Bathernay

Did you know that Bathernay and Monaco are linked? The Prince of Monaco is a descendant of the illustrious Imbert de Bathernay. There's no grand prix here, but there's plenty of excitement to be found on the streets of the principality.

No sooner had the start been passed than we warmed up abruptly for the ascent to Mont Ventefort. But what a 360° view from the summit, between Tuscan-style hilltop villages, the Ardèche and Pilat mountains on one side, the Vercors barrier on the other, and of course the Alps in the background. The rest of the route is more rolling in the sandy valleys below the village. The main difficulty lies in the sand, which can require extra energy. Next, a quick climb to the Château de Charmes, birthplace of Imbert de Bathernay, where a visit is a must. The route quickly descends to the village of Charmes sur l'Herbasse, birthplace of the most famous of letter carriers, Ferdinand Cheval, who designed the ideal palace a few kilometers from here. The hardest part comes with the ascent to Bois de Bard, before a rolling stretch to the troglodyte village of Bathernay.