The ViaRhôna: From Sète to Avignon

Faune et Flore

Littoral

Nature

Set off from Sète, the Venice of Languedoc, on a sun-kissed, gentle adventure leading you all the way to Avignon, city of the Popes. Following the Rhône-à-Sète Canal and then the Rhône River, this cycling route takes you through a mosaic of stunning landscapes: salt marshes, pink flamingos, olive groves, vineyards, fortified villages, and Roman relics. A riverside bike journey rich in swims, tastings, wild nature, and cultural treasures. Rent your Paulette bike in Sète, and let yourself be carried to Avignon—without ever retracing your steps.

Day 1

63 km

Sète → Aigues-Mortes

Begin your trip at our Paulette partner agency in Sète, conveniently located right next to the train station. Pick up your equipped hybrid or electric bike, and ride out along the canal with the Thau lagoon to your right and the first salty scents in the air.

Very quickly, the city gives way to a wild setting of beaches, lagoons, and salt flats. The route winds between sea and ponds, under the watchful eye of flamingos and the rustling of reeds.

Stop for a contemplative break at the Maguelone Cathedral, perched on its peninsula. The ViaRhôna then passes the white pyramids of La Grande Motte before leading you to the salt pans of Aigues-Mortes by late afternoon.
This fortified town, surrounded by water and salt, welcomes you with grand ramparts and lively lanes. A first day full of disconnection and sunshine.

Day 2

61 km

Aigues-Mortes → Beaucaire

Leave Aigues-Mortes on a greenway that follows the old towpaths. All is calm: reeds sway, flamingos preen, and only the water’s gentle lapping marks your progress.

Pause in Gallician at the Scamandre Nature Center, a gateway into Camargue’s rich biodiversity. You then cycle through Saint-Gilles, charming and steeped in history, before following irrigation canals to Bellegarde.

Nature gradually gives way to a Provençal ambiance. Vineyards, orchards, and cypress trees signal your approach to Beaucaire, a historic riverside town. Its river port, golden stone alleys, and the view from the castle end your day on a graceful note.

Day 3

37 km

Beaucaire → Avignon

For this final stage, the Rhône becomes your guide. The ViaRhôna follows the river through gentle countryside: orchards, vineyards, almond hedgerows, and tree-lined paths.

After Aramon, a peaceful loop lets you cycle beneath the Pont du Royaume, then through sleepy Provençal hamlets. The air carries the scent of pine and garrigue, and the land flattens out.

Arriving in Avignon, behind its ramparts, is a grand finale. The Pont Saint-Bénézet, the Palais des Papes, shaded squares… everything invites you to linger. Take time to enjoy your arrival—perhaps with a glass of rosé on a terrace, to toast your freedom on two wheels.