Roadtrip um den Mont Ventoux (Frankreich)

Wir nehmen Sie mit auf einen Road Trip um den Mont-Ventoux, einen unserer beliebtesten Orte in Frankreich. Kurvenreiche Strassen, fine Küche, grossartige Landschaften und das ganze Jahr über tolles Wetter. Buckle up and ride on!Roadtrip um Mont Ventoux

[aktualisiert Juni 2025]

In kürze

Land: Frankreich Ausgangspunkt: Sisteron GPS-Koordinaten: 44°11’28”, Nord | 5°56’50” Ost Dauer: 3-5 Tage je nach Reiseroute und Fahrstil Top Sehenswürdigkeiten: Sisteron, Mont-Ventoux, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Saint-Rémy de Provence, Les Baux de Provence usw.

[Road-Book am Ende des Artikels]

Ab jetzt auf English. Für die französische Version hier klicken.

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Day 1

I picked Sisteron (info) as the starting point, which is definitely a good place to start off. The city has a long history – all the way back to Prehistory – there is a citadel with a 360° view over the entire valley, which is definitely worth visiting, a few dining options, etc..

The view from the guard path, Sisteron citadel

How to get there ?

It depends on your schedule, where you will start the road trip from, etc. You could definitely combine it with the Route des Grandes Alpes. 

roadtrip around Mont Ventoux

But generally, from Geneva, it will take you about 4h if you travel on highway up to 6h30 if you avoid motorways. 

On the way to Sisteron, there are many options for bikers who love beautiful scenery.

Lac d’Aiguebelette, for example, offers a wide range of recreational options (cycling, swimming, stand-up paddling, rowing, etc.).

Alternatively, a visit to the Chartreuse massif, near Grenoble, also offers a change of scenery and the chance to visit the Caves de la Chartreuse (more info here).

For those wishing to make a stopover, we can only recommend the Hôtel des Mille Pas, and its brasserie restaurant, listed in the Michelin Guide, which offers a starter – main course – dessert menu, with unbeatable value for money (35€).

Where to stay in Sisteron?

• Hotel Le Tivoli: a bit in the upscale pricing range, though it is located in the city center, they have an underground garage where you can park your bike overnight, and the restaurant is good (more info here).
• Hotel Ibis/Ibis Budget: if you are traveling on a budget, this one is for you. Located about 5km outside the city, it certainly doesn’t boast the same charm as Le Tivoli, but it is clean, you can check in 24/7, and they have a guarded parking facility with CCTV.
• Hotel de la Citadelle: on our last visit, due to limited availability, we checked into this hotel, located at the entrance to the town. The main drawback is that it has no private/guarded parking. We parked our bikes in the public parking lot in front of the hotel, behind the advertising hoardings. The municipality tolerates this. And we haven’t had any damage. But if you ride a gleaming steed, you may be tempted to choose another option, although the city is generally safe.

Note that there are many camping options, even wild camping.

But, if the practice is prohibited, it is tolerated in certain situations.

But in any case,

• Before settling near a home, ask the owner for permission.
• Avoid starting bonfires, especially because of the risk of wild fire, and especially
• Repack all your waste when leaving the next morning. And this also applies to compostable waste.

The etiquette is as follows: we leave the place as we found it. Or at least not dirty(er) 😉 

Where to eat in Sisteron ?

Depending on your wishes, there are several dining options. Look up on Trid Advisor for instance. The Restaurant Le Tivoli is good. I also did try out an Asian/Vietnamese Restaurant which was also good and not expensive (Hong Phuoc, here), but you can also get a Pizza and eat on a public bench if you travel on a budget, for instance Chez Enzo (here).

Day 2

Long and great day ahead. Try to wake up early. In the region, especially in Spring/Summer, it gets warm really fast. If you don’t have the breakfast included in your room, get to a bakery in the city center and have a coffee at Le Bar du Commerce for instance. They have a terrace in the shadow and it is good spot to plan the itinerary with your map or set up your GPS, view on the citadel included.

