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Did You Know? Romantics or the just plain curious may be interested to know that the name of the French national rail company, SNCF, is short for Société Nationale du Chemin de Fer. |
By Bus: Services tend to be local, based in the major towns and serving their surrounding area or banlieue. Scheduling fast journeys between destinations can be a problem. But for the independent traveler, who isn’t in a hurry and wants to do some local exploring, they can be a useful alternative to the car or bicycle.
Tip: If you are planning to use local buses a lot, pick up a free copy of the very useful Guide Régional des Transport, Trains Express Régionaux (TER). This great mouthful of a guidebook covers local trains and bus services and is available at any SNCF train station. |
By Car: Car touring is an excellent way to see this area and most destinations are connected by “RN” roads or Routes Nationales. These were France’s biggest roads before the Autoroutes, or “A” roads were built. They are wide and well-maintained, but a little more scenic than “A” roads. Off the main highways, “D” roads vary in size but are safe and clearly marked with good surfaces. With the exception of a few breath-catching routes in the Alps of Haute Provence and the Maritime Alps, the roads aren’t particularly challenging, allowing you to cruise along and enjoy the scenery. It is a good idea to buy a French road atlas or the Michelin Green map that covers this area to a scale of 1/100,000 (1 cm=1 km) to discover the many out-of-the-way routes and twisting country lanes.
Caution: Be wary of other drivers. The French drive much faster than you may expect, and they are impatient daredevils when it comes to passing. |
Cars are easy to rent, with most major companies represented at airports and TGV stations. Try to choose a compact or even sub-compact car – roads can be narrow and European gasoline prices can be shocking – $6 a gallon or more. Rail Europe (☎ 1 888 382 7245) offers below advertised rates for Hertz and Avis cars. France Car Rental (US ☎ 786 866 2865, info@francecarrental.net) acts as an agent for National Car Rental and offers good value deals on a range of models.
Tip: France uses the metric system of measurement and road signs are in kilometers. A km is .62 miles so a sign that says, for example, “Marseille 100” means Marseille is 62 miles away. |
By Bicycle: This area is particularly popular with cyclists, it is relatively safe. Motorists expect cyclists to appear, singly or in packs, around every bend and tend to be on the lookout for them. Still, it is wise to avoid RN roads and to wear bright clothing. If you’re planning a bicycle tour, make sure you allow plenty of time between scheduled stops. Parts of Provence are flatter than others but those long, apparently gentle, ascents can be real killers if you’re in a hurry.
A familiar sight in Provence (courtesy of Trek Travel)
The French call bicycles vélos. Mountain bikes (called V.T.T. for vélo tout terrain) are catching on as well and are widely available for rent. Local tourist offices always have information and maps about nearby bicycle routes.
Tip: Avoid renting the cycles available at SNCF stations. They can be expensive and are often poor quality. Even the tiniest village is accustomed to catering to cyclists’ needs so decent cycle shops are just about everywhere. |
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