Pernes les Fontaines : a must see on your Provence cycling trip.
Set in the heart of rural Provence, Pernes les Fontaines is a charming village that owes its name to the 40 old stone fountains that are dotted about the streets and alleyways. The village also boasts 17th century mansions, a Romanesque church and a clock tower. It is definitely worth dismounting on your cycling tour and walking around the village on the fountain trail. If you happen to pass through on a Saturday then you can enjoy the Provençal market in the morning where over 50 stall holders come out to sell their wares.
An eco-friendly, cycling friendly village
Pernes has a strong agricultural past of which the culture and the mind set are still very much present today. A very eco-friendly village, the use of genetically modified crops is strictly forbidden. As a symbol of responsible and eco-friendly tourism, Pernes has chosen the bee as its mascot and installed the very first municipal beehive. It’s a very lively little village with a strong local input. There is a very popular theatre festival that takes place on the 1st week of August.
Cycling Provence : self guided
We offer a great Provence cycling tour that starts in Isle sur la Sorgue, 10 kms (6.2 miles) from Pernes les Fontaines. Known as the Venice of France, Isle is a beautiful and bustling town with the river Sorgue running through. Restaurants and cafés line the water-front, there is an abundance of antiques shops and a fantastic market on a Sunday morning. You then continue on to Pernes les Fontaines on quaint Provence cycling routes lined with cypress trees and old stone farmhouses.
Then on to the medieval village of Venasque, voted one of prettiest villages in France and from here the cypress trees give way to cherry orchards and muscat vineyards and you head back to Isle sur la Sorgue through forests and quaint valleys.
This example of a cycling trip through Pernes is just one of many cycling tours that we create.
Please see more of our Provence cycling holidays below