Ready to take off? Bag(s) safely stored on the bike? Let’s ride!

Follow Noyers-sur-Jarbon (via D946), then St-Vincent sur Jarbon, Montfroc, Montbrun (via D542) and then Sault (D942).

If you feel like it, and are equipped to do so (see our article on making coffee on a road-trip), there’s a camping area at the entrance to Montfroc, with tall trees providing all the shade you need to make a good cup of coffee.

Sault is a nice village with a market (Wed & Sat). No need to stop for long but you can have a coffee on the central square.

Alternatively, instead of going all the way to Montbrun, you can take the Col de l’Homme Mort and then head for Sault. The road is relatively uncrowded and offers many panoramic views of Mont Ventoux.

From Sault, you can spot the Mont-Ventoux (literally the Windy Summit in Old French), which will be the highlight of the day. From Sault, take the D1 towards Flassan/Bedoin, then D974 (Mont-Ventoux).

Ready to take off? Bag(s) securely stowed on the bike? Let’s ride!

Mont Ventoux

Basically, you can ascend the Mt-Ventoux either starting in Bedoin or Malaucène. I personally favor the climb from Bedoin but it’s your choice. In all cases, I would advise you to have lunch after, so that your stomach doesn’t end up upside-down with all the twisties.

General warning: beware of the cyclists on the road.

During sunny days, the Mt-Ventoux is taken by storms by cyclists, and some do not know how to behave properly on a public road (they stop in the middle of the road to take pictures, make u-turns, etc.). So better safe than sorry!

But otherwise, enjoy the ride up! The asphalt is overall in very good conditions, there are hundreds of twisties. The road is 26km long, with a positive elevation of 1000m+ (avg. slope 4.5%). You will start your ascent in dense vegetation to end up in a lunar landscape!

At the top, please be aware of the wind when you park your bike, which can blow well above 100km/h. Also, it can be quite chilly at the top, so you won’t probably stay long.

To ride down, you can either take the same road or drive on the other side (direction Malaucène). In both cases, we would advise you to come back to Bedoin for your lunch, as there are more options.

Some views at the Top of the Ventoux

Where to eat?

In Bedoin, I recommend you the Restaurant Le Grillon, the have a yummy flame-grilled burger with potatoes. They have a few vegetarian options too, but Vegan-eater will probably have to look somewhere else (more info here).

After your lunch, you have several options to continue your journey, which are all worth considering.

L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

A very picturesque little town with a canal, bars & restaurants, hand-crafted shops, a pedestrian city-center, etc.

Where to sleep?

On this second stopover, I stayed at the Domaine de l’Isle hotel (more info here). This was one of the last options available as we didn’t have a reservation, and the price we found online seemed right.

This hotel, located about 25min walk from the city centre, offers all the necessary comforts and two swimming pools, ideal for cooling off on a hot July day. There is also a guarded car park, accessible through a gate with digi-code. So, it’s not necessarily the most typical atmosphere of the region, and the hotel looks more like a holiday centre than a Provencal farmhouse. But at least it offers what a biker is looking for. 

Where to eat?

As far as restaurants are concerned, I did two. The first one, although in the higher price range, was a nice discovery. It is the Bistro le Solehl (info here). Located in the antique district, it offers a more than tempting menu, in a more than friendly setting. I indulged a magnificent fish (sea bream), prepared a la plancha. Delicious! 

Otherwise, in a lower price range, and in an equally nice setting, I enjoyed a Pizette at the Pizzette de l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, also located along the canal.

As the name suggests, it’s a small pizza with extra thin, crispy dough, topped with a glass of local Rosé, of course! They also offer salads, which are quite copious.

Otherwise, the wine bar Chez Stephane, located in the pedestrian streets, also offers small meals and a well-stocked wine list. The setting was also very nice (info here).

And finally, between the hotel and the city centre, I passed by Le Saigon, a Vietnamese restaurant, which offers a superb terrace along the Sorgue (the river). However, as I didn’t have a reservation and, despite the presence of empty tables, the waiter didn’t try to accommodate me and find a small table. A pity…

Also, the service did not leave me with a very good impression, and I cannot judge the quality of the food. 

