and events
Any other events? The Equestrian meetings (Rencontres équestres), Europe’s largest gathering of horses, to be discovered in Beaucaire.
From 21 July, and for a week, the Fêtes de la Madeleine, Beaucaire en fête, where parades, bodegas, the release of 100 bulls and abrivados take over the historic centre…
Returning in 2027 as a biennial event, the Basketry Festival (Fête de la vannerie) welcomes artisans from across Europe to Terre d’Argence, showcasing their basketry. Parades and a festive atmosphere are guaranteed in Vallabrègues where, ‘at the very beginning of the 20th century, 450 basket weavers lived and practised their craft in the village, after harvesting wicker from the fertile, marshy lands along the river’.
The Costières de Nîmes region offers a gourmet experience at the Mas des Tourelles, where wine is made just as it was 2,000 years ago – ‘the daring venture undertaken by the owners of this Costières de Nîmes estate when they discovered fragments of amphorae and the remains of a Gallo-Roman villa’ : leading to the discovery of a Gallo-Roman cellar with a lever 
press and a Roman vineyard… Good to know: ‘Once a year, dressed as the Romans of old, the Durand family harvests the grapes with a pruning knife, treads them with their feet and operates the Roman wine press to extract the precious nectar during the ‘Roman-style harvest’ (photo © Gard Tourisme).
What else can we add? Among the varied activities on offer along ViaRhôna route, we should mention a tasting session of the refreshing bubbles of Clairette de Bellegarde, a dry, silky white wine made from a single grape variety from the Costières de Nîmes, a micro-appellation, AOC since 1949, ‘produced exclusively in Bellegarde by a handful of winegrowers on just 7 hectares of vineyards’ .
From the banks of the Rhône to the olive groves
Finally, why not make the most of your holidays or weekends by taking part in guided tours of the towns and villages of the Terre d'Argence region? From Beaucaire to Fourques, from Arles to Maris du Vigueirat, from the port of Bellegarde to the Rhône Canal in Sète and the Camargue… ViaRhôna undoubtedly promises some wonderful moments just a few pedal strokes away.
The Accueil Vélo label
Did you know? ViaRhôna partners with this label are committed to offering a high-quality welcome to cyclists with: ‘A secure place to store your bgmailikes, suitable facilities with equipment for minor repairs (repair kit, water point, etc.), advice and services to make your trip more enjoyable (tourist information, maps and advice), close proximity to cycle routes and practical services such as luggage transfer, a hearty breakfast or a delicious picnic’. Want to find out more? Click here!
Many thanks to Sophie Andreu, Marketing and Communications Manager at theTerre d’Argence, for the information provided. Images © Terre d’Argence Tourisme.
The address: Terre d'Argence, la confluence du sud, 8 rue Victor Hugo, 30300 Beaucaire. Contact: Tel: 04 66 59 26 57 or via email for any questions or information.
About La Méditerranée à vélo Cycling breaks in southern France: This is the French section of EuroVelo 8, which will eventually link Cadiz in Spain to Izmir in Turkey over a distance of 7,500 km.