Avignon to L'Isle sur la Sorge and the beginning of the South Luberon Bike tour

With the French train strike in full swing we have frog hopped from Tours to Paris then Fleurville-Pont de Vaux, (two days on boat) then Macon to Valence.

Countryside near Fleurville/Pont de Vaux a bike ride whilst we were still on the boat

We managed to get on the only train going south that day and ended up in Valence.  Nothing was stopping at Avignon.

You can't get much of an impression of a town by going through it on a train, but going purely on what I observed out of the train windows, I would say that the Rhone Valley from Lyon to Valence was pretty industrial and not particularly picturesque.  Orchards interspersed with industry and power stations utilising the waters of the Rhone.

Outside Hotel du Lyon Valence, looking towards Rhone River and hills beyond

Valence is an interesting and dignified city with an exceptional Cathedral.  We enjoyed our two nights there in the economy room Hotel de Lyon. 47 euros without breakfast.  Breakfast was 8.50 euros each and looked unappetising as was the place we would have to eat it.  You can get 2 coffees and 2 croissants for about 4.50 euros in a local patisserie with a few seats.

Valence Cathedral

On Wednesday morning when the railway staff got back to work we took a Ter train to Avignon and cycled to L'Isle sur Sorge.  It is a shame there isn't a cycleway for all 30km, but the roads were quite rural and not too busy.

We skipped the Pont and the Palace du Papes and saw a few back streets of Avignon with water wheels and watercourses, old palacial buildings and cafes.

Waterwheel Avignon in a street with old buildings and cafes

Arriving in L'Isle sur a Sorge, we found our air B&B, unloaded our bags and set out back to the town to look around.

Air B&B L'Isle sur la Sorge

L'Isle sur la Sorge is definitely worth visiting. Its a large bustling town that has developed into a centre for buying and selling anitques.

There are some beautiful old buildings especially those surrounding the main square and all the usual tourist shops and restaurants; the whole place is surrounded by water.  During our visit after much rains, all the rivers and canals were in full flow, turning now ornamental waterwheels of all sizes that lined the watercourses.  There is also a large college and with many tourists even in early April.

Nearby is Fountaine de Vaucluse which I imagine is the source of much of the water.  It was to the North and we headed South. Had a drink of port in a typically French bar of the non tourist type where the waitress obviously had no idea how much port to put in the glass, so I had a tumbler full!!! Yum!! Ate in a little Creperie off the main street where I had a Muscat wine.  Also very nice.  Making up for 5 days abstinence.  Then headed back to the Air B&B which was basically a converted garage.