Gordes

Also, a great picturesque village. I loved it, and there are lots of accomodations/hotels/BnB’s, etc. However, Gordes, considered as one of the most beautiful French village, boasts a solid reputation miles and miles around. Thus, prices tend to be more in the high-end range.

So, if you travel on a budget, you will maybe find cheaper option nearby. Though, I would recommend you to check for last-minute deals if you are not traveling during high-season. Need more info on Gordes? Check out this link (here). 

roadtrip around Mont Ventoux

A few km away from Gordes, you can and should also have a look at the Abbaye de Sénanque, a Cistercian abbey from the 12^th century (more info here).

No need to necessarily visit it, but a walk around the abbey is definitely worth it. And depending on the time you visit, basically from Mid-June to End-August, you will have a chance to spot the lavender fields with the abbey in the background. Soooo Instagram-able :-). Check the picture in the gallery at the end of the article

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

I decided on my side to spend the night in Saint-Remy de Provence, another very, very picturesque French village. Located south from Avignon, St-Remy offers also pedestrian narrow-streets, hotels, restaurants, hand-craft, etc.

Where to stay?

I decided to pamper myself and booked a room at Hotel Villa Glanum (info here). As I was travelling off-season and the hotel had just opened a few weeks ago, I got myself a pretty good deal. They have also a pool and a SPA so perfect to relax after a long day on the bike!

roadtrip around Mont Ventoux

 

On a 2nd stopover in St-Remy, I stayed at the Hôtel du Soleil & Spa, which offered relatively similar facilities (swimming pool, spacious room) but at a slightly more affordable rate (approx. €100 per night, without breakfast).

For breakfast, a stone’s throw from the hotel is a bakery-pastry shop, Maison Spiteri, well worth a visit. Their croissant/pain-au-chocolat will make your mouth water. Not great for the Summer Body, but enough to keep you going all day!

But in any case, there are many other options (BnB, camping, etc.). Check the tourism office website to browse for accommodations: here

Where to eat ?

Again, kind of tough to pick amongst all the restaurant available. Personally, I was craving for Italian, so the lady at front desk recommended La Cantina (info here).

But a rapid search on Trip Advisor for instance will show you all the possible candidates (you can filter by type of food, budget, etc.).

Towards the center of town, there are all kinds of restaurants, and perhaps you’ll be inspired by the mood of the moment.

When I passed by, the restaurant l’aile ou la cuisse looked promising too (more info here).

Finally, for those of you looking for a pub vibe, with the food to match, I can recommend the Pub. It was relatively quiet during the week, but I hear there’s live music at weekends.

But in any case, I recommend that you lose yourself in the pedestrian streets of the city center, which are brimming with boutiques and food shops of all kinds.

roadtrip around Mont Ventoux

What to do ?

Located about 10km away from Saint-Remy is a tiny village called Les Baux-de-Provence. Also considered as one of the Top choices in the area, Les Baux boasts a castle from the 11^th century, that you can visit (ticket is 8€). Well you will visit the park and the ruins, as there is not much of the castle left. But the view from the esplanade over the valley is definitely worth it.

And you can also wander along the narrow streets and do some shopping (handicrafts).

For lunch, you will have several options (regional food). But if you feel adventurous, I recommend that you give it a try at Les Baux Jus (info here). It is a grocery and a restaurant where they serve organic rawfood and juices.

I tried the vegan discovery menu and it was delicious. Definitely unusual compared to the other traditional restaurants but it felt good.

Though, if you fancy a more traditional cuisine, you will also have many options to choose from. 

roadtrip around Mont Ventoux

Roussillon

Another emblematic village in the region, with its famous ochre trail. This short excursion (approx. 3km) offers two circuits (approx. 30min and 50min). Stroll in the shade of the pine trees and discover the geology of the region and its ochre massifs.

Make sure you don’t go in the middle of a heat wave, as the sun will be blazing down on you. Especially with your motorcycle equipment. What’s more, in strong winds and depending on the level of drought, the trail may be closed to the public, due to the risk of fire. Admission costs €3.5 (more info here).

Afterwards, you can stroll through the pedestrian streets of the town center and stop off at one of the many restaurants for lunch.

Where next?

There are many villages in Provence that are worth a visit, in addition to the more well-known ones mentioned above. I think of course of

• Bonnieux and its narrow streets
• Goult and its café de la poste, on the village square
• Lourmarin: a charming little village 7km from Gout. With pedestrian streets, small stores and numerous dining options.

This is where our road-trip ends. Of course, it doesn’t mean that you cannot continue your ride out. And there are several options to consider:

• Route des Grandes Alpes, more info here.
• Arles to see the Roman Amphitheatre (here).
• Avignon and the Popes› Palace.
• The Pont du Gard and the surrounding vineyards.
• The Camargue and its nature park (rice fields, bullfighting, etc.).
• The Montpellier region, Sète and La Grande-Motte and its beaches. We recommend the Hotel St-Clair and its neo-vintage design, which will give you the feeling of stopping off at Palm-Spring in the 70s. 
• Verdon Gorge, where you have many options if you’re the outdoorsy type (here).
• Marseille and a ride along the Côte d’Azur to Nice.

I hope this article gave you some options and inspiration. Don’t hesitate to hook up to us should you have any additional questions.

Ride on!

Picture gallery

To give you a little incentive to try out this great tour, some pictures for you to enjoy. Click to enlarge!

Roadbook

There are of course many different route options, depending e.g. if you want to avoid motorways at all costs or depending on the total of days you have at your disposal for this road-trip. Here is our suggestion, but do not hesitate to deviate.

roadtrip around Mont Ventoux

Time/distance approximate (without stop, coffee break, etc.). Please ride safely!

• Btw. If you are looking for a suitable navigation tools do read our selection of our TOP 10 navigation systems here
• What to pack for your trip? Don’t miss out our list of road trip essentials you definitely want to have with you: here

Possible itinerary 

	Roadbook: Roadtrip around Mont-Ventoux (France)		Comments
Leg 1	Geneva to Sisteron via Lus-la-Croix-Haute [290km, 4h15min]	Take A1/E25 then A41 direction Annecy/Grenoble Follow A41 then take exit in Meylan and follow E712/N87 Continue onto E712/N87 and continue on D6 Take exit onto A480 and then take A51 Follow D1075 (direction Lus-la-Croix-Haute) Then keep following D1075 to Sisteron	A lot of highway, so depending on your bike, it can be annoying. Though, unless you really deviate from this Itinerary and go for the Route Napoléon or Route des Grandes Alpes, you will lose more time riding on departemental roads (marked D+number) than the highway. Yet you will save up the highway tolls. Up to you to decide!
Leg 2	Sisteron to Bedoin de Provence (via Sault and Mt-Ventoux) [240km, 5h00]	Follow Noyers-sur-Jarbon (via D946); Then St-Vincent sur Jarbon, Montfroc, Montbrun (via D542) ; Then Sault (D942). From Sault, take the D1 towards Flassan/Bedoin Then D974 (Mont-Ventoux) -> Enjoy the ride up 🙂 From Top of the Mt-Ventoux, drive down on the other side (Malaucène) From Malaucène drive back to Bedoin (D938 & D19)	Great day ahead ! Don’t start your day too late, so that you can enjoy the fresh air in the morning!
Leg 3	Bedoin to Isle-sur la Sorgue and then St-Remy de Provence [40min, 32.3km]	From Bedoin to Carpentras take the D974 and then follow to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (D31). From Isle-sur-la-Sorgue to St-Remy-de-Provence, follow D900 and then D30 Les Baux-de-Provence is located about 10km from St-Remy (via D5 and D27A)	A bit flat so do not hesitate to calibrate your GPS so that it takes you on road with twisties.

roadtrip around Mont Ventoux