© SeeProvence.com
© SeeProvence.com
© SeeProvence.com
© SeeProvence.com
© SeeProvence.com
© SeeProvence.com
Stylish town in Provence with Van Gogh connections and excellent restaurants
Nestled in the hills of Les Alpilles, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a stylish town much favoured by the creative Parisien set. Its centre is full of narrow medieval alleyways, with fountains and shady squares and wonderful buildings.
It enjoys a wonderfully central location located just 20km south of Avignon, and 70km from both Aix and Marseille airport. The surrounding countryside is protected as Les Alpilles Natural Park, and vineyards and olive groves flourish.
The town is forever associated with Vincent Van Gogh, as this is where he checked into an asylum for a year (1889) in monastere St Paul de Mausole. He managed to paint 150 canvases during his stay, including 'Live Grove' and 'Starry Night'. The Mausole is open to the public every day.
Continuing on the art theme, this is where Albert Gleize (Cubism) spent the last 15 years of his life. The Musée des Alpilles holds a collection of ethnological pieces and a selection of paintings by locally-known artists. Other renowned figures associated with the village include the Marquis de Sade, whose family manor the Hotel de Sade is located here (now the Musée Archeologique). St Remy is also the birth place of Nostradamus.
The surrounding area is thick with olive groves, and the Moulin a Huile du Calanquet offers a wide range of products derived from the olive. St Remy continues to enjoy the works of artists who live in the area - glass blowing, artists and sculptors thrive and many original works of art are for sale in the town's numerous art galleries. There is a fantastic selection of accommodation and excellent restaurants in the town, and don't forget to try the local wine from Les Baux.
On 1st May each year, there is a large horse and donkey fair that starts with a procession of donkeys and carts accompanied by children dressed in traditional clothing. A flea market occurs at the same time.
The Fête de la Transhumance takes place on Whit Monday and is a festival to celebrate the arrival of spring. Traditionally it was when the farmers took their sheep to their summer pastures in the Alps, and nowadays there is a parade around the town of sheep, goats and donkeys with their shepherds in traditional costume. A flea market and a cheese fair also occurs at this time.
From May to October the Route des Artistes is a market for local artists and artisans to show off their works. It takes place on selected Sundays during these months - check local press for dates.
Another arty festival is the Festival APART which takes place from early July to mid August and showcases the best of contemporary art in public and private art spaces.
The Terroir des Alpilles festival is a celebration of the locally grown produce of the Alpilles - it takes place at the end of July. Also at the end of July is the Fête du Vin and l'Artisanat d'Art where you can get tiddly on delicious locally grown wine, admire works of art in street stalls throughout the town, and enjoy live jazz music.
St Remy's big fair is held in the middle of August. The St Remy Feria is dedicated to the heritage of the bull, so expect bull racing, bull running and bull beauty contests (no bulls are killed at these events). The Feria welcomes street performers at this time and local musicians play their flutes and other wind instruments. Carmargue horses also feature during the fair and an enormous wagon filled with local produce parades through the town, pulled by 50 heavy horses. This procession always takes place on 15th August.
Read our Provence markets page to find out which market to visit when in Provence. From the vibrant array of local produce to the delightful scent of freshly baked delicacies, visiting a Provencal market is an absolute must for anyone exploring the charms of Provence.
Head to the Avenue de la Rabasse in Richerenches for the famous Saturday truffle markets, which take place from November to March every year.
The Fête de la Musique is a celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21 June in cities, towns and villages across France.
Bastille Day is celebrated across the whole of France with a bang...well, several in fact, fireworks always feature heavily.
Exceptional locations around France, including Provence, will be open to visit on the Journées du Patrimoine - a European wide event inspired by by France’s Journées Portes Ouvertes which started in 1984.
Whilst people have been living in the area since pre-historic times, the current site of St Rémy was probably first built upon in the 1st century AD. The first church was built in the 6th century around which the town was created, and the town was under the protection of the Abbey Saint-Rémi de Reims, and this is where the name came from.
St Rémy was the birthplace of physician and seer Nostradamus, who 'predicted' amongst other things, the French Revolution and both World Wars.
The area became popular with the bourgeoisie offspring of local farmers and artisans after the Revolution, and so became increasingly wealthy.
At the beginning of the 20th century, St Rémy attracted artists, writers and painters and this heritage remains in St Rémy today.
For a small town, there is a lot to see and do.
Its artistic and Roman history has left it with a great deal of cultural heritage.
There are two museums:
The Church, Collegiale Saint Martin, was built in 1821 in a neo-classical style, but its origins go back to the 14th century. Each year in the summer it hosts the Festival Organa. The Hotel de Sade is a large Gallo-Roman villa that houses ancient baths.
One of the main attractions of St Rémy lies to the south of the town and features archeological remains from the 2nd century BC. The site of Glanum is a fascinating insight into an original civilisation that features religious and civic buildings. You can take a guided tour or wander around on your own. The well preserved Antiquities of Glanum are a wonderful sight just off the main road.
No guide to St Rémy would be complete without a mention of Vincent Van Gogh. The artist stayed in the Saint Paul de Mausole monastery in 1889, when the monstery had been converted to an asylum. Here he painted many of his famous works, and several rooms have been converted into a museum. You can visit the Monastere de St Paul de Mausole despite it still operating as a psychiatric hospital.
This is one of the best castles we have ever visited, and not just in France! Situated on a rocky outcrop, this fantastic medieval castle has a strong military background, where it was used in the defence of the realm of Provence.
After your explorations in Glanum, it's worth visiting the asylum where Vincent van Gogh spent one year after the dramatic incident in Arles. The Monastère de St-Paul-de-Mausole is just a short ride from Glanum. Since 1605 it has functioned as a psychiatric hospital, remaining so today.
Opened in 1991, the Yves Brayer Museum displays a hundred or so canvas paintings, watercolours and drawings representative of the artist's work.
Created in 1919, this museum is located inside a former townhouse, the Hôtel Mistral de Montdragon, which dates from the Renaissance period and is classified as an historical landmark.
Since 1989 the association ‘Présence Van Gogh’ has developped an important artistic programme, loyal to the desires of the great Dutch artist who lived in St.Remy de Provence between 1888-1889 who wished that ‘living artists are not unjustly unknown’.
Originally a stone quarry, the Carrieres de Lumieres has been transformed into a backdrop for a stunning audio visual show, where images are projected on to the walls and the floor. Each year a different artist and theme is chosen to lead the display.
One of the main attractions in coming to St Rémy is the quality and quantity of restaurants. It's a real foodie place, probably thanks to the large numbers of retirees and second home owners from the international community. The centre has many restaurants, you'll see many of them lining the main Boulevard Victor Hugo.
Explore some of the small pedestrianised side streets and you will encounter some real delights.
Located near the centre of Saint Remy, this restaurant offers a luxury fine dining experience in their elegant dining room or their relaxing terrace. Chef Thibaut Serin Moulin has worked in various Michelin-starred restaurants and now creates imaginative dishes made with fresh produce.
Situated in Le Chateau des Alpilles Hotel, this restaurant serves modern French recipes with a focus on healthy eating.
Head chef Michel Hulin uses fresh produce from the restaurant's extensive organic kitchen garden, as well as locally grown olive oils.
Fine regional cuisine by a Michelin-star experienced chef, made only with fresh local produce. Located at the Domaine de Manville Hotel.
Situated in the Auberge de la Reine Jeanne Hotel, this restaurant offers Provençal and Mediterranean dishes made only with fresh regional ingredients in a menu that is constantly evolving.
Beautifully presented French cuisine awaits you at L'Oustau de Baumanière. The elegant dining room is set in a vaulted stone hall and it opens up on to a terrace for dining during the warmer seasons.
This bar is located in the centre of Saint Remy de Provence. It has a good selection of wines by the glass, as well as bottles and champagne. They even serve charcuterie and cheese plates.
St Rémy is pretty good for shopping, with a number of boutiques, antique shops and art galleries. The market is held on Wednesday mornings. There is a summer handicrafts market held every Tuesday evening from the end of June until September. Flea markets (Brocantes) are held on some Sundays during the summer - keep an eye out for local posters.
The more active among you will no doubt enjoy the wonderful countryside, whether you choose to explore by foot, by bike or on horseback. All these options are available to you. There is an open-air swimming pool open to the public during the summer (June to September) on Route d'Avignon.
The tourist office offers guided tours from mid-April to late September, and will also be able to provide more information and maps for hikers.
There are wonderful vineyards in the countryside around St Rémy and we recommend taking a trip to taste some wine, much of which is organically farmed. Also worth visiting are the pretty villages in the area, try Les Baux with its fantastic ruined castle.
The Domaine de Manville has a renowned architect and landscaper designed 18-hole golf course allying technicality and game attraction in an eco-responsible and respectful way to produce a truly very special course.
This leisure park in the Alpilles located in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence offers entertainment for young and old: fun activities, sports activities and ultimately outdoor activities.
This large natural area envelops 16 small towns and villages between the Luberon and the Camargue, not far from Arles.
From the perched village of Châteauneuf de Gadagne, this gentle family-friendly cycle route goes from the foot of the Colline de Thouzon, round in a loop to the town of Le Thor, via the cool waters of the River Sorgue.
This ride takes us along the banks of the river Sorgue, crossing picturesque bridges and cycling past tranquil orchards. You’ll visit a number of fascinating little villages and take in some wonderful scenery along the way.
This scenic cycle ride goes in a figure of eight, starting and finishing in Velleron, but also visiting Pernes-les-Fontaines to the north and L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue to the south.
This 28.5km long route is a journey of discovery through the Ile de l'Oiselay and the vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape.
This fun 20km circuits takes in three short climbs on a scenic route that takes in some of the famous “Perched Villages” of Provence.
The Comtat Venaissin (County of Venaissin), often called the Comtat for short, dates back to the middle ages and was politically significant throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.
A great walk in any season as it gets the sun throughout the day and is sheltered from the sometimes strong, Mistral wind.
Starting in Barbentane, a short 15 minute drive from Avignon, this gentle and easy walk is great for all abilities of walker. WIth a shady tracks and only a 2 hour and 45 minute round trip you can amble along this walk and enjoy the surrouding scenery.
A slightly more challenging hike through the most spectactular gorge in Provence, with its narrow high walls and dark alleyway you can witness the amazing vegetation and plants. A 3 hour and 30 minute walk you can enjoy this popular walking route, recommended during the week when it is likely to be quieter.
Take your time, explore and discover the rich historical heritage and natural surroundings, fashioned by centuries of work which continues to the present day.
The vast numbers of lovely Vineyards in Provence make for great places to go on a walking or hiking tour.
This company offers all kinds of activities, from climbing and pot-holing to canyoning, canoeing, kayaking, hiking and via ferrata.
This company offers a 2 hour river descent from Isle sur la Sorgue to Fontain de Vaucluse in canoes.
This company offers an 8 kilometre canoe trip along the river near Fontaine de Vaucluse.
Located in the heart of the EcoQuartier Beaulieu, Lake Monteux is an open every day of the year. Ideal for the whole family, this area offers a multitude of activities.
This company offers two different types of excursions by kayak or canoe for either an hour and 15 minutes or 3 hours.
Just to the north of Apt lies the Plan d'Eau de la Raille. You can practice all sorts of watersports here, with a sailing & windsurfing school. All equipment is available to rent - dinghies, windsurfs, pedal boats and kayaks.
Superb luxury property to rent near Saint Rémy de Provence, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, gym.
Beautiful 250m2 modern villa just a stone’s throw away from the center of Maussane-les-Alpilles.
Located a few minutes from the village centre of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, you will be able to take full advantage of the restaurants and shops of the village whilst having a haven of peace to relax in.
Close to the Isle sur la Sorgue, superb renovated contemporary property composed of 5 suites, one of which is on the ground floor, is available for holiday rental. Inside, the concrete gives a lot of character to the space and the choice of furniture and accessories make it a perfect complement.
Luxury holiday rental in Saint Rémy de Provence - La Carte Postale
Le Mas Malhana is a beautiful ancient stonehouse, perfectly renovated, ideal to spend your holidays in the heart of the Alpilles.
This very welcoming farmhouse is located in the heart of the Alpilles, close to unmissable places such as the Baux de Provence, Eygalières, and Maussane.
Mas with heated pool and tennis court for your holidays in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence - Mas des Etoiles
Superb luxury property to rent near Saint Rémy de Provence, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, gym.
If you dream of spending your holidays in the famous village of Eygalières, come and discover this pretty Mas with a 10 person capacity located 750m from the center of the village.
Le Mas Malhana is a beautiful ancient stonehouse, perfectly renovated, ideal to spend your holidays in the heart of the Alpilles.
Provencal farmhouse with swimming pool to rent in Paradou, in the heart of the Alpilles, for a dream holiday.
St Rémy is blessed with a great selection of hotels to suit all budgets.
Set in the heart of Arles, the Nord-Pinus was once the place of choice for artists, writers and bullfighters.
This luxurious property has been lavishly renovated to overcome its austere background, whilst still retaining its sense of history.
This charming chateau provides a wide range of accommodation from rooms and suites to mini apartments. Renowned for its beauty and excellent service, this is a very popular destination in Provence.
Offering you a taste of the Provencal lifestyle, with linen sheets, sunrise over the drystone architecture, wildflowers overflowing from vases, the fragrance of fresh baked bread, creamy butter and golden honey, the true taste of fresh products raised on the estate.
The former residence of the Marquis of Graveson, the Hotel d'Europe is a luxury residence in the centre of Avignon.
Housed inside a beautiful old stone building, this hotel is comfortably furnished and decorated in warm inviting colours.
With a long history and experience in the VIP transport industry this company is proud of its personal and high-quality services.
Chabe Transfers are a well known luxury transfer and taxi service operating in the South of France.
49 air-conditioned vehicles at your disposal for local transport, airport and rail station transfers, and touristic excursions.
All taxi services 24/7 within a 60 mile radius.
Events-Cars offer luxury taxi and transfer services across the South of France. They also cater for special events.
Helitec caters for all your helicopter needs from passenger transport to aerial photography, filming, transport of heavy goods, leisure flights over Provence and the South of France. A great way to see the most beautiful spots from the air.
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See allLatest News & ReviewsProvence has a busy calendar of events all year round featuring art exhibitions, charming markets, cultural festivals and concerts. Spring and autumn are the time to celebrate local produce while during the peak holiday times, in the summer months, you will find world-renowned music and cultural events like the Choregies d'Orange or the Avignon Festival.
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