|
Days 19 - 21
Into the South : Alpes de Hâutes Provences, les Pays de Buëch et Forcalquier, le Sisteronais
Monts Lure and Ventous, Luberon, Manosque
|
|
|
By climbing over the Col d‘Ornon along the river Lignare we arrive in the Valbonais and the Lake du Sautet. But this is not enough for the day ! Passing the Défilé de la Souloise and St-Disdier we will pass the Col de Festre to reach the Pays de Büech and our destination in Aspres-sur-Buëch.
Cycling along the river Buech will get us further south to Sisteron at the once wild but now tamed river Durance; we have definitely left the Haute-Alpes and the Dauphiné and are now in the Hâute Provence for sure. Climb the the road through the Gorge de la Méonge or to the top of the Montagne de Lure, Signal de Lure if the normal route to St-Etienne-en-Orgues is not enough of a challenge to you.s point
|
Cycle for 2.5 kms on busy N91 in direction Grenoble before turning left on D526 ---> Col-d‘Ornon, --> La-Mure over said pass to Entraigues
( + 650m , - 560m , km 29 ).
Continue on D526 ---> Valbonais and ---> La-Mure and 3.5 km after Valbonais ( km 36 ) at the Pont-de-Prêtre exit D526 by turning left to cross the bridge. After another 1.5 km turn left into D212b which leads you ( 5 km ) to N85, the „Route Napoléon“ . Turn left again on N85 and cycle all the way to ---> Corps
( + 201m , -135m , km 60.5)
Entering Corps turn right, down to the valley on D66 ---> Lac-du-Sautet, ---> St-Etienne-en-Dévoluy and cross the dam of the lake and climb on the other side to Pellafol which you pass to cross the small plain into and through the Gorge of the River Soulaise to St- Disdier. At St-Distier do not downhill to the left but turn right, uphill on D937 ---> Col-du-Festre
( + 675m , - 135m , km 87 )
Downhill from the pass and where the downhill is running out ( km 2 from pass ) turn right at the last narrow spot, over bridge to take a short cut along the slopes to your right. Cross the the N994 with a left, 100m, right zig-zag and crossing the rails ---> Les-Parais. cycle along the Buëch River for ca. 4.5 kms to the no-taffic sign where you turn right back to N995. Left on N995 for 2.5 kms when you turn right over railway and hill to ---> Aspes-sur-Buëch
( +40 m , 720m , km 115 ).
|
|
From the homely hotel in St-Etienne-les-Orgues ( 3 nights) and strengthened by its „Cuisine de Provence“ we will start to our expedition to the top of Mount Ventoux. Those handicapped with smaller calfs on their legs will take the bus to Sault to start for the adventure. On the way back take a glimpse or even a by-path into the Gorge de la Nesque. (( We actually climbed the Mont Lure instead, Mont Ventoux was just to crowded, without any shade and to far from our route.We found the Mont Lure as challenging but much nicer than the rocky Ventoux)))
For the next day‘s program choose between (1) resting beside the swimming pool, inhaling all the flagrance of the Provençal herbs, read some lines by the writer Jean Giono, 1895-1970, celebrating the Hâute Provence and (2) a tour to Forcalquier, Lurs and the Monastère de Ganagobie. If a group wants to cycle to the Parc Régional du Luberon, across the Col de la Mort d‘Imbert to Manosque to visit a „Moulin d‘Olivette“ we can arrange for the bus to get you back.
|
Route des Crètes and from Sisteron to the Mont Lure
Aspes-sur-Buëch to Sisteron
Autun - Cluny and Gorges de la Méouge extras
|
|
|
We leave Sisteron south on N85. After busy 6.5 km we finally exit the main road right, direction ---> Chateauneuf-Val-St-Donat. After a sharp climb we pass Châteauneuf and descend on D 801 and D101 passing the forested „Ravine-Marda“ back to the Durance River / Valley which we cross together with all the main roads to bike into ---> Les Mées
( + 100m , - 160m . km 22 ).
Proceed south on D4 and cycle between the Durance River at right and the Canal-d‘ Oraison at left to reach the town of the same name ---> Oraison
( -50m , km 37 ).
Still on D4 and further south we will the river Asse confluent to the Durance. On the other side turn left and uphill on D15 to climb to the Plateau Valensole and the town ---> Valensole
( +260m , -10m , km 54 ).
Cross the plain east on D56 ---> Puimoisson where you turn right on road D952 to ---> Moustieres-Ste-Marie
( +40m ,-60m , km 83 ).
|