'Pour de France' - The ultimate way to discover France on a bike!

It's 100 days to go to the 100th Tour De France so we've put together our own version based on Breakaways' tours around the best wine regions of France. Rather than hurtling up Alpine peaks like Messrs Wiggins and Cavendish, we'd prefer something a little more leisurely with plenty of opportunities for meandering through French vineyards sampling outstanding wines, ensuring there are plenty of cafe pit-stops and photo breaks (lycra clothing isn't necessary either!).

From Burgundy to Brittany, why not choose your own Pour De France stage, OR if you really love French wine and cycling amidst world famous vineyards then you can follow our 50-night route on either June 6th (costing $17,577 per person) or September 14th ($17,025per person).

Burgundy
From the fertile basin around Auxerre, in the north west, and the ancient massifs of Morvan and Charollais in the south, Burgundy is a wonderfully diverse region. It’s been synonymous with 'gastronomy and good living' since Roman times and, in the limestone plateaux of La Cote, some of the world's most expensive wines are still produced. Your route here follows our gentle Chablis Vineyards Cycling route, featuring world-famous wines (lots of tasting opportunities!), forgotten country villages and superb local cuisine.

Alsace
This is one of France's best-kept secrets and the tiny region has its own distinct character. Much of its charm lies in its fairytale towns and villages - narrow cobbled streets, Gothic churches, cool fountains and bright flowers. Almost everywhere has its cave and some villages have their own vintages that aren’t produced anywhere else. You follow the route of our Rivers and Vineyards Cycling through vineyards, orchards and flower-festooned beautiful villages. This off-beat holiday is rich in historic and gastronomic treasures!

Franche Comte
Here you'll find France profonde - unchanged over the years, with charming village squares decked with pavement cafés, geranium-filled balconies and traffic-free country lanes. It’s also famous for its gastronomy - chef Raymond Blanc comes from here - and chocolates, cheeses, cherries and wines are plentiful. Follow the Two Rivers Cycling circuit to explore the rich cultural heritage and beautifully unspoilt countryside of the high Jura. UNESCO-listed sites, onion-domed churches and cherry-carpeted hills await.

Provence
A magical place filled to the brim with interest and graced with more than 300 days of sunshine a year. It’s a rich mix of pretty villages, colourful markets, beautiful scenery and fascinating historic sites. All this plus the world-famous Côtes du Rhône vineyards too! Here the Vaucluse Vineyards Cycling route circles the famous Côtes du Rhône vineyards, and includes 2 nights in Vaison la Romaine - France's most extensive Roman site.

The Dordogne
Here a wealth of prehistoric and mediaeval influences, dramatic landscapes and rich cuisines distinguish the region from everywhere else in France. Try the gourmet fare of foie gras, truffles and confits d'oie - washed down with the fine Cahors or Bergerac wines. Follow our Dordogne Gastronomic Cycling - wonderful gastronomic meals, world-famous wines, fabulous historic sites and postcard-pretty villages are just a few of the highlights of this popular tour.

The Loire
This region has a special place in the affections of visitors to France. It has one of Europe's most congenial climates, world-famous Chateaux and wonderful cuisine. And, of course, its vineyards produce a bigger variety of wines than any other wine region in the world, always delicious and in good years, amongst France's greatest vintages. Here you'll experience the Loire Gastronomic Cycling - a gentle introduction to the very essence of the Loire Valley: majestic chateaux, wide rivers, world-famous wines and some of the finest food we've ever eaten!

Brittany
Visitors here have long since been seduced by wonderful scenery, fantastic food and majestic coastline. The vividly contrasting landscapes have made it an artists' haven over the years yet, despite its popularity, you can still get away from it all and find your own hidden delights. No great wines from here... but lots of excellent ciders to choose from! Follow the Emerald Coast Cycling route to explore this largely unspoiled region of traditional fishing ports, colourful country hamlets and beautifully preserved walled towns unchanged since the Middle Ages.

posted by Breakaway Adventures @ 8:47 AM