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VIARHNA: CYCLING FROM THE ALPS TO THE MED WITH NOUGAT AND
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FRENCHNESS GALORE
In this episode of Life, we cycle along the ViaRhna, an 800-kilometre bike path
stretching from Geneva to the Mediterranean, following the route of the river
Rhne making a few stops to taste nougat, go canoeing, and check out the
local Roman history.

We set off from the market town of Seyssel, heading down to Chanaz, in the
foothills of the French Alps.

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Really loving the hand-crafted handlebar bag from #CyclesGillesBerthoud for
my cyclotourism report on #ViaRhna
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Flying our drone around Seyssel on the Rhne for upcoming @euronews report
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Chanaz is a historic village: traces of pottery have been found here dating from
over 2,600 years ago. Later it became an important site for Gallo-Roman
ceramic production. To find out more, we popped into the towns Gallo-Roman
Museum, set in a 15th century Gothic chapel and dedicated to the potters of
Portout.

The potters set themselves up in Chanaz because its ideally located, on

trading crossroads. They could sell their ceramics along the Rhne, and bring
back from the Mediterranean amphoras in which weve found wine, oil and other
provisions, said curator Marie Marchal.

Talking about provisions, theres always time for a coffee when youre cycling,
and at the Brlerie de Chanaz, they roast their own.

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While the cameraman films the coffee, I drink the coffee! At Brlerie de Chanaz
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From pedaling to paddling
From there. the ViaRhna wends its way south and west along the valley floor.

The ViaRhna is part of EuroVelo, the network of long-distance international

bike paths being developed across the continent.

For those who like to mix their sports, this part of France has plenty to offer
including the chance to switch from pedaling to paddling. Philippe Millet, director
of Vertes-Sensations, takes us along for a canoe ride.
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The ViaRhna follows where the river flows, including a stretch of bike path in
Frances third biggest city Lyon. Here the ViaRhna and the Rhne go right
through the heart of the city, joining up with the river Sone and then heading
south towards Provence.

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Die #viarhona fhrt durch #Lyon. E-Biketour mit Guide sehr empfehlenswert.
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Our next focal point is around Montlimar and that will be our last stop, but
like the river, the path continues, through Avignon and Arles, through the
Camargue, and down to the Mediterranean.

A boost to tourism
Over half the ViaRhna is on car-free bike paths, the rest on quiet roads, so it
suits all kinds of users. Among the regulars is Eric Bourry, president
of Handisport Montlimar, who pedals his handbike along the path several
times a week.

ViaRhna is all about safety. It allows me to go handbiking on my own, or with

friends, and its secure, its really peaceful, he says.
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Se Pause @Viarhona in #Montlimar, Hauptstadt des #Nougat -
bei #ArnaudSoubeyran empfngt uns Olivier, der Enkel des Firmengrnders.
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Montlimar is famous for its nougat, and near the ViaRhna we popped in to the
Arnaud Soubeyran museum and kitchen. This family-run business exports all
around the world, but strives to use locally sourced honey and nuts to make its
nougat as authentic as possible.

We work above all with local producers. Both because we think its pretty
normal if we want honey to keep on being produced in our area, then we have
to buy it and also because we believe, with a bit of patriotism, that our honey
is the best! says Didier Honnor, manager of Nougat Arnaud Soubeyran.

The ViaRhna project has been shown to be a boost to local tourism, as cyclists
spend more time and money in the region.

A tourist on the ViaRhna spends a lot more than a tourist in a car. A tourist in
a car spends on average 45 euros per day. A tourist cycling here spends 70
euros a day so it brings business, and it promotes our great region, especially
the Rhne valley, says Nicolas Daragon, vice-president of the Auvergne-
Rhne-Alpes Region.