Dear fellows, we are looking back to wonderful Days at the 4 Days Cereste / Luberon. Many thanks to RC Aix en Provence Connection with Jean Luc and Beatrice Berger for the invitation.
The routes
The routes on the first day took us through Apt and the west and north-west of the region. A strong westerly wind blew us back to the resort along the designated railway line cycle path (80 km).
Day two started with a 6 km climb for all groups. A challenging warm-up! The turning point and refreshments were in Cucuron. It was a good opportunity to stock up on gels, power bars, and energy drinks. With temperatures reaching almost 30°C, there was also high demand for water!
Many thanks to the catering teams and sponsors! The climb on the return journey could thus be tackled with fresh energy. Once at the top, a great panorama opened up with a view of the snow-covered Alpine ridges.
Day three was a particular challenge for the guides and cyclists. Many had set themselves the goal of completing the 120 km tour to the “Signal de Lure.” Familiar with the area and with a good sense of the speed of the groups, the guides led us to the foot of the almost 20 km long climb with an elevation gain of 1,000 meters. What the fastest cyclists completed in 1 hour and 14 minutes took others more than 2 hours of effort. At the end of the day, everyone was thrilled but exhausted from this great stage. It was good to relax in the Rotary ice cream parlor in Cereste or in the pool for the final evening.
The Partnerprogramm
Excursions were offered on all three days for partners without bikes.
On the first day, the organization team took minibuses to the cosmetics company L’Occitane in Manosque. The ochre cliffs of Rustel and a visit to a lavender distillery were on the agenda for the second day. Now we know everything there is to know about lavender! Lovers of candied fruit got their money’s worth on the third day. At “La Maison du Fruit Confit” in Apt, they had the opportunity to taste a wide variety of candied fruits and learn more about how they are made.
CLOSING DINNER – AND WHAT WAS IT ALL FOR?
For the closing evening, everyone gathered once again in the wonderful garden atmosphere of the “Village de Vacances.”
Jean-Luc welcomed the mayor and representatives of the supported projects as special guests:
Organisation ADER promotes access to appropriate physical activity for patients undergoing oncological treatment or suffering from cancer, and contributes to information and health promotion.
FNE 04 has begun creating a website called “La Butinerie,” which is dedicated to protecting biodiversity and its many benefits. Pollinators and bees are the focus of this initiative. The website also contains educational lessons for young and old alike.
In local partnership with the Rotary Club Dhulikhel, funding is planned for the permanent construction of 100 bamboo tunnel greenhouses, which will benefit around 100 families (i.e., 500 people).
Over an aperitif with selected regional specialties, we were able to look back on the past few days. Jean-Luc Berger, president of the Rotary Club Aix en Provence Connection thanked and honored his team and the participants.
Marc then got us all pumped up as a DJ!!!
SEE MORE:
Check out the images gallery here: 4days Luberon / Cereste 2025 Gallery
Dear friends,
On behalf of all the members of the Rotary Club Aix Connection, as well as the associations we support, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your participation in our 4-Day Cycling Event in Céreste-en-Luberon.
Thanks to your presence, your smiles, and your kind words, we were able to create an event that will remain a cherished memory for all of us. Four days of friendship and cycling through idyllic landscapes…Thank you for being such an essential part of it all. We’re already looking forward to next year!
With all my best regards,