Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING AROUND
Bicycle
Provence - particularly the Luberon - is eminently cyclable, with back roads lightly trav-
elled. The coast has good cycling paths, but has serious crowds in summer. July and August
get blazingly hot. Cycling in national parks is forbidden.
By law, bicycles must have two functioning brakes, bell, red reflector on back, yellow
reflectors on pedals. After sunset, and when visibility poor, cyclists must illuminate with a
white light in front and red light in rear. Cyclists must ride single file when being overtaken
by vehicles or other cyclists.
Most towns have bike-rental outlets; daily cost is around €18.
Useful resource:
Fédération Française de Cyclisme
( 01 49 35 69 00;
www.ffc.fr
)
.
Boat
Canal Boat
Canals connect the Atlantic and Mediterranean and criss-cross France. Canal du Midi -
France's most popular, packed in summer - stretches 240km east from Toulouse toward the
Camargue and the Canal du Rhône. West of Toulouse, the Canal du Midi connects with the
Gardonne River, leading west to the Atlantic Ocean at Bordeaux. It's hard to beat seeing
the Rhône or Camargue by boat.
Houseboats and barges accommodate two to 12, and come fully outfitted. Anyone over
18 can pilot, but first-timers must undergo brief training to obtain a temporary pleasure-
craft permit (
carte de plaisance
). Speed limit: 6km/h in canals, 10km/h on rivers.
Prices range from €450 to over €3000 weekly. Except for July and August, you can
sometimes rent for a weekend, or from Monday to Friday. Advance reservations are essen-
tial for holiday periods, long weekends and summertime.
Online rental agencies:
Canal Boat Holidays
(www. canalboatholidays.com)
H2olidays
(Barging in France;
www.barginginfrance.com
)
