Cities, museums and cycling itineraries of the French coast
Just a weekend on French Riviera and loves architecture? Visit Marseille.
Marseille is the second largest city of France and on 2013 has become European Capital of Culture. In this occasion many architectural stars worked to improve the look of the city.
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| Vieux-Port by Norman Foster |
Now in town people walk in the Vieux-Port restyled by the pencil of Norman Foster and visit the MuCEM (museum of European and Mediterranean civilization) et la Villa Méditerranée, a place of interaction between the different identities that come from the sea.
A must in this town is the "Cité Radieuse", a housing complex built by Le Corbusier, become a World Heritage Site Unesco since 2016
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| Walking the seafront in Mentone |
A long weekend? The French Riviera, from Mentone to Nice by bicycle
The landscapes and the light were the appeal in the Côte d'Azur for many artists of the '900, a journey on their routes can't disregard the visit of some museums.
The first stop suggested is at the small town of Mentone close to the Italian border where could visit the museum Musée Jean Cocteu, the work of Rudy Ricciotti who decorated, a few miles further, in Villafranche-sur-Mer, the chapel Saint-Pierre.
We found an interesting blog post about the Museum Jean Cocteau in Mentone at this link.
The lemon is one of the symbols of the city of Menton, where thanks to a very mild Mediterranean climate, many lemon groves bear fruit, and, since 1933, the Lemon Festival takes place in the city, which takes place within the last three weekends of February.
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| our customers enjoy cycling in Nice, French Riviera |
It continues with other spaces in Nice: the works of Matisse are on display in the homonymous museum housed in a Genoese villa of the 600.
On the hills in Nice there is the National Museum Marc Chagall.
At the Place Yves Klein square in Nice there is the MAMAC museum of modern and contemporary art.
From Mentone to Nice we suggest to enjoy cycling in Monte Carlo on the streets of F1 Gran Prix
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| In Monte Carlo, ready to enjoy self cycling holiday to Barcelona, Spain |
One week? Cycling from Aix-en-Provence to Vaison-la-Romaine via Avignone
A charming way to visit Provence is to follow the ancient Roman streets.
From Aix-en-Provence take the via aurelia and continue to Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage city with its ancient center, Roman and Romanesque monuments and museums such as that of Arles Antique.
Before leave Aix-en-Provence we suggest a break at the “Madeleines de Christophe” shop who is close by Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, in the historic town centre of Aix-en-Provence. Made in a traditional way on a daily basis (in Peynier), their "madeleines" are suited to all tastes: plain, lemon, orange, almond, chocolate, rum and even vanilla.
The shop also sells cannelés, cakes and macaroons!
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| Les Madeleines de Christophe in Aix en Provence, France |
Continue towards Avignon to visit the palace of the Popes and walk through the alleys of the city, buy a watercolor from one of the street artists and photograph the opera house.
We then go to Nimes, a candidate for UNESCO heritage, to visit Arènes and perhaps attend the historical re-enactment of the Great Roman Games (normally organized at the end of each month of April). In Nimes you can visit the Carré d'Art designed by Norman Foster.
Some other places to visit: the "Pont du Gard", the Roman aqueduct-bridge and the "triumphal arch" in Orange, ending the route to Vaison-la-Romaine with its archaeological sites.
For those who want you can go back on your way by taking the Via Domizia and enjoy your cycling training at the Luberon, in the heart of Provence.
Several people enjoy French Riviera and Provence regions by bicycle using our high quality bike rental services delivered at accommodations.
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| Veloce customers enjoy self cycling holiday in Provence, France. |
Some people loves to cycle to south direction riding the coast to Monte Carlo, Sanremo finishing their self cycling holiday in Genoa, Italy or vice versa.
Some other people enjoy self cycling holidays traveling to Barcelona, Spain where leaved the bikes at our local partner shops or simply to enjoy self cycling holidays, village by village, discovering the Provence region on South France.
Aix en Provence and Nice cities hosts the IronMan challenges on the occasion of which our company provide high end full carbon road bikes and tribike rentals with delivery and collection at athletes accommodations. Can read more about this service at this link