julies

This is a follow up to a previous question that so many of you were kind enough to help me with. I've followed up on all of those suggestions and have done some additional research. Provence was definitely at the top of my list, but some research showed me that Oct. can be a very rainy month there.

On the other hand, both the Dordogne area and Puglia appear to have decent weather with less chance of rain then. So, both of those locales are now at the top of my list since it seems as though we can find outfitters there to supply us with good bikes and routing. And, it appears that we would be able to choose routes that are the easy to moderate we are looking for (our prime requirement is a more flat terrain with not a ton of long climbs).

We are in our 60s and are recreational cyclists. We take bike trips as a way to slow down and get to know an area rather than as a way to just knock off kilometers. We like to stop and take lots of photographs. And, we prefer places with a mix of small, charming villages, interesting architecture, interesting geology, nice gardens, some historical interest etc. rather than just riding in the midst of uninhabited, natural places all the time.

Does anyone have any comments on comparisons between the two areas? Thanks.

PalenQ

biked thru the Dordogne and all over France but only Italy in the north - took trains thru Puglia and IME and IMO Italy is much less recreational biking than France - mainly the roads are busy with just a lack of that myriad of well-paved side roads to use like in France and even in October Puglia I believe can be rather hot and the scenery to me is rather blah between towns - in general - but in France you have an old village every few miles - the Dordogne is mainly flat except to go up to its few hill towns ('bastides' built in square grids dating from Roman times like Beynac) - I've biked all over France and love it - my only experience in Italy - a long trek from Nice to Venice to Florence to Pisa was more of a travail than travel - that's my stance.

Maybe someone will real biking experience in Puglia will differ and I'll listen but this is my general take. France=the best biking in all of Europe hands-down - weather, etc. Much of it is hilly but in Dordogne, a relatively small area you can do lots of flat biking between caves.

FrenchMystiqueTours

<< the Dordogne is mainly flat except to go up to its few hill towns>>

I'm must disagree and say that the Dordogne is mostly hilly. I don't know anything about Puglia or its environs but I'll trust that it's as blah between towns and not that scenic as PalenQ says. The Dordogne is VERY scenic, in terms of landscapes and villages, geology, food etc., etc. but it is most definitely hilly. There are places that you can cycle that are not too hilly, such as along the major rivers and through valleys, but you will definitely encounter hills at some point, depending on your route and how carefully you plan. It is a beautiful area and I would encourage you to cycle there. Even being recreational cyclists, as you say, I think you can find routes that won't be overly strenuous but check your maps and google street view to be sure.

kja

I've been to both, and would think the Dordogne might suit your interests a bit better. Both areas offer lots of historical interest (of very different sorts).

For gardens and geology, I'd give the edge to the Dordogne. You may get a bit more architectural variety in Puglia (Greek & Roman, Puglian Romanesque, Baroque), but for that, you'd probably have to spend time in its cities (e.g., Lecce and Trani). But either could be a good choice.....

Although I've been to only a small part of Puglia, I would agree that the scenery in many parts is less "scenic" than in the Dordogne -- lots and lots of flat stretches with remarkably old (and younger) olive trees and patches of poppy and maybe an occasional trulli, etc. I'm sure the coastal area is more scenic, though, and I didn't spend much time there.

I agree with FrenchMystiqueTours that the Dordogne definitely has some HILLS, so you would, I think, want to plan routes that work for you.

Hope that helps!

neckervd

Apulia has hills too. Most small scenic towns are at the top of a hill.

PalenQ

Sarlat would make a good base as would Les Eyzes - lots of caves near the latter

julies

I sooooo appreciate the responses from people who personally know the areas. Of course, every tour description is written to sound great. But, we all know the reality can often be much different than the tour hype. Thanks.

AlessandraZoe

I've cycled both. I liked both. Both the Dordogne and Puglia can be scenic, and both can be "blah". Both have hills and flats.

I'd personally go back to Puglia in Oct because I think the weather there would be best.

Yeah, the Dordogne has Les Eyzes, castles, Sarlat, etc.

Well, Puglia has Gallipoli, Polignano a Mare, Ostuni, Lecce, Alberobello--you get the idea. And you can add Matera, just outside of Puglia, onto your travel list.

Our coastal ride down to the heel of Italy, Santa Maria de Leuca goes down in memory of one of my favorite days ever, and I also loved cycling from the Ionic Sea to the Adriatic Sea in one day.

neckervd

"both the Dordogne area and Puglia appear to have decent weather with less chance of rain then"

Average rain at Sarlat in automne in the last 5 years: 210mm
Average rain at Lecce in automne in the last 5 years: 80mm

All depends on the definition of "chance of rain"

Places not to miss in Puglia and surroundings):
Castellana Caves
Alberobello
Cisternino
Ostuni
Egnazia (archeological zone)
Matera
Bari (old city)
castles around Foggia
Gargano (Vieste, Peschici and the South coast)
Termoli
Tremiti Islands
Lecce
Salento Peninsula

julies

I'm still torn and will need to do further research on exactly which company and which tour in each area we'd be most interested in since that obviously will make a difference as far as places of interest on the tour. I was trying to make a quick decision because we want to use Delta miles for airfare for the trip, and I'd been thinking their sale ended today. But, I've realized that for the time frame I am interested in, the sale doesn't apply anyway.

And, those statistics on rain do give me pause to think. Thanks much all.