I'm thinking about my options for a part of a longer bike trip (in August). It seems like my options are: going to San Sebastian and then following the Atlantic, following the Mediterranean Sea for a while and then cutting through south of France (via Toulouse?), or something in between.
What are my options, really? Also, what would each of them be like? I'm concerned about wild camping sites, how interesting/pretty the landscape is and just general culture/climate of the region.
Also, have anyone followed the red path just south of Pyrenees marked on the openCycleMap here? What is it like?
Last summer I rode Amsterdam to Barcelona, via the Rhone and Switzerland (to have a break for mountain biking!). From Geneva I rode the Via Rhona down to Montpellier, then over to Barcelona on the EuroVelo network. I found this section through France really lovely, and would totally recommend it. Campsites were very frequent and I usually paid around €10/night (I worked during my trip, so I needed to camp where there is a power outlet and wifi). Otherwise wild camping wouldn't be too hard.
I found the region quite pretty, and cycling through wine regions is never a bad idea :). A lot of the riding is through farm land and is pretty leisurely. There were plenty of other cyclists so you feel quite safe. The Pyrenees are obviously the hardest section you have to conquer and unfortunately I think it's steeper coming from the Catalan side.
I made a pretty amateur video just on my phone, to give you a sense of what it was like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqOz0SLJkGU
Hope that helps!
Jennifer
If you are cycling north from Barcelona, there is a route over the mountains that is a gentle 300m climb into France. Follow the sign for Coll de Banyuls out of the village of Espolla north of Figueres.