From Avignon to the Pont du Gard, the slow way

It all begins in Avignon, just outside the train station, where we pick up our electric bikes from Moustache Bikes. Comfortable and intuitive, they immediately change the game. On the Chemins app, our route is already mapped out, dotted with carefully chosen stops. We're all set: Allez Hop! We leave the city behind without transition. Before long, the roads narrow, lined with vineyards, olive groves and dry-stone walls. The bikes effortlessly carry us along, leaving space for conversation, for a certain kind of contemplation, and above all, making us want to slow down. So we take it piano piano...

A first stop that sets the tone

Surrounded by vineyards, this former silkworm farm, owned by Olivier Ginon, founder of GL Events, and his wife Jacqueline, has been thoughtfully reimagined. Within a remarkably cohesive whole, it brings together an olive mill, a contemporary winery, guest rooms, a restaurant and an art gallery. Welcomed by Fabien Revol, who oversees Domaine de Panéry, we sit down for lunch where the estate's products – including some award-winning specialties (that olive oil!) – naturally take centre stage. We set off again in the early afternoon, firmly determined not to pick up the pace.

By the end of the day, as the landscape glows golden in the evening light, after gently cycling along and taking a (long) break by the Étang de la Capelle, hidden amidst the garrigue, we arrive at Mas Re.Source. This blond-stone guesthouse feels effortlessly right: everything is simple, purposeful and perfectly considered. Marc, the owner, prepares dinner for his guests: a cuisine deeply rooted in the region, precise without being showy, shared around a large table where conversations linger long into the evening.

The following morning begins unhurriedly, lulled by the gentle atmosphere that fills the vaulted breakfast room. We take our time, but eventually it's back in the saddle. Destination: the Concluses de Lussan. The landscape gradually transforms until this pale limestone canyon, carved by water into turquoise pools, comes into view. We climb down and linger. Some venture closer to the water, briefly entertaining the idea of a swim before ultimately thinking better of it. Then it's time to tackle the village itself, perched high above the garrigue on its rocky outcrop.

Slowing down even more

A few kilometres further on, another stop, another pause. Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie moves to the rhythm of workshops, kilns and galleries. We have lunch at Café Quentine, in a small shaded courtyard where local cuisine is enriched with Indian influences inherited from the owners' own journey. The whole experience feels simple, vibrant and entirely authentic. The afternoon continues on foot between the Terras Viva gallery and the Museum of Mediterranean Pottery, whose richness gradually reveals itself far beyond what its discreet entrance might suggest. The collections tell a centuries-old story of skills repeated and passed down through generations, all the way to the contemporary works exhibited today. At Faustine Fradin's studio, the experience becomes more tangible. With our hands in the clay, we discover another sense of time: slower, more precise, punctuated by a few imperfect attempts and plenty of laughter.

By late afternoon, we follow a beautiful cypress-lined avenue to Prieuré Saint-Nicolas. The property has undergone a renovation that is both ambitious and sensitive. Its owner, Arnaud Le Bihan, has breathed new life into this former priory without smoothing away its history. Spaces have been opened up, the stonework left exposed, and the chapel transformed into an art gallery where contemporary works converse with ancient architecture. In the bedrooms and lounges, carefully sourced vintage finds mingle with beautifully designed furniture in a perfectly orchestrated blend. At the table, the philosophy is much the same: generous, locally inspired cuisine that brings people together rather than trying to impress. It quickly becomes clear why some guests end up staying longer than they had planned.

Already day three

In Uzès, we leave the bikes behind. The town reveals itself through its winding streets, shaded squares and pale stone façades. Below, the medieval garden offers a more intimate interlude among medicinal and aromatic plants. We stop by Véronique Nocquet's boutique, home to a carefully curated selection of French pieces spanning fashion and home décor. Then, one last time, we get back on our bikes and follow the signs to Vers-Pont-du-Gard. Lunch is served at La Grange, a village-style café-guinguette offering generous, spirited plates. And then, finally, the destination of this journey appears: the Pont du Gard. We glimpse it in the distance before it fully reveals itself – monumental and perfectly proportioned. We park our bikes. A private guided tour has been arranged, taking us inside the aqueduct itself, to the very heart of this extraordinary structure. One final suspended moment before returning to our own roads, to our familiar paths. Leaving behind this carefully designed itinerary, conceived so that every constraint fades away, imagined so that, like tightrope walkers on two wheels, we can simply go with the flow while retaining the greatest luxury of all: the freedom to stop, to linger, and to discover things differently.

From €690 for 4 days and 3 nights, including electric bikes and luggage-carrying accessories, access to the Chemins app, 3 nights' accommodation with breakfast, a ceramics workshop, a guided tour of the Pont du Gard, as well as assistance and insurance.