Col de Perty & Col de Macuègne

Image courtesy of: Marianne Casamance / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Thanks to the good folks at Bike Weekender for sharing this route with us. They run some great organized tours in this region of Frances as well as the Alps and Côte d’Azur, so be sure to check out their offerings here.

Two cols in one ride

This cycling route will see you tackle two cols located in the Barronies Provençal Regional Nature Park. As well including some great climbing, you will also be treated to grand vistas and quaint villages all along the way. You may even be able to capture the ‘scent of Provence’ with many aromatic herbs growing wild on the nearby slopes. Definitely, a treat for all the senses, enjoy making a day of it.

Col de Perty

Departing from the town of Sault you will first take on the Col de Perty. From this western approach, it is a long climb of 16.5kms and averages 4.5%. Whilst the first section of the climb can almost feel like a false flat with quite gentle gradients, this climb does get progressively steeper the closer you get to the top so be aware of this.

Col de Macuègne

The second climb of this ride is the Col de Macuègne. It is a shorter climb which again gets steeper the closer you get to the summit. Still, the average gradient is just 4% and never gets too steep.

Montbrun les Bains

You will pass through the small village of Montbrun les Bains twice on this route. It was the Ancient Romans who first exploited the healing properties of the thermal waters found here, and it’s a very popular, picturesque village in this area of the Drôme Provençal. Indeed, unlike other places in Provence, it can also escape the worst of the heat during summer thanks to its higher elevation. Due to its position being tucked in against the surrounding mountains, the village is also sheltered from the famous Mistral winds. This is certainly a village to stop and spend some time in.

Suggested cycling route

Image courtesy of JarnaQuais / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

You will pass through the beautiful village of Montbrun les Bains twice along this route.

Food and water

There are several options for food and water along this route. This includes:

• Sault
• Montbrun les Bains
• Orpierre
• Séderon

Highlights

• The Village of Montbruin les Bains

• Discover two categorised climbs in one ride as you enjoy a challenging ride deep into the Barronies.

Picturesque scenery of the Barronies and Mont Ventoux to take in on your ride.

Climb statistics and gradient profiles

The summit view from the Col de Perty and surrounding vistas of the Barronies.