5 Great Reasons To Visit Saint Remy de Provence
A vacation in the south of France should absolutely include a trip to Saint Remy de Provence. Close to the Luberon, and just south of Les Alpilles (mountain range) near Avignon, St. Remy is known as the birthplace of Nostradamus, the village where Van Gogh sought refuge and a delight for visitors exploring Inland Provence.
With a rich history including a Roman village and Van Gogh’s asylum, St-Remy is an attraction for summer tourists from the world over and one of the most popular destinations in Inland Provence. It’s a large village with a multitude of shops and over 40 restaurants.
If you love walking ancient streets through the village, perusing boutiques and taking in the beautiful village architecture, you will be right at home.
Spending time walking the cobblestone roads of this bustling town is enough in itself as it has a fantastic array of shops, boutiques and restaurants, but there are also some very significant historical sites to visit. Here are some highlights of this village and where to stay:
1. Market & Shopping:
Wednesday is market day, where you can find anything and everything – Food, fabrics, clothing, ceramics, accessories, even shoes! Find gifts to bring home as a reminder of your fabulous vacation and tasty treats to enjoy at your villa rental.
Stroll through the pedestrian streets of Old Town where you’ll find wonderful architecture and unique shops with a Provencal flair.
2. Food:
St. Remy is home to a fantastic cheese shop , a great spice store and is filled with wonderful restaurants – over 40 in all. Here are some of the top places to eat in Saint Rémy de Provence:
Address: 5 rue Carnot, St Remy de Provence
Tel: +33 (0)4 84 35 07 21
Inside the old town, very design and modern restaurant, nice roof terrasse, good food
Restaurant L’Auberge, chez Fanny Rey * Michelin Star
Modern cuisine, cuisine from the world outside,19€ to 45€
Le Vallon de Valrugue – Hotel*****
Address: Chemin de Canto-Cigalo, 13210 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
The cuisine is modern, creative, gastronomique. From 39€ to 100€
Le Château des Alpilles – Hotel*****
A French modern, traditional Provençal cuisine, from 24 € to 65 €
3. Art:
A haven for artists, writers and musicians, St. Remy is where Van Gogh committed himself to St. Paul de Mausole and while institutionalized, produced some of his best known works of art. You can visit his room (which still has paint on the floor) and walk the grounds to admire the views that inspired much of his work.
Find several art galleries and many arts festivals throughout the year. Also home to some lovely museums: Le Musee des Alpilles and Musee Estrine.
4. History:
The Glanums
Les Ruines de Glanum are located just outside of Saint-Remy-de-Provence, approximately 1 kilometer away. At the height of its power, the Roman city of Les Glanums was renowned for its healing springs. Today, only ruins remain of what was once Glanum – a Triumphal Arch, public bath houses, fountains, and an exceptional example of a Roman mausoleum, the Mausoleum of the Julli.
Van Gogh in Saint Remy
The Centre d’Art Presence in St-Remy-de-Provence is dedicated to celebrating the life of Vincent Van Gogh. A landmark for art lovers, the center is housed in the historic Hotel Estrine and features letters from the artist to his brother, Theo, as well as displays of contemporary art and a permanent collection of Albert Gleize’s works.
Les Baux de Provence
Les Baux has a spectacular position in the Alpilles mountains, set atop a rocky outcrop and crowned with a ruined castle overlooking the plains to the south. Its name refers to its site: in Provençal, a bauç is a rocky spur. Les Baux can be quite touristy, but enjoyable in the summer for an afternoon visit and evening dinner from the vast selection of shops and restaurants.
5. Wine Tasting:
It goes without saying that this town is surrounding by phenomenal terroir, making it ideal for wine-makers.
The following are some of Only Provence’s favorite wineries to visit:
Château Romanin
Nestled in the heart of a unique natural setting, Château Romanin has been using biodynamic techniques since 1988, when it was created by Jean-Pierre Peyraud (investor) and Jean-André Charial (owner of Relais & Château L’Oustau de Baumanière).
Since 1992 the Domaine de Lauzières has been involved in organic farming, and more recently in biodynamics. Lauzières was founded in the 16th century, when the Huguenots took refuge in the Alpilles.
Address: Place called le Destet
13890 Mouriès
0 4 90 47 62 88
Guided tour through a vineyard and the olive grove of the Domaine(45€ per person, 1h30h)
The visit includes a tasting of the great wines and olive oils produced at the famous Château d’Estoublon.
Reservations needed: visite@estoublon.com
Where to Stay in St Remy de Provence
Hotels: Because it is one of the larger towns to visit, there are a multitude of hotels to stay in at varying levels of luxury.
Luxury hotel with spa, spacious rooms and elegant suites with 2 heated pools outdoor and indoors
Gourmet restaurant. This hotel is only 900 meters from the center of town.
Charming XVIIth castle, 2 kms from Saint Remy. Their suites & bedrooms are decorated with care and respect for history. There is also 14 acres of parkland and water ponds.
Luxury Villa Rentals in Provence, France
As the luxury property rental market has exploded worldwide, renting a luxury villa in St Rémy has become the preferred choice for accommodations in Provence. Only Provence has the largest selection of luxury properties in the region.
Benefits of Luxury Villa Rentals in St Rémy
One of the many benefits of renting a luxury villa in St Rémy is having a genuinely private yet authentic experience in Provence, complete with in-home chef services. Many of Only Provence’s villas are within walking distance from the village of St Remy itself.
Below are some of the few great benefits of a luxury villa over other traditional accommodation options.
- Personalized experiences such as private chefs and organized tours and activities;
- Privacy and exclusivity;
- A dedicated villa manager and staff;
- A sense of feeling at home while staying in a private luxury villa;
- Private luxury villas in Gordes are ideal for groups of families or friends traveling together.
Where is Saint Rémy and How to Get There
St Rémy is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Southern France. Located in the northern part of the Alpilles.
We recommend renting a car to explore this exceptional town and its region, as it is not easily accessible by public transport. The main international airport, used by most European carriers, is Marseille (MRS), only 70km from Saint Rémy, roughly a 60 minute drive. If coming by TGV train (fastest), the closest option is to travel to Avignon TGV Station and drive 25 minutes. Below are the train times to the Avignon train station.
- 2 hours 40 minutes from Paris
- 3 hours from Roissy Charles de Gaulle
- 1 hour from Lyon, and
- 30 minutes from Marseille
Interested in renting your own private luxury villa in Saint Remy? Contact Only Provence to get the inside scoop and plan your holiday in the Alpilles! http://www.onlyprovence.com/Provence/Villas/Saint-Remy
