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The loops of Provence

Written by Denis Chouquet-Stringer, edited by Jean-Marc Clément

Presentation

The route comprises 14 loops totalling 1,371 km, 112 passes (plus 6 optional) and an altitude difference of at least 2,560 m.

Twelve loops are accessible all year round, while the other two (Ventoux and Lure) are subject to restrictions in winter depending on snow conditions on the roads.

The 14 loops start from 9 stages where there is no shortage of accommodation (hotels, campsites, gîtes, guest houses, etc.): Nos. 1 and 2: Malaucène (84), Nos. 3 and 4: Gordes (84), Nos. 5 and 6: Forcalquier (04), Nos. 7 and 8: Auriol (13), Nos. 9, 10 and 11: Grimaud (83), No. 12: Castellane (04), No. 13: Grasse (06), No. 14: Moustiers (04). Each day you return to the starting point: you don't need to bring the gear you need to travel on your own, all you need is your equipment for the day, and you'll be travelling «light».

Our tour is accessible to all cyclists with a little training, whatever their level of fitness: the longest loop is 122 km long but has only 1170 m of ascent, while the most difficult loop has an ascent of 2220 m for 96 km. On average, the loops are 98 km long and have an altitude difference of 1790 m. And, because they are loops, shortcuts are almost always possible.

This hike was mapped out by Denis Chouquet-Stringer of the Confrérie des Cent Cols and modified by Jean-Marc Clément.

Course

Registration form

Theme

Provence? It's a land of contrasts.

Its climate is Mediterranean, with around 300 days of sunshine a year. Winters are mild, summers hot and dry, but sometimes the cool Mistral wind can more than make up for the sun's heat.

The deep blue sky, the scent of lavender, the fields of aromatic plants, the garrigue, the vines, the olive groves, the chestnut groves, the cork oaks and the pine trees are all emblematic features of Provence. But you may be deafened by the sometimes violent songs of the cicadas.

Our Boucles de Provence will take you on a journey through some of the most emblematic mountain ranges in Provence:

The Dentelles de Montmirail
Mont Ventoux
The Alpilles
The Lure Mountain
The Luberon
Ste-Victoire Mountain
La Ste-Beaume
The Calanques
Les Maures
The Verdon
Grasse region (Préalpes d’Azur)

Controls

Fourteen checks must be carried out at points along the route that you choose yourself.

Malaucène 1 (84): 86km, 13 passes, D+: 1780m
Malaucène 2 (84): 65km, 5 passes, D+: 2000m
Gordes 1 (84): 122km, 8 passes, D+: 1170m
Gordes 2 (84): 95km, 9 passes, D+: 1950m
Forcalquier 1 (04): 106km, 3 passes, D+: 1930m
Forcalquier 2 (04): 113km, 5 cols, D+: 1780m
Auriol 1 (13): 112km, 7 passes, D+: 2100m
Auriol 2 (13): 110km, 12 passes, D+: 2050m
Grimaud 1 (83): 93km, 10 passes, D+: 1300m
Grimaud 2 (83): 83km, 10 passes, D+: 1500m
Grimaud 3 (83): 91km, 6 passes, D+: 1215m
Castellane (04) 100km, 8 passes, D+ 2075m
Grasse (06) 100km, 9 passes, D+ 1975m
Moustiers (04) 96km, 7 passes, D+ 2230m

Some passes

Suzette pass
Col des Tempêtes
Col de la Vayède
Col de Murs
Col de la Ligne
N-D des Abeilles pass
Pas de la Couelle (Petit-Galibier)
Grand Sambuc pass
Col de l'Espigoulier
Col de la Gineste
Col du Canadel
Babaou Pass
Gratteloup pass
Three Terms Pass

Rules of the game for permanent walks

All participants in this permanent trail agree to respect the Rules of the Game. governing it.

For further information

Contact the person in charge of permanent walks

Jean-Marc CLEMENT
10 rue de Normandie
31120 Portet sur Garonne
FRANCE

Tel: +33 (0)5 61 76 30 12
E-mail : [email]randos@centcols.org [/email]

Please note: You can only send your route maps to be approved, as well as your postcards and travel reports, to the person in charge of permanent hikes who is active at the time of sending and who can be found on the 100 COLS website!