Accueil » The Dentelles de Montmirail Loop

The Dentelles de Montmirail Loop

by Kim Gintrand
chemin itinéraire gravel tour des dentelles de montmirail domaine grand montmirail
Start/Finish

Malaucène

Distance

55km

Elevation gain

+1430m

Time

3h30-4h00

Best seasons

spring/summer

Difficulty

3/5*

Physical & technical

Explore the Stunning Dentelles de Montmirail Gravel Loop Near Mont Ventoux

This route is one of the most beautiful gravel tours I’ve experienced in the Vaucluse, near Mont Ventoux. My criteria? Stunning views, a sense of solitude even on country roads, a route made up mainly of gravel paths or trails, and, of course, a bit of challenge. 😉

The tour

This gravel loop is designed for experienced riders who can handle over 1000 meters of elevation gain and feel comfortable navigating rocky, technical paths, both uphill and downhill. I’ll admit, I had to push my bike to climb a short, paved road at the entrance of Gigondas, just to reach a rocky trail that was also demanding.

The route begins in Malaucène, an ideal village for a cycling getaway, as it serves as the starting point for numerous gravel, road, mountain biking, and even trail-running routes!

From the very beginning, this route keeps you off major roads, crossing them only briefly to access gravel paths, such as right after you leave Malaucène. You’ll alternate between quiet, low-traffic country roads and scenic trails all the way to La Roque-Alric. After this charming village, the route becomes predominantly gravel, guiding you toward the stunning Grand Montmirail Trail. This segment takes you through the vineyards of Grand Montmirail, where you’ll enjoy a beautiful and ever-changing views of the Dentelles de Montmirail. The scenery is so incredible, it’s easy to forget about the elevation gain!

chemin itinéraire gravel tour des dentelles de montmirail ventoux
chemin itinéraire gravel tour des dentelles
chemin itinéraire gravel tour des dentelles de montmirail domaine grand montmirail
chemin itinéraire gravel tour des dentelles de montmirail
chemin itinéraire gravel tour des dentelles de montmirail provence
chemin itinéraire gravel tour des dentelles de montmirail sous bois

After thoroughly exploring the Dentelles de Montmirail, you’ll head toward the Séguret Communal Forest, where a wide, smooth trail is waiting for you. At this point in the ride, most of the elevation gain is behind you, allowing you to enjoy a nice descent and a rewarding downhill stretch.

The trail continues through wooded paths toward Crestet, before connecting to small country roads that lead you back to your starting point in Malaucène.

chemin gravel forêt de Séguret
chemin gravel tour des dentelles de montmirail gigondas ventoux
chemin gravel tour des dentelles de montmirail ventoux

One of the main advantages of this route is that you’ll rarely ride on major roads for long. The few sections where you do encounter them are only to connect to trails located just across the road or a few meters further.

I highly recommend exploring the Malaucène area with this gravel route, which keeps you far from busy roads.

A big thank you to Laurent for the route! Laurent runs the More Gravel and organizes spontaneous and diverse gravel rides. He regularly shares these rides on Strava or Facebook, allowing passionate riders the chance to join unique routes like this one.

Map & GPX

testé

Annuler Copier le code d'intégration
Near the itinerary
Best Adresses

(*tested)

RESTAURANTS

Vaison-la-Romaine

Le Petit Auzon*

french cuisine/local/homemade

Malaucène

L'Atelier de La Ferme*

local cuisine, burgers

Crestet

La Fleur Bleue

Local's Favorite *** traditional cuisine

Entrechaux

Saint Hubert

Local's Favorite***  traditional cuisine

Malaucène

Chez Laurette

traditional cuisine

Malaucène

Aquì Sian Bèn

provençale cuisine

Vaison-la-Romaine

Ensemble - Bien Manger

Petits Plats & Gourmandises

RESTAURANTS

Malaucène

Aux Délices du Ventoux*

Bakery

Malaucène

Maison Lou*

Bakery

Crillon le Brave

Le Fournil de Crillon

Bakery

Bédoin

Boulangerie Olivero - Ravel

Bakery

Bédoin

Le Lutin du Ventoux

french cuisine

Vaison-la-Romaine

Chez Jacotte

café restaurant, authentic cuisine

Sommet du Mont Ventoux

Brasserie Le Vendran*

brasserie

ACCOMMODATIONS

Malaucène

L'Abri de Malaucène

Gîte/cottage

Beaumont-de-Ventoux

Les Oliviers du Taulisson

Bed & breakfast

Malaucène

Hôtel Ventoux Provence "Domaine des Tilleuls*

Hôtel 

Malaucène

Maison Ventoux 2 Luxe

Appartement

Malaucène

Le Petit Ventoux

Bed & Breakfast

Malaucène

Le Clos Saint Michel & Spa

Gîte/cottage

Malaucène

Pont de l'Orme

Bed & Breakfast

ACTIVITIES

Mont Ventoux

Ventoux Natural Park

Discover the Ventoux Natural Park through hiking or trail running!

Mont Ventoux

Road bike

Climb the Mont Ventoux on your road bike

Mont Ventoux

Wine tasting workshop in a wine cellar

Discover Ventoux through its wines!

Culinary Specialties / Local Products

  • Candied fruits d'Apt
  • Nougat from Sault
  • Papalines from Avignon
  • Berlingot from Carpentras
  • Quince paste
  • Oreillettes
  • The macarons of Sault
  • Provence honey
  • La fougasse (a type of French bread, similar to focaccia)
  • Le melon de Cavaillon
  • The strawberries from Carpentras
  • Thyme from Provence
  • The Nyons olive

How to get there ?

Paris - avignon ...  2h40
Lyon - avignon ...  1h20
Marseille - avignon ...  45min
Genève - avignon ...  5h40
Bruxelles - avignon ... 5h35
Aix en Provence - avignon ...  1h00
Marseille - avignon ...  1h15
Arles - avignon ...  45min
Lyon - avignon ...  2h20
Nice - avignon ... 2h40
Avignon - malaucène ... 45min

You may also like

Leave a Comment

About

Destinations Gravel is much more than just a guide for gravel routes and recommendations for restaurants, hotels, guesthouses, and local businesses; it embodies the richness of our territories and opens the doors to unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re planning your next trip, a weekend getaway, or simply a ride near your home, Destinations Gravel will inspire you.

 

In addition to being a dedicated source of information for gravel cycling in France and for a few escapes around the world, the guide allows you to discover various aspects of the territories, along with sports-friendly recipes and expert advice on equipment. With captivating content, it takes you on a journey with the commitment to responsible cycling.

 

More than an anonymous reference guide, the routes in Destinations Gravel are tested by @gravel_kim to assist you in choosing your gravel explorations.

Latest articles

©2023 / Destinations Gravel®