Tuesday 13th: Montelimar to Montpêllier (157km)

Everything changed today. Winter ceased. For the first time on the cycle it was warm and the sun shone as if it was summer. I passed cafes with people outside without coats. Some many beautiful colors as I cycled through Provence and into Languedoc.

This morning was freezing (again) as i left but within 90 minutes I had covered 35km and was leaving the cold Rhone Valley and into what could be described as late summer at home.

The beautiful stone villages were dotted along the route and here all the trees and vines had there leaves. The trees were even green and the vines a beautiful dark red or honey.

I was able to ditch my jacket and enjoy an outdoor lunch in the sun.
Today was the longest day so far and it was getting dark as I aproached Montpellier.


From the outskirts you could tell that this was a well planned town with pedistrian and cycle routes running along side the road and a Luas tram up the middle.
The streets were spotless and by the time I reached the old town I noticed the centre was a no car zone. The centre was beautiful and bustling and full of people siitng outside.

As I wandered around looking for a hotel each corner or square got nicer. Montpellier is beautiful, lively and warm. Its in the running for my favourite french city so far.