Vaison la Romaine to Carpentras

Vaison la Romaine is incredibly rich in Roman culture and we spent most of our 'rest day' walking around the ruins and the museum. There is an amphitheatre, which has been restored, and most of the central part of the old town. 

We left for Vaison la Romaine and took a route through Séguret, Sablet, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes de Venise and then a cycle route that took us along the canal to Carpentras. Along the way we passed many hilltop towns and took detours to see them up close.

 The designated cycle route from Beaumes de Venise was excellent, as it went along tiny, quiet roads through vineyards and up hilltops for views across the plains, where Mont Venteaux was still on the horizon. 

The last part of the route was unexpected though, as it ran along the canal and consisted of a well worn footpath gouged into the grass on either side. 

Our bikes bumped along and we were very uncomfortable. It must have been a VTT route and we would not pick it again.