Done Alps a fair bit.
Recommendations please.
Fancy something different - Massif Central? Ardeche? Verdon Gorge? areas etc - along those lines. Happy to do a Tour. Happy to trundle on fire roads ... GF is not super teccy.
Nice places to stay, good food, good standard etc. Previously enjoyed the riding around Provence so some good climbs, views - rather than teccy.
Hotel with pool a nice bonus.
Thanks.
I've had a read of the Massif Central thread too.
It might have been my Massif Central thread that you read.
We went just before Easter and it was stunningly beautiful (possibly helped out a bit by the amount of snow capped peaks still about). We spent a few days in Mont Dore and a few in Bourboule. Both were interesting towns but I preferred Mont Dore.
It was a lot less developed than the Alps, there was comparatively little ski infrastructure on display even in Mont Dore which is a ski town. There was still a reasonable tourist infrastructure but it seemed a lot more based around heritage and walking/cycling rather than being all about skiing. It was also very French, we didn't come across any other Brits all week.
We went road biking so I can't give you any information on XC routes.
In the last couple of years I've done Moustiers...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
...is one of the most beautiful places I've ever stayed. Busy mind. Took an xbike (vague 3 peaks prep, an xc bike would be better for the rocky descents) and found enough to go at based on local mtb routes. Plenty of fire roads to get up high. Found the gorge itself sufficiently terrifying in a car...
Lastours north of Carcassonne:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lastours
The riding seemed more full on but that might have been what I looked for based on the bike I hired. Really quiet. Nice but no huge hurry to go back for the riding. Unless, obviously, someone takes my koms.
And Sare, western pyrenees, french side:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sare
Lots and lots of really good xc. Hills and sea. Heading back there end of Aug. Okay near St Jean de Luz on basis stay by surf, drive to ride rather than vice versa.
I live south of Massif Central, Millau with its viaduc. All types of riding available but hilly to get out of town and on the road to start the rides. Lots of different things to do like canoeing, rock climbing, walking, via ferrata, parasailing etc...
Good food.
I've been to Millau on the motorbike. Lovely place.
Thanks for the advice so far!
In the last couple of years I’ve done Moustiers…
http://www.hotel-les-restanques.com/
Saw that @johnx2 - looks like a good spot
Les Restanques is down the hill from the actual village, which is fine for riding/parking cars and probably sensible, but you're missing being in the village.
We stayed at La Bouscatière
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BMW8kDaV6Yan1Aag9
which was shabbychiqtastic, and they gave us free run of the espresso machine and let me stash bikes indoors