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Following the Lot


Cycling holidays

 
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Copyright © 2005-2012 Safran SARL

Réalisation: Sjef Bosman

The "véloroute" ("bike-road") is a signposted itinerary created so that cyclists can travel upstream alongside the Lot river.
80 kilometres long and quite level, the route goes along little-used small roads chosen for their charm. The véloroute will guide you through the orchards where the famous Agen prunes come from, lead you along picturesque little streets and beckon you to laze around on the banks of the Lot.
In fact all along the way there are places to stop and relax by the river - something kids generally love!
Exploring the area will be enhanced by trips around the places you stay. Take the opportunity to gain a little height over the valley to visit the windmills, clock-towers, chapels, castles and mediaeval villages dotted about the hilly scenery.


Holidays from April to October.
You can begin your stay any day April - June and September - October.
In the high season, holidays start on odd dates (1st, 3rd, 5th...) in July, and even dates (2nd, 4th, 6th...) in August.

Itineraries (please click for details)

7 days / 6 nights
4 days / 3 nights

Characteristics of circuits

Cycling holiday without guide.
Level: 1/5
Daily rides from 23 to 39 kms.
Total uphill from 50 to 200 metres per day
Little country roads and banks of the river Lot
Suitable for road and country bikes

What's included?

Half board
3 "épis" guest houses with swimming pool
Baggage transfer
Detailed roadbook and maps
Logistical and technical support
Return transfer from Fumel to Castelmoron

Reservation request

Booking form
Once you've filled in the form, Safran will suggest a made-to-measure holiday adapted to your personally chosen dates during the week or at the weekend.

Tariffs 2012

Price per person, on the basis of two people sharing same roomAdditional services
DurationJuly -
August
Low
Season
Baggage
for a Single
Single
Room
Bike rental
Adult
7d/6n€ 605€ 565€ 80€ 120€ 90
4d/3n-€ 335€ 80€ 60€ 60

Plum job!
France dedicates 14,000 hectares to the cultivation of Prune d'Ente - a variety of plum. In this respect it is second only in the world to the USA.
Plums from the department of Lot-et-Garonne represents 65% of French output. The town of Agen makes many people think "prunes", for the Pruneaux d'Agen are perhaps the most famous of these succulent plums dried for eating. For the French, Agen is also known as one of the happiest places to live in their fair country. Which is saying something. What better, then, than to spend your holidays here. But first, here's something about a plum job - cultivating Prune d'Ente.

Plum tree planting:
The Prunier d'Ente is usually cultivated in soil consisting of a mixture of fine sand, silt and clay known as "boulbènes" (a local dialect word). Young trees are planted in soil aired by 30 to 40 cm of ploughing, 6 to 7 metres apart.

Orchard jobs: the plum-grower (there are 2400 in France) performs 2 essential tasks on each of his trees.

1. Winter pruning (there's that word again!). For 5 years the plum tree produces no fruit whatsoever, and in consequence the growers pefforts are concentrated on shaping the tree. When the tree reaches maturity, s/he moves on to yield pruning.
- the trees have also to be protected against parasites

2. Harvesting: the 6th year, the tree yields its first fruits. We know the plum is ripe when it goes deep purple with a bluish tinge.
The harvest - picking is still often by hand - takes place at the end of summer. The ripe fruit is gathered from the ground as it has fallen, with the grower sometimes encouraging nature by shaking the tree, from which only the mature fruit falls.
A picker gathers about 80 kg an hour, whereas the tree produces 100 kg a year.


Agence Safran - Les Cascades - F. 26400 Mirabel et Blacons
Tel. +33 (0)4 75 25 78 78 - Fax +33 (0)4 75 25 78 79
info@safrantours.com - Agence de voyages LI.026.99.0001