On the Via Rhôna: Montélimar - Sète

A warm-up with a deliberately shorter stage than the following ones. The Via Rhôna winds between southern Ardèche and Drôme Provençale, sometimes on the right bank of the Rhône, sometimes on the left bank, and passes through medieval towns with a prosperous past, such as the exceptional hilltop village of Viviers and Bourg Saint-Andéol, which is highly recommended to visit for its mythical bas-relief of the god Mithras.

This stage has a strong heritage focus, offering numerous chapels, cathedrals and palaces in these historic cities... Lovers of nature and history, you will be captivated!

South of Pont-Saint-Esprit, the route continues through the alluvial plain, where traditional Provençal farmhouses appear. The Via Rhôna then follows small roads away from the Rhône, offering the opportunity to admire, among other things, the fortress of Morna.

The greenway then follows the river to the town of Caderousse and then heads towards Avignon, crossing natural areas resulting from former meanders of the Rhône.

Along the way, it is possible to take a swim in the Girardes lake or the Li Piboulos pond, then it will be time to discover the Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyard (variant).

Dinner at your leisure.

As you pass under the bridges of Avignon, Villeneuve comes into view. The elegance of its hills and Fort Saint-André suggests a detour. The route then unfolds between the limestone cliff and the canal that runs alongside the majestic river.

Between vineyards and orchards, between Gard and Vaucluse, one can explore charming little corners of the Rhône Valley. Aramon is well worth a visit to its quays and narrow streets, overlooked by an impressive castle.

Just like the old town of Montfrin, which you pass through before going down the greenway that leads to the quays of Beaucaire.

A beautiful transition between the Provençal Rhône and the Camargue, the alluvial plain, crisscrossed by canals, stretches towards the sea with the Alpilles massif to the East and the Nîmes coast to the West as a backdrop.

We wind our way between typical farmhouses, vineyards and orchards until we reach the city of Arles, bordered by the Rhône, battered by the Mistral wind and patinated by the sun.

Dinner at your leisure.

After the detour to visit Arles, we backtrack a bit to head due west and walk along the foot of the Costière de Nîmes. Then we enter the Camargue Gardoise, a designated "Grand Site de France," a mysterious landscape dotted with ponds such as those of Scamandre and Charnier.

You are in the heart of exceptional flora and fauna. Above all, the bullfighting tradition is very present here.

The route passes by herds of cattle, but also between rice paddies.

Then the Via Rhôna follows the old towpaths of the Rhône to Sète canal to the foot of the citadel of Aigues-Mortes.

Leaving Aigues-Mortes, we pass the "camelle" (salt hill). A dike then stretches between the salt marshes, creating an impression of vastness, all the way to the charming little port of Grau-du-Roi, where we find the pink flamingos. The Mediterranean Sea and the immense beaches of Languedoc are now within easy reach; the Via Rhôna takes on a seaside character, winding along the Lido between the sea, beaches, and salt lagoons; the dune system serves as a guiding thread.

The final 20km, the last stage, culminates in the captivating maritime city of Sète and Mont Saint Clair. The route offers a striking contrast between the Aresquiers nature reserve and a port area.

It is planned that one day a greenway will stretch entirely along the Rhône-Sète canal.

The stay ends after breakfast . Everyone is free to organize their own departure , according to their program and means of return.