Published by Lyn on 2 November 2015
I received an email recently from Sally, a lady in Provence who has renovated a studio apartment in the heart of the Var's wonderful countryside. She's keen for cyclists to use it.
Sally's renting the studio out the old-fashioned way – by phone and email – as she doesn't yet have a website (you can call her on +33 (0)4 94 47 11 79 or email salsaford@outlook.com).
The studio offers super value for money (€55 per night or €350 per week) in what is one of France's most expensive tourist regions. The studio is located here, 40km from the Mediterranean coast.
It's basic but versatile accommodation perfect for solo riders or two friends cycling together (there's a single bed plus a camp bed and the price is the same whether you are one rider or two).
The studio – called Claumica – is fully self-contained with a cooker, fridge and bathroom facilities. Sally, who lives next-door, can also make you breakfast and evening meals if you'd prefer to leave the cooking to her (and she can also pack you lunches for your day on the bike).
Claumica is located near La Route des Gorges, a 58km loop through the Var's stunning gorges and picturesque villages. The route is one of the Var region's 22 designated cycle routes (you can download an excellent local cycling guide with all the circuits here).
La Route des Gorges passes 250m from Claumica's front door in the village centre of Bargemon. There's everything you need here for a do-it-yourself cycling holiday: cafes, restaurants and bars plus a local pool, shops and Bargemon's famous fresh drinking water.
There's a secure garage right next to the studio which can be used to store bicycles, plus a washdown area, tools for servicing, drying area and laundry facilities.
This is a great basic, flexible and affordable base for cycling in Provence. You can stay for a night or for a week, which can sometimes be hard to find in popular areas of France where owners of self-catering properties prefer guests to book for week-long stays. There's also free wifi and, of course, Sally is on hand with lots of local knowledge and advice.
The studio is available all year.
For more information on staying at Claumica, call Sally on +33 (0)4 94 47 11 79 or email her at salsaford@outlook.com. Tell her Lyn at Freewheeling France sent you and she'll look after you.